Are You Beginning To Believe In The 2025 Maple Leafs? | SDP

Are You Beginning To Believe In The 2025 Maple Leafs? | SDP

This is Austin Matthews and William Knander after a great give and go that won them the game. Leafs were I think guys to fair to say dominant in the first two periods or or really dominant in the first second period you could split. Third was all Rangers. Um and is you know the question Steve is is Igor Shashurken good and you talked about this a little bit on your LFR last night. Uh he’s pretty good. He is other he has a losing record. Uh two wins, three losses. It’s 22 and one because this was in overtime. He has a losing record with a 962 save percentage through five games. That’s that’s I don’t have words for that. The Rangers would I was I was telling you on Wednesday you didn’t believe me. This team’s going to be good. They’re going to be fine. Things are going to turn around. They just need to figure out their scoring. And I think we underrate how much turnover happened with this Rangers team. You got a new coach, half the roster’s changed, new leadership group. They need to figure out how to play Mike Sullivan hockey and score goals. And that shooting percentage comes up because of how they’re getting towards the net and the shots they’re placing on. And you talked about how they’re bumble [ __ ] a lot around with the puck. But those little details, they’ll figure themselves out. And they have a Vzna caliber goalender. Now, I I want to I just want to address something. You said scoring is the issue, right? What if you had a guy that had 52 goals and then 36 goals and then 39 goals and then he fell to only 22, but then he’s got four goals in four four games to start the season. What if you had that guy? Chris Crider didn’t forget how to play hockey, huh? His back just couldn’t hold up last year. You have to, unless you’re the Sabres, bet on sports science, you have to um these guys are coming back, man. I growing up, you got the wrong injury, you were toast. Yep. There were so many guys. Hey, whatever happened to he got injured? They say that Bobby Or’s injuries on his knees. He would have played 20 years if he if he had those injuries today. He’d be out a couple months. Let me give you a more recent one. Jonathan Chichu. Oh man, talk about a career robbed, eh? 56 goals. Now you can be like he was a Thornton merchant. Whatever. You still have to score them. Who gives a [ __ ] Yeah. And it wasn’t uh like he was taken off a Thornton’s line. Like he had he had an injury, right? The the Eel thing had never been done in the NHL. It’s worked a charm. It’s got a cup and now it’s been done a few times. The the hip resurfacing with Patrick Kane had not worked. It’s worked. Um you you got to bet on sports science. The the advancements are crazy. I I you know this is anecdotal but I but I told it before my uncle had one of his hips replaced. It was like 15 years ago. The procedure took it was like 4 to 6 hours. I can’t remember. Um he just got one replaced within the past year. It was 45 minutes the procedure. Like things are changing and Chris Krider like we said most of last year did not forget how to play hockey. He was just hurt. So here’s what JT Miller had to say after the game. I want to just do a quick focus on the Rangers because they are a dichotomy, right? Uh he said, “If you’re mentally weak, you’re going to go off the rails because this isn’t working on paper. It’s about getting the look. It’s not about if it goes in. We’re we’re going to keep pounding pucks at the net and outplaying teams we’re playing against and it’s going to work eventually.” And if you look at the advanced stats, they way outscored the Leafs in terms of scoring chances last night. Um they couldn’t connect on a one-time. They couldn’t the passing clearly like they’re still working but but Jesse mentioned it perfectly and I think this is a part of the Leaf’s problem too when we get to them is there’s a lot of new blood injected into that lineup and it takes 20 games to sort that out or more. They’re too comfortable giving up those cross slot passes cuz I think they’re very confident in what they can do in front of their own net and they do a good job, right? Like there will be rebounds and they clear it. Um and they clear it with poise too, right? like they don’t just go and get rid of it. That’s why I was so disappointed by that Riley icing a couple games ago against Detroit. Like there was no need for that whatsoever. Um the stuff they do in front of the net all the time that I think would get you yelled at in most levels of hockey, they’re able to do it because they’re they’re confident. But this all the stuff just outside of that little bubble um they got to clean up. Jesse, that’s a crazy graphic. So yeah, I just wanted to throw this up there because Adam, you outlined briefly like how the