Panthers @ Leafs - Mar. 28th, 7:30pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[McGarnagle]

Reilly really needs to just shoot at the middle of the net, and with his accuracy, he'll likely pick the corner occasionally. 

 

[herman]

This is a very weak call against Gardiner.

 

[barney_rebel]

We stink dudes...

 

[ZBBM]

What the hell was Rielly trying to do there? 

 

[barney_rebel]

We rule man...

 

[herman]

That was a manly win. Polak with some great positioning to box off that loose puck in the corner. Rielly skating the clock off by bringing the puck into a terrible shooting area.

 

[McGarnagle]

Gah. This game, and the Jersey game were two that we could easily have lost with the same luck as earlier in the season. The bounces are averaging out a bit.

 

[Kin]

It's crazy to think about things this way but is Marner even going to finish top 5 in Calder voting? What a wild year.

 

[Bender]

Matthews, Laine, Nylander, Murray, Werenski?

 

[TheMightyOdin]

I'm back!  Been away from the forum a long long while...

Let's see, I might be a bit late on this one but that 4 goal game for Matthews in game one was sweet!  Lol..

It's been a fun season with a young talented team. Clark is one of my all time favorite leafs but it was pretty cool to see Matthews take the rookie record tonight for goals.

 

[Kin]

Matthews, Laine, Nylander, Murray, Werenski?

If I had a vote right now it'd probably be:

1. Matthews
2. Werenski
3. Laine
4. Nylander
5. Marner/Murray

That #5 spot is a tough one.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Congratulations to awesome Auston on setting a new Maple Leafs rookie goal-scoring record with goal #35!

Way to go!

GO LEAFS GO!!

 

[disco]

Wendel on when he thought his record might be in jeopardy: "Around the middle of the second period in the first game."

Great performance by Mac, another huge two points!

 

[ZBBM]

Matthews, Laine, Nylander, Murray, Werenski?

If I had a vote right now it'd probably be:

1. Matthews
2. Werenski
3. Laine
4. Nylander
5. Marner/Murray

That #5 spot is a tough one.

If Matthews finishes ahead of Laine in goals that pretty much finishes that part of the debate.  In fact I think it finishes the debate period.  Werenski has been good but no way a defenseman outvotes a centerman from hockey's biggest market.  The rest fall into the category "In Any Other Year...."

 

[Zee]

Pretty good game last night for S.H. Hyman

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Nice to see Kapanen got some PK time. Like I said earlier, I wasn't sure Babcock would give him that responsibility at this point.

 

[Coco-puffs]

Nice to see Kapanen got some PK time. Like I said earlier, I wasn't sure Babcock would give him that responsibility at this point.

In his comments to the media on Monday after Kapanen was brought up he pretty much said he was here to use his speed on the forecheck and to help on the PK.  (Around :50 second mark is where he talks about him coming up etc). 

https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/video/mike-babcock-march-27-2017/t-277555814/c-50850903

His speed is going to be lethal on the PK.  One turnover near the blueline and he and Connor Brown were gone on a 2-on-1.  I hate to make the comparison because he couldn't finish at all last year, but he reminds me of Grabner... he'll get a lot of short-handed breakaways in his career.  Hopefully he finishes like the Rangers version of Grabner and not the Leafs version when he gets them.

 

[herman]

he reminds me of Grabner... he'll get a lot of short-handed breakaways in his career.

I was thinking the same thing, except Kapanen is faster than Grabner, and has better hands in tight and passing with teammates. He doesn't have quite the carrying capability that Nylander, Matthews have, but he can really give and go on the fly and on the cycle.

That power move from his off wing* to crash the net was audacious for his first NHL game since last year's garbage time call up, and showed the level of confidence he's playing with this year.

* He does it pretty often in the AHL -- check out 1:20ish

 

[Frank E]

Hyman showing his value. If he wasn't on Matthews' wing, I don't think there'd be any complaints about him.

He's a very good 3rd liner, maybe even a 6th forward on the 2nd line.

He's played more PK time than any other forward in the NHL this season.

 

[Frank E]

Nylander did not like how he was swung into the boards. Makes Demers feel it.

Gives Hyman (et al) another chance to ice the game shorthanded.

Heh, I'm guessing that if Martin took the penalty instead of nylander, the tone would be a touch different  ;D

This is a good opinion.

That was a super dumb move by Nylander there, given the importance of the win...rookie move for sure, but I kind of liked that he showed a little fire there.