Saturday FTB: Leafs experiencing playoff hangover
The Leafs haven’t looked like a juggernaut yet this year
The Sharks have been surprisingly good this year.
OR!
The Leafs have been... I guess surprisingly isn’t the right word, but they’ve been pretty meh. They have had stretches looking good, but equal stretches looking both awful and mediocre.
Call it some early season rust, but when I’m seeing the same sort of issue that plagued them last season and especially in the playoffs, I’m calling it a hangover they still haven’t gotten out of.
I’m actually pretty apathetic about it. I’ve said since the end of the playoffs and reiterated at the start of this season, the regular season doesn’t matter as long as they make the playoffs. I don’t care if they go 82-0. I don’t care if they look inconsistent or consistently great. Just make the playoffs and play good hockey.
I won’t allow myself to care about one loss in game five.
What I do care about is when I see Keefe say things like this:
Sheldon Keefe on #Leafs top power play unit:
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) October 23, 2021
"Not on the same page. Fighting it. Not executing it. A lot of the same stuff we saw last year, to be honest."
Keefe said it was unfair to be piling on Ritchie (whom he benched) when Matthews and Marner should have been getting the same heat. Will be interesting to see if the trio get another chance in Pittsburgh tomorrow.
— Lance Hornby (@sunhornby) October 23, 2021
Now, I like a coach who can identify problems that the team has. I don’t like a coach who can’t seem to figure out what to do about it, and as Katya documented in her review of the All Or Nothing series, Keefe seemed to know all season that there were big problems. And while he yelled and begged and pleaded with them through the season, it never seemed to fix anything.
So hey, don’t those quotes above sound real fuckin familiar.
ONTO THE LINKS
In Women’s Hockey news, Team Canada faced Team USA that ended in a win for Canada. Here are some highlights:
Canada gets on the board first, courtesy of Sarah Fillier! pic.twitter.com/hGRbDxZAGt
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 23, 2021
USA gets on the board and we're all tied up at 1. pic.twitter.com/AL6fc8OYUY
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 23, 2021
Emily Clark gives Canada the lead in the third period! pic.twitter.com/YtHLGHUsHD
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 23, 2021
It's the Rivalry Series for a reason! Things are starting to get chippy!! pic.twitter.com/YyWr19RmsW
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 23, 2021
on top!
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 23, 2021
Emily Clark scores her second of the night to give Canada the 3-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/HFhYElsGPY
Disorganized Leafs get desperate for offense in 5-3 loss to Sharks | by Hardev
Analyzing eight noteworthy stats from the Maple Leafs start to the season | by Jonas Siegel
Early impressions of Canada’s NHL teams in return to normal divisions | by Justin Bourne
Pens have no timetable for Crosby return | by TSN.ca
Speaking of Crosby, did you know that he’s a psychopathic robot?
Sidney Crosby indicated he initially injured his wrist in a game following the 2014 Olympics and has been managing it ever since.
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) October 22, 2021
Older news as far as the allegations, but an update for how it will be investigated.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport has opened an investigation into Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin after the wife of a former Pittsburgh Penguins coach alleged Guerin covered up her sexual assault when he worked for the franchise.
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) October 22, 2021
Story from @rwesthead: https://t.co/KslodK7mo0 pic.twitter.com/Gci6v8h7BY
Let’s end on a good note:
Liigan kärkikamppailu odottaa Iskulla.
— Lahden Pelicans (@PelicansFi) October 22, 2021
Perjantai ei tästä paremmaksi muutu. #PelicansFi #Kärpät #Liiga : Tomi Natri pic.twitter.com/W50VQHYAmy