Leafs @ Sabres - Mar. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, Fan 590

[herman]

Hyman hustle

Mr Empty net. And Mr Penalty boy.

Zachary Dagger

 

[Bender]

Liked their pace, really pushed up the shot total early. Looked pretty good on D for the most part, Sparks looked fairly good also. Wish there was a bit more urgency in the back half of the third but what can you do. Entertaining game.

 

[herman]

What the heck, I agree with Burke

 

[lc9]

Great team effort.  Great win.  Let?s build now. 

 

[Bender]

What the heck, I agree with Burke

Didn't hear what he said

 

[herman]

What the heck, I agree with Burke

Didn't hear what he said

Those goals weren?t luck. They were ugly, but it was because of good work getting the puck to the net and players being in the right place.

 

[BrownRolo]

If I'm the Leafs the next 6 games I would rotate Andersen-Sparks with Andersen playing the final two.

Give Andersen a little rest but still have him playing so he doesn't get rusty.

 

[Zee]

Sabres with no pressure but to mess up the Leafs, Eichel will have 3 points minimum tonight.

It's the new Leafs! I'm sure they'll play a responsible game defensively to keep the score dow... *remembers Sparks is starting*... make it 4 points.

I have to miss this one but I predict, you haterpeople, that Sparks throws a shutout.

Take note friends, this is how you execute the perfect reverse jinx.

 

[ZBBM]

Sabres with no pressure but to mess up the Leafs, Eichel will have 3 points minimum tonight.

It's the new Leafs! I'm sure they'll play a responsible game defensively to keep the score dow... *remembers Sparks is starting*... make it 4 points.

I have to miss this one but I predict, you haterpeople, that Sparks throws a shutout.

Take note friends, this is how you execute the perfect reverse jinx.

And, having just got home a few minutes ago, I worked my way through the GDT to this delicious point in time.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Sparks finally played with that confident 'swagger' making Freddy-esque saves.

No problems seeing puck through traffic, plus that quick glove toboot.

I sure his teammates felt good and lifted in seeing their goaltender keeping them in the game, doing the job expected of him.

If Sparks can maintain this level of goalkeeping and be consistent, then he'll definitely be one backup to be reckoned with.

Good game, smart effort, positive outcome and results.

GO LEAFS GO!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

So since being re-united Matthews has 8 points in 6 games and Nylander has 6 points in 6 games. 0 goals for Nylander in that stretch as well which seems more unlucky than anything.

 

[Bullfrog]

I try not to be too critical of Babcock. I give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows more about coaching and hockey than me. But, for the life of me, i can't understand what took so long to reunite those two. He's obviously not against set pairs given Tavares and Marner have been inseparable.

 

[cabber24]

Here's my big compliment, Sparks was OK.

 

[herman]

I believe Babcock when he said he was sheltering Nylander to get him up to speed (and giving Kadri someone to play with). He probably would've done it earlier if not for Kadri's concussion.

What matters is that Tavares-Marner and Matthews-Nylander are clicking in the playoffs.

What I see added to Matthews' game lately, presumably due to his two-thirds of a season carrying non-Willies around the ice, is that Game 1 assertiveness through the neutral zone and bulldozing defenders over the blueline and around the net. With Nylander back, Matthews is actually more free to attack rather than hang high as F3. The two of them are sharing and handing off centre duties in flight.

 

[cabber24]

I believe Babcock when he said he was sheltering Nylander to get him up to speed (and giving Kadri someone to play with). He probably would've done it earlier if not for Kadri's concussion.

What matters is that Tavares-Marner and Matthews-Nylander are clicking in the playoffs.

What I see added to Matthews' game lately, presumably due to his two-thirds of a season carrying non-Willies around the ice, is that Game 1 assertiveness through the neutral zone and bulldozing defenders over the blueline and around the net. With Nylander back, Matthews is actually more free to attack rather than hang high as F3. The two of them are sharing and handing off centre duties in flight.

Yes, the "pairs" are clicking at the right time. Nylander's shooting percentage of 5% versus career average of 10% is due to start correcting it's self as well.

On paper, that third line looks awesome. It's time for some results though.

 

[herman]

https://theathletic.com/880026/2019/03/21/at-his-best-auston-matthews-offers-a-clinic-in-what-can-make-him-one-of-the-nhls-most-dominant-players/

Here's how Tavares describes Matthews' assertiveness with the puck:

After the game, John Tavares (without question, this year has taught me, the Leafs? best player at identifying and detailing his teammates? strengths with specifics, rather than cliches) explained it beautifully.

?Being around him every day, you understand what makes him a special hockey player. His ability just to stay on the puck, track it down, when you think it?s going the other way, his ability to strip guys and be able to hang onto it, protect it, and use his size, he?s so deceptive with his shot or finding the open man. He was a force for us tonight,? Tavares said.

Tavares is similar. They are both special players can turn broken plays into quality opportunities for themselves or linemates.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

For all the doom and gloom about Tampa and Boston, neither has a 1-2 punch (or 1-2-3 punch for that matter) down the middle like we do. If Matthews and Tavares both bring their A+ games to the playoffs then we definitely stand a chance.

 

[herman]

img: Moneypuck.com

I know it was just a rested Buffalo team at home on our second game on the B2B, but dang the score did not reflect the demolition the Leafs unleashed.

Matthews played (far) better than his 4-goal outburst to kick off his NHL career but only got a puck off the skate to show for it.

 

[Highlander]

Sparks finally played with that confident 'swagger' making Freddy-esque saves.

No problems seeing puck through traffic, plus that quick glove toboot.

I sure his teammates felt good and lifted in seeing their goaltender keeping them in the game, doing the job expected of him.

If Sparks can maintain this level of goalkeeping and be consistent, then he'll definitely be one backup to be reckoned with.

Good game, smart effort, positive outcome and results.

GO LEAFS GO!

Agreed on this post, Sparks takes way too much bashing. The Star points out Sparks "He improved to 8-7-1 in 18 appearances this season".  When you think he was thrown into two games that the Leafs had no hope of coming back from with 4 goal first periods against Freddo. Then Sparks record would be 8-5-1 with one blow out against Ottawa, when the whole team didn't show up.  That looks a lot better and not that shabby.

 

[Highlander]

Wow what a stroke of good fortune.

That would?ve bounced in even without Tavares shepherding it home.

https://twitter.com/nhlgifs/status/1108530216018890752

How the hell do you do that Herman, you can tell me in a private post. But I have no clue, not even to add an avatar. Hell I am 62 still learning.

I?m just following a couple of hockey gif accounts on Twitter and I paste the link here when I see?em. Nothing major they?re doing all the hard work of trimming the clips and uploading the video.

Thanks I see, I am not on Twitter