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Post by finnmccool on Feb 19, 2024 16:23:40 GMT -5
Was it a stupid move that led the Blues able to tie it up near the end of period 3? It sounded like Rifai played? How did he do? Personally I thought Rifai played well, what was really interesting to me was to see Rifai boxing the St Louis players out when they were driving the net. With the leafs defence, with the exception of Benoit boxing the opposition forwards out seemed like a lost art. Rifai also seemed bigger than he is listed witch is 6 feet. I know the Marlies GM Ryan Hardy spoke about Rifai and said he was 6’2” which surprised me at the time because I have never seen listed him as that big.
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Post by tman55 on Feb 19, 2024 16:25:48 GMT -5
Bertuzzi has been a bust, no doubt about it but it seems like he’s getting tons of chances. Maybe if we get a playoff spot he produces? Yes I’m scratching for hope but since I’m sure Tre won’t be dealing Bert or Domi so trying to hope for the best.
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Post by kazzie on Feb 19, 2024 18:07:18 GMT -5
Was it a stupid move that led the Blues able to tie it up near the end of period 3? It sounded like Rifai played? How did he do? Personally I thought Rifai played well, what was really interesting to me was to see Rifai boxing the St Louis players out when they were driving the net. With the leafs defence, with the exception of Benoit boxing the opposition forwards out seemed like a lost art. Rifai also seemed bigger than he is listed which is 6 feet. I know the Marlies GM Ryan Hardy spoke about Rifai and said he was 6’2” which surprised me at the time because I have never seen listed him as that big. Yeah I agree he did a good job as did Lajoie as they were paired together. These younger defensemen give me hope for the future. Good defensive effort today!
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Post by Gerard on Feb 19, 2024 21:03:04 GMT -5
Yeah that was a nail biter. It felt like a playoff game and the boys pulled it out. Marner was in control for sure but how about Knies? Love it!!
Bertuzzi had an open net and simply fired it over the net...ugh. How about JT on the wing? I also like 34 taking the draws over him bc he was great.
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Post by hobie on Feb 19, 2024 22:34:24 GMT -5
4 games without Rielly, 4 wins and a GAA of 2, I don't think TO has a better 4 game GAA all year and 4 straight wins when TO was having to play without Rielly, coinkedink I don't think so. It even looked to me that Brodie was playing better but that might be a coach/GM issue, not enough righties. . The PP is also not appearing to miss Rielly.
Was it the quality of opposition, with Rielly TO consistently played down to the opposition, the Philly game was the only one where TO appeared to struggle and that was one period only, basically.
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Post by pointshot on Feb 20, 2024 1:33:52 GMT -5
Does Keefe have something personal against Tavares? Is he trying to phase him out and devalue him, seeking to boost the latter by lessening his ice time and placing him in situations that are certain to lower his points production? This was the second time that he has taken him off the 2nd line and placed him on the 3rd line, replacing him with Domi. JT is not a 3rd line forward! And replacing him with Domi!!! Are you kidding me?! A reminder to Keefe that, with more than 1000 points and more than 400 goals (and he probably will end his career in the 500 goal club) JT is already a guaranteed hall of famer. The closest Domi will come to the HOF is if he visits it. No disrespect to Domi but the only thing he has over JT is that he’s a better skater. He doesn’t come close to JT in aspects such as knack for goal scoring, creativity and playmaking skills, digging along the boards, skilled hands, face-offs, and understanding of and “head” for the game.
Besides the above, Keefe also replaced him on the 1st power play unit…with Bertuzzi??!! Really?!! There isn’t another coach in the NHL who would rather have Bertuzzi on their 1st PP unit than JT. And he has also basically stopped using JT in OT. Perhaps Keefe isn’t aware that JT is in the top 10 all-time in OT goals and points?
Even at this stage in his career JT would be the 1st line center on any team that doesn’t have the likes of a Matthews or McDavid. So, what is the story with Keefe's disrespectful treatment of JT here? One would hope that JT will be back in his regular spots next game and for the remainder of the season. Anyway, I think Keefe needs a reminder that it was JT’s playoff OT goal that saved his coaching job with the Leafs.
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Post by hobie on Feb 20, 2024 2:52:19 GMT -5
Does Keefe have something personal against Tavares? Is he trying to phase him out and devalue him, seeking to boost the latter by lessening his ice time and placing him in situations that are certain to lower his points production? This was the second time that he has taken him off the 2nd line and placed him on the 3rd line, replacing him with Domi. JT is not a 3rd line forward! And replacing him with Domi!!! Are you kidding me?! A reminder to Keefe that, with more than 1000 points and more than 400 goals (and he probably will end his career in the 500 goal club) JT is already a guaranteed hall of famer. The closest Domi will come to the HOF is if he visits it. No disrespect to Domi but the only thing he has over JT is that he’s a better skater. He doesn’t come close to JT in aspects such as knack for goal scoring, creativity and playmaking skills, digging along the boards, skilled hands, face-offs, and understanding of and “head” for the game. Besides the above, Keefe also replaced him on the 1st power play unit…with Bertuzzi??!! Really?!! There isn’t another coach in the NHL who would rather have Bertuzzi on their 1st PP unit than JT. And he has also basically stopped using JT in OT. Perhaps Keefe isn’t aware that JT is in the top 10 all-time in OT goals and points? Even at this stage in his career JT would be the 1st line center on any team that doesn’t have the likes of a Matthews or McDavid. So, what is the story with Keefe's disrespectful treatment of JT here? One would hope that JT will be back in his regular spots next game and for the remainder of the season. Anyway, I think Keefe needs a reminder that it was JT’s playoff OT goal that saved his coaching job with the Leafs. Do you think it might be possible that JT wasn't at 100% so maybe he was being played a little easier tonite, Domi's icetime was 14 mins., JT's 16. It's one game, chill out man?
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Post by jayleaf on Feb 20, 2024 8:50:44 GMT -5
4 games without Rielly, 4 wins and a GAA of 2, I don't think TO has a better 4 game GAA all year and 4 straight wins when TO was having to play without Rielly, coinkedink I don't think so. It even looked to me that Brodie was playing better but that might be a coach/GM issue, not enough righties. . The PP is also not appearing to miss Rielly. Was it the quality of opposition, with Rielly TO consistently played down to the opposition, the Philly game was the only one where TO appeared to struggle and that was one period only, basically. I heard a rumour the Leafs have requested the league to extend Reilly's suspension another 5 games.
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Post by TMan on Feb 20, 2024 11:28:33 GMT -5
Can’t figure out why/how they play like they do with key pieces missing. This has happened many times. Not complaining, just curious. Nice little streak we got going. Keep it up boys!!👏👏👏
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Post by stugats1 on Feb 20, 2024 16:00:14 GMT -5
The team D has been so much better. More focused not relying on Rielly to do everything
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Post by mokole on Feb 20, 2024 22:16:46 GMT -5
I think they play better with 2 of the big 5 out simply because they roll 4 lines more and guys with talent but more savvy defensively get more ice time. Would it hold true for 20 games? Who knows.
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Post by pointshot on Feb 21, 2024 0:03:18 GMT -5
Do you think it might be possible that JT wasn't at 100% so maybe he was being played a little easier tonite, Domi's icetime was 14 mins., JT's 16. It's one game, chill out man? I agree that perhaps JT wasn’t yet at 100% and so it was decided to go a bit easier with him and this may be the reason for his reduced ice time. However, this wouldn’t explain the reason for the other points that I noted. JT could just as well have spent his ice time playing on the 2nd line but Keefe put him on the 3rd line instead. Ditto for their few power plays—he could just as well have played on the first unit but Keefe put him on the 2nd. Also, as I noted, this is the second time this season that Keefe has moved him to the 3rd line and he basically doesn’t play him in OT (he’s lucky if he gets one shift now while lesser players such as Domi and CJ have been played instead). So, this is why I’m left to wonder what the deal is with Keefe re. JT and why it appears to me that he undervalues and underappreciates him. Regardless, it’s best for the team to have JT on the 2nd line and the 1st PP unit so I would expect that he’ll be back there next game.
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Post by hobie on Feb 21, 2024 13:01:45 GMT -5
Do you think it might be possible that JT wasn't at 100% so maybe he was being played a little easier tonite, Domi's icetime was 14 mins., JT's 16. It's one game, chill out man? I agree that perhaps JT wasn’t yet at 100% and so it was decided to go a bit easier with him and this may be the reason for his reduced ice time. However, this wouldn’t explain the reason for the other points that I noted. JT could just as well have spent his ice time playing on the 2nd line but Keefe put him on the 3rd line instead. Ditto for their few power plays—he could just as well have played on the first unit but Keefe put him on the 2nd. Also, as I noted, this is the second time this season that Keefe has moved him to the 3rd line and he basically doesn’t play him in OT (he’s lucky if he gets one shift now while lesser players such as Domi and CJ have been played instead). So, this is why I’m left to wonder what the deal is with Keefe re. JT and why it appears to me that he undervalues and underappreciates him. Regardless, it’s best for the team to have JT on the 2nd line and the 1st PP unit so I would expect that he’ll be back there next game. I like JT, don't like his salary but it is what it is, I also like the idea of spreading out the big 4 or concentrating them. Put JT on one line and Nylander on another and let their lines determine which is the 2nd and the 3rd each night, whichever is playing well. JT hasn't had a 5v5 goal in what 30 games or more, not 2nd line material, he was at the beginning of the year but playing with Nylander usually his 5v5 stats has not been great for about 3 years now, his greatest value has been on the PP. His stats might look great but as a point per game player his +/- has been negative for 3 years and 4 of the last 5 years on a very good Leaf team. Nylander, JT's constant linemate has been a - player in 2 of the last 5 years. These figures have surprised me, I've always felt that JT was at the very least holding his own at all times when on the ice, I guess I've been wearing blinders for JT.
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Post by Leafs_Pam on Feb 22, 2024 17:12:39 GMT -5
ESPN+ has a game replay section. Since this game was on ESPN, ESPN+ had the replay. I watched it yesterday. Nice goal by Knies to open up period 2. Matthews had a nice goal. And the way McMann got the empty netter was pretty swift. After the Blues lost in Toronto I expected them to come out hard in St Louis. It was nice to sweep St Louis this season.
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