game went and I feel like the expected goals, the analytics back up exactly what kind of happened in the game. The expected goals at five on five all game long it was very even. Second to third period hits the Rangers kind of take things over and they had the higher share of expected goals. Um it’s right there in the third period is kind of where the jump is made and then in overtime it’s threeon three. It’s pond hockey who really it’s a coin, you know. So, I feel like how it played out with a 1-1 game throughout the whole thing and then they they have the tiebreaker to finish it off is kind of what is the correct result. This two teams were very close and the Rangers had a lot of chances. They just couldn’t finish and their little details aren’t quite there yet at this point in the season. Maybe you want to criticize the coaching for not having them ready for these little details, but I’m willing to give them that leeway and just say like it’s give them some time. Hey, you just got here. You just got it. You just got If you’re trying to figure out who’s going to win in the playoffs, uh, take the standings, take every overtime or shootout result and make them a tie. Yeah, make them a tie and try to work it out from there because at least we’re 10 and two in overtimes last year. You need those wins. Those wins are what got them the division. and it’s what got them home ice advantage, but it doesn’t necessarily give you an accurate portrayal of what the teams They were pretty good in overtime against the Sens, too. They were pretty good in overtime against the Sens. I want to say, uh, Anthony Stlers was absolutely unreal last night. 10 bell saves sometimes if two, three times in a row. I thought it was strange that when his goalie mask fell off, they didn’t blow it dead in one of those. I I thought you had to do that. I’m curious if that was a late whistle or if there’s there’s some sort of weird language where it’s like if there’s an imminent scoring chance continuation I think is what they call it. Yeah. And there was an imminent scoring chance and he stopped it. Yeah. Um nice scores again opening the scoring for the Leafs. He’s been unreal to start the year. Beef. Beef. Beef. Just go to the net. Willies weird little shot pass. It’s it’s weird. It seemed too high to be a pass. Too weak to be a shot. whatever it worked. Um, one of my little bugs and and I’m a big OEL Benois guy. Um, I actually think they’re a really great top pairing when they’re on the ice. I or top pairing, bottom pairing when they’re on the ice. Uh, my issue is that every game one one or or both takes a penalty except for Nashville and last night again Benois takes a penalty and you go these and and it’s not like the penalties are great penalties to take. You got beat and you got to pull a guy down or whatever. It’s stick and glove [ __ ] Um, and I I’m so I will be watching uh for the next little bit to see how many games we actually get of those two, one of those two or both not going to the box. I I they need to play cleaner games because the Leafs need their other guys, their better guys to be in positions to make things happen on the offensive side and they need Oel for that too. Ben, part of Benois’s usefulness in the Leafs lineup is killing penalties. Yes. Um, you know, it’s it’s interesting because there was that high stick or delay a game call rather against Detroit. Matthews goes to the box. I guess they review it and they’re like, oh, it was actually Benois and Benois goes to the box. And where’d the Leafs get beat? Right in front. And I’m like, uh, you need Matthews, but like, God, that’s why Benny’s in the freaking lineup. Uh, he’s not going to play every game if this keeps up. Oel four points in five games. I know he’s been great on the offensive side. I’m just begging them not to take penalties. I am too. Jesse, uh just on the Stallers mask thing because I took me a second to bring up the article, but Luke Fox’s gamer from last night, his game article, um was on that uh the Staller situation in the mask because uh St. was very open about wanting change for that rule. So Luke wrote, um play can continue against a mask maskless goalie in an event of an imminent scoring chance. Staler suggests the book could use a rewrite. Staler said, “This is the second time it’s happened. Happened to Aiden Hill the other night as well, so hopefully we can find a compromise. It’s not like goalies are trying to knock our helmets off.” I mean, without the buckle, you can’t really see the puck. You can’t really track or do anything. As soon as you move your head, it falls off. So hopefully the league can look at it and talk to some goalies or people who have knowledge of the position and we can come to some sort of compromise where a safety isn’t put at risk there. I think it’s very interesting that you have an NHL player calling out