Leafs @ sens - Oct. 14th, 7:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[Bullfrog]

While I agree with most of the criticism, I think it is important to note they put 48 shots on net last night, including 6 each for Marner, Nylander, and Bunting and 4 for Tavares.

 

[L K]

While I agree with most of the criticism, I think it is important to note they put 48 shots on net last night, including 6 each for Marner, Nylander, and Bunting and 4 for Tavares.

They did but that they were getting outshot heading into the 3rd period and had a 25 shot 3rd period.  They definitely tried hard to tie the game but I'm kind of passed the point of giving out participation medals for a team that is into their 4th year with the Big 4 core as the focal point of the team.  Luck played a role in the outcome (NHL changing the kicking motion rules I guess and some weird deflections) but the effort level over 3 periods is just a problem I can't get over.  I just don't see how a team that doesn't have consistency is going to go far.  I get that early season stuff can just be jitters and trying to sort out kinks from the offseason but the team just needs to be better. 

We know the team can play like a worldbeater for stretches but I still don't believe this team can settle themselves down and that's a big concern.

There are still a lot of good things that did happen but there are just way too many games that have this kind of narrative.

 

[Frank E]

Agreed. Would like to see the slow starts be a thing of the past

We've been saying that for years.

This is true.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Agreed. Would like to see the slow starts be a thing of the past

We've been saying that for years.

I wonder if this is just a common complaint every fan has of their team. In the Matthews era the Leafs have more 1st period goals than any other team, and the 2nd best goal differential in the 1st. It's hard for me to look at those numbers and think that "slow starts" are something that plague them more than the average team.

 

[Joe S.]

Habs lost to the sabres 5-1. Tampa gave up 6 to the wings and needed OT to beat them. They also lost 4-1 to the pens to start the year.

I think the leafs will be ok.

 

[bustaheims]

I wonder if this is just a common complaint every fan has of their team. In the Matthews era the Leafs have more 1st period goals than any other team, and the 2nd best goal differential in the 1st. It's hard for me to look at those numbers and think that "slow starts" are something that plague them more than the average team.

They go through stretches where it seems like they don't get going until halfway through the 1st. There's definitely some confirmation and recency bias - we remember the times it blew up on them and the very recent poor starts. I wonder if maybe the slow starts seem much more pronounced because of how good this team can be when they are firing on all cylinders.

It also feels like they have a tendency to start poorly in more important games, but that could also be confirmation bias and a recency effect.

 

[Joe S.]

Do you remember some of the sundin-Roberts teams? They?d come out like maniacs for the first 5 mins and then eventually the game would settle and even out.

I think these things have their ebbs and flows. I can?t imagine anytime has their foot down on the gas for 60 mins going full throttle.

 

[L K]

Going back to the defense of the Leafs angle:

Jake Allen - Expected GAA 4.34
Anton Forsberg - Expected GAA 4.71

In terms of overall scoring opportunities the Leafs should have won both games.

 

[rjd]

I wonder if this is just a common complaint every fan has of their team. In the Matthews era the Leafs have more 1st period goals than any other team, and the 2nd best goal differential in the 1st. It's hard for me to look at those numbers and think that "slow starts" are something that plague them more than the average team.

They go through stretches where it seems like they don't get going until halfway through the 1st. There's definitely some confirmation and recency bias - we remember the times it blew up on them and the very recent poor starts. I wonder if maybe the slow starts seem much more pronounced because of how good this team can be when they are firing on all cylinders.

It also feels like they have a tendency to start poorly in more important games, but that could also be confirmation bias and a recency effect.

I found in Matthews first year, they would get behind early, and then slowly take the game over.  I found that since Matthews second year, they would score early in the games where they come out fired up, and then slowly let the other team take over.  There has been progress in this area, as last year they were good in the one goal games and looked like they could calmly shut down those games where they had a lead.

Like you say it just seems like certain games they start like they are skating in mud and then they try and make up for it in the third period. 

 

[rjd]

Going back to the defense of the Leafs angle:

Jake Allen - Expected GAA 4.34
Anton Forsberg - Expected GAA 4.71

In terms of overall scoring opportunities the Leafs should have won both games.

Yeah, the numbers are great, but at some point that has to translate in to actual wins some how.  Like last year Tampa and Toronto both had amazing underlying numbers against the Habs, but the Habs beat the Leafs in 7 games, and Tampa beat the Habs in 5.  Maybe some of that is rest, and the Canadiens just couldn't dig any deeper, but having great  underlying numbers isn't going to cut it if those don't turn into wins when things matter.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

There are still a lot of good things that did happen but there are just way too many games that have this kind of narrative.

There's been two games. I get that it feels like the same old leafs, but there's literally been two games this season. There's a number of new players as well. So, if this is the same old, same old....what do we peg the lack of preparedness on?