Kings @ Leafs - Nov. 8th, 7:30pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[Nik]

Team getting a bag skate today.

[tweet]796409008676605952[/tweet]

 

[Frank E]

Team getting a bag skate today.

Looks like a dark day in Leafland.

 

[Highlander]

Blame Trump?as we can no longer blame George W anymore.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Morgan Rielly: "They showed us tonight that we've got a long way to go."

I fully expect TBLeafer to send Morgan a PM and tell him he's wrong. 

 

[rjd]

Now 1-4-1 against teams that made the playoffs last year with a -16 goal differential in those games. Throw in Montreal, where it seems fairly clear that Price is the difference between them being a good "team" or not and it's 1-5-1 and -17.

Which, to be clear, shouldn't be seen as a "negative" comment. The fact that they're doing better against the teams at their level is a sign of real improvement. The fact that they're consistently getting beaten, and beaten with some degree of consistency and extent, by good veteran teams should be expected of a young and inexperienced team.

Which, if you'll allow me, should speak to something from a few days ago. I am very excited about this team's potential and future. That does not mean I have to be blind to what this team is right now or pretend that the future is closer than I think it is.

This year is really about the "Did the Leafs make the wrong pick?" articles anyway. 

One thing that I am currently clinging too.  Ovechkin won the Calder, but Crosby has won two cups.  Although, Ovechkin was older than Crosby at that point.

 

[bustaheims]

This year is really about the "Did the Leafs make the wrong pick?" articles anyway. 

One thing that I am currently clinging too.  Ovechkin won the Calder, but Crosby has won two cups.  Although, Ovechkin was older than Crosby at that point.

While there's going to be a lot of those articles, it's also important to remember the differences between Laine's and Matthews' linemates (and teammates). Matthews has been playing with two other rookies on his line. Laine, on the other hand, has other young players on his line, but, Scheifle put up 60+ points last year, and probably cracks 30 goals if he doesn't miss 11 games, and Ehlers is coming off a strong rookie season. It really shouldn't be a surprise that his early numbers are better.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

This year is really about the "Did the Leafs make the wrong pick?" articles anyway. 

One thing that I am currently clinging too.  Ovechkin won the Calder, but Crosby has won two cups.  Although, Ovechkin was older than Crosby at that point.

While there's going to be a lot of those articles, it's also important to remember the differences between Laine's and Matthews' linemates (and teammates). Matthews has been playing with two other rookies on his line. Laine, on the other hand, has other young players on his line, but, Scheifle put up 60+ points last year, and probably cracks 30 goals if he doesn't miss 11 games, and Ehlers is coming off a strong rookie season. It really shouldn't be a surprise that his early numbers are better.

Also 25% vs. 11% when it comes to shooting percentage. Two weeks ago Matthews had the Calder locked up, then he "hit a wall". Now it's Laine's to lose. He'll reach that wall too at some point. It's a long season.

 

[Redleaf]

This year is really about the "Did the Leafs make the wrong pick?" articles anyway. 

One thing that I am currently clinging too.  Ovechkin won the Calder, but Crosby has won two cups.  Although, Ovechkin was older than Crosby at that point.

While there's going to be a lot of those articles, it's also important to remember the differences between Laine's and Matthews' linemates (and teammates). Matthews has been playing with two other rookies on his line. Laine, on the other hand, has other young players on his line, but, Scheifle put up 60+ points last year, and probably cracks 30 goals if he doesn't miss 11 games, and Ehlers is coming off a strong rookie season. It really shouldn't be a surprise that his early numbers are better.

Well. Let's face it. Matthews is in a slump. He had 2 great chances in one shift alone with Marner, that would have found the back of the net if it was the season opener. I think he'll go on a bit of a tear soon, right after he scores his next one and he'll break out of it. That 4 goal debut game has turned into a bit of a curse on him right now.

 

[TBLeafer]

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Morgan Rielly: "They showed us tonight that we've got a long way to go."

I fully expect TBLeafer to send Morgan a PM and tell him he's wrong. 

Hey, a long way to go from being a Cup contender is different than hanging around the fringe of playoffs.