Canadiens @ Leafs - Oct. 5th, 7:00pm - CBC, Fan 590

[Chris]

Agree with the 3 games in 4 nights being a big factor, the Leafs looked absolutely gassed at the end. Couldn't make clean passes, kept losing pucks in their feet, lost faceoffs and puck battles all over the place. Not going to get overly concerned from this one game, we'll see if a pattern emerges.

Kappy...I'm wondering if he might get moved this season once Hyman gets back. He looks completely out of place with Tavares and Marner. Maybe that gets better with time but I don't know if there's really a good spot for him if everyone is healthy. Moore looks more than competent and is much cheaper. If we need an upgrade at backup goaltender and need cap flexibility maybe we move Kappy for picks or prospects.

Kadri suspended himself in the playoffs and it took him suspending himself again to get traded. Doubt they give up on him so easily.

Not really "giving up on him" as much as reallocating assets to areas of greater  need. For instance, if the cap doesn't go up next year and we need to improve the defense, it may require more $ than we currently have available. Same if we want a better backup goaltender.

I think that of all the players on the Leafs, Kapanen may be the one who is closest to redundant. He doesn't appear (yet) to handle playing on the left side very well, and he's never going to supplant Marner or Nylander at RW. Plus the third line seems to work pretty well with Moore on the right side.

 

[Zee]

Has anyone pointed out 3 games in 4 nights for Leafs and Habs rested?

Here we go.  You?re up 4-1 with 15 mins to go in the 3rd and the excuse is 3 in 4?  Not to mention the first 3 in 4 to start the season.

It's a fact not an excuse sonny.

Come on. They blew a 3 goal 3rd period lead.

Yeah cause they were skating in cement. You brought up it's the first 3 games of the year -- that actually makes it worse cause their conditioning is just coming off preseason and now you're going full out.  It was so obvious Habs had way more speed in the 3rd they were on every loose puck. Take the 1 point and move on.

With a backup goaltender. Hutch kept them in it at times but hes an odd goalie in that he's really good at making it seem he's not at fault for goals because he doesn't look like a complete mess in net.

Yeah Hutchinson is just...there. Also we didn't see the glut of goalies on waivers where the Leafs might have a shot at claiming one similar to how we lost McBackup

 

[hockeyfan1]

Has anyone pointed out 3 games in 4 nights for Leafs and Habs rested?

Here we go.  You?re up 4-1 with 15 mins to go in the 3rd and the excuse is 3 in 4?  Not to mention the first 3 in 4 to start the season.

It's a fact not an excuse sonny.

Come on. They blew a 3 goal 3rd period lead.

Yeah cause they were skating in cement. You brought up it's the first 3 games of the year -- that actually makes it worse cause their conditioning is just coming off preseason and now you're going full out.  It was so obvious Habs had way more speed in the 3rd they were on every loose puck. Take the 1 point and move on.

With a backup goaltender. Hutch kept them in it at times but hes an odd goalie in that he's really good at making it seem he's not at fault for goals because he doesn't look like a complete mess in net.

Yeah Hutchinson is just...there. Also we didn't see the glut of goalies on waivers where the Leafs might have a shot at claiming one similar to how we lost McBackup

No one is placing the blame for the loss solely on Hutchinson as much as it may read that way.  We?ve seen Hutch play before and he isn?t as bad as he was perceived to be.

Goaltenders need good defence in front of them and the ones like Hutchinson thrive when the defence is greater than good.  The Leafs being the team that they are with defence still being a sticking point, will need to depend on their goaltenders to bail them out.  That?s where Andersen comes in (most of the time) and Hutchinson doesn?t (except some of the time).

No two are alike.  Perhaps if the Leafs weren?t so tired, they wouldn?t have given up that lead, would have played better defensively (overall, yes forwards included) and Hutchinson?s saves would have been good enough.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

The Curtis McElhinney decision continues to haunt and for some inexplicable reason we continue to have slow starts and despite all of the changes on defence and all of the alleged talented players (Muzzin & Barrie, for example) we gained and problems we dumped (Zaitsev & Gardiner for example) we continue to have significant defensive lapses and for some reason Marincin is still on the team and seeing ice time.

#Not Boston Strong Enough

Defence is a team effort.