Eklund: Guest Leafs Writer: Colin. “Whose Fault is it?”

I blame Aetherial...it's all his fault!

Good article

Whose fault is it? Hard to assign blame for one game.

I can’t help but blame Berube the most. The last three games they look like the Leafs of the past. It obviously doesn’t work. We don’t know what goes on behind the scenes but I’m of the belief that he’s having a hard to getting through to one specific player. This player refuses to play a sound defensive game, which is permeating throughout the lineup.

Woll. Just wasn’t good enough in the 2nd and 3rd period. He allowed some goals that deflated the team.

Matthews and Marner just aren’t creating enough space, or making enough dangerous plays. Defence first, sure… but they need to amp up the offense. Matthews making bad passes is a huge momentum killer.

The 4th line is sorta just out there.. When the Leafs were down a couple goals there was no big hit or scrums or anything that suggests they’re going to inspire the team to get back into the fight. Patches tried, but the crowd didn’t react much because it was likely too late. The Leafs are always trying to be the nice guys.

Savard has let the PP go cold. Florida isn’t letting them get to the middle of the ice. They need to adapt.

There’s a lot more fire power in our lineup, and that fire power should be trying to throw checks every chance they have or dump and chase. They need to make the same kind of adjustments.

What firepower or dump and chase players aren't doing it already and that they have?

I think Matthews is playing hurt… he hasn’t been the same since blocking that shot off his hand against Ottawa and may still have lingering injuries from the regular season. Marner hasn’t been the same since that elbow to the head… maybe he’s afraid of getting hurt? If true, we should be thankful his contract is about to expire. Problem is, replacing what he does well isn’t easy, let alone replacing it with someone who can also do it in the playoffs.

The defence looks fine, the goaltending for the most part looks fine. The forward group needs a change. They’re not far from being a true contender, but regardless of a win or loss in this series, it’s easy to see they’re still not quite there yet.

I think Matthews is playing hurt… he hasn’t been the same since blocking that shot off his hand against Ottawa and may still have lingering injuries from the regular season. Marner hasn’t been the same since that elbow to the head… maybe he’s afraid of getting hurt? If true, we should be thankful his contract is about to expire. Problem is, replacing what he does well isn’t easy, let alone replacing it with someone who can also do it in the playoffs.

The defence looks fine, the goaltending for the most part looks fine. The forward group needs a change. They’re not far from being a true contender, but regardless of a win or loss in this series, it’s easy to see they’re still not quite there yet.
- JBP1802

For the last 10 years of playoffs ?

This is how he spells his name. It’s a Gaelic name his family originally from Ireland. It’s basically Colin. But the old Irish Gaelic version.

Good article

Whose fault is it? Hard to assign blame for one game.

I can’t help but blame Berube the most. The last three games they look like the Leafs of the past. It obviously doesn’t work. We don’t know what goes on behind the scenes but I’m of the belief that he’s having a hard to getting through to one specific player. This player refuses to play a sound defensive game, which is permeating throughout the lineup.

Woll. Just wasn’t good enough in the 2nd and 3rd period. He allowed some goals that deflated the team.

Matthews and Marner just aren’t creating enough space, or making enough dangerous plays. Defence first, sure… but they need to amp up the offense. Matthews making bad passes is a huge momentum killer.

The 4th line is sorta just out there.. When the Leafs were down a couple goals there was no big hit or scrums or anything that suggests they’re going to inspire the team to get back into the fight. Patches tried, but the crowd didn’t react much because it was likely too late. The Leafs are always trying to be the nice guys.

Savard has let the PP go cold. Florida isn’t letting them get to the middle of the ice. They need to adapt.
- Horsey Sauce

Maybe it's the GM then if once again said player is causing issues.

One has to assume Berube has been trying to make adjustments, but if the players don't listen what can he do?

Really no different than Edmonton. Went through all sorts of coaches even though under all the coaches the players had shown they can play a smart game at times. The players were told and watched endless amount of video to show the issues, but for some reason players just wouldn't all buy in. Now for some reason they started to buy in and we look like a totally different team from game 2 of the first series.

Coaches have to have different approaches to try get through to players, but if the drive isn't there to win then nothing will ever change.

For the superstar Mathews is, he isn’t in the playoffs. He isn’t cerebral, he isn’t playing hard. It is one thing in the 82 but not in a series. Your best player needs to be your best player and a leader. Mathews is neither. Time to move on from him and others.

The Leafs were willing to pay the price, to win, in the first 3 games. By game 4 onwards, they are tired of being hit to make a play and it’s a done series. They are running scared. These guys should be playing on the big ice surface in Europe.
The secret to beating these guys is out! Everybody knows, hit them, and they will quit. They might have a burst of fight back in game six, with cheap shots and dumb penalties! That way they can blame the ref. Make no mistake though, this organization starting with Shanahan, needs to make serious changes.

Toronto has deserved better for decades. When I was a kid, I didn’t expect anything. Ballard was running the show and the Leafs were going nowhere! But the players left it all out there. Take a look at BJ Salming. Then the years of Clark and Tucker, Roberts, Gilmour, etc. Now we have, Mitch, AM and Willie. Some real warriors there! It’s been embarrassing for too long. People need to be fired and not let walk when their contract expires.

Bullot's take is all correct !!

Colin's info is solid but the writing skills need work

There’s a lot more fire power in our lineup, and that fire power should be trying to throw checks every chance they have or dump and chase. They need to make the same kind of adjustments.

What firepower or dump and chase players aren't doing it already and that they have?
- AdamFrench

don’t act like you don’t know🤦‍♂️

Just made the 8 hour trip to Kamloops
⚾️ tournament this weekend

Good luck boys 💙

I have a brilliant idea and you guys can’t tell me otherwise.


Give these guys 3-5 beers before the game and let them rip it up. It can’t be worse and it will help them get out of their own heads. I’m sure this is what happened in 1967 anyways. Couple beers couple other things and bang bang leafs win the cup.

I have a brilliant idea and you guys can’t tell me otherwise.


Give these guys 3-5 beers before the game and let them rip it up. It can’t be worse and it will help them get out of their own heads. I’m sure this is what happened in 1967 anyways. Couple beers couple other things and bang bang leafs win the cup.
- bryant

💙 other things

Geez, hockeybuzz Caillou really had a full send day in the last blog.

Whine about Willy, tell everyone they're mean to players and it's abusive, call someone a homophobe, ask people what it's like being so obsessed with him, defend Marner without cause, refer to someone as a "flake".... Played all the hits, minus the travel arrangement for a fist fight offer ...

A full season of snowflake aardvark in one episode, can't beat that.

I hate to come across as a troll but you guys should really watch the Oilers. Very similar to Leafs in some aspects, but the compete level from every single player in the line up is miles ahead of where the Leafs are. Depth scoring and relentless effort is where it’s at.

I hate to come across as a troll but you guys should really watch the Oilers. Very similar to Leafs in some aspects, but the compete level from every single player in the line up is miles ahead of where the Leafs are. Depth scoring and relentless effort is where it’s at.
- HonkyTonkMan

Pretty much this. To see on the same very night as that dismal effort from the leafs and then you go and watch the defensive clinic that was the Edmonton vs Vegas was something else entirely. And then towards the end and into OT you can just see everytime McDavid and Draisaitl hit the ice the puck is heading towards the vegas end at top speed.

💙 other things

- systemtool

Nose beers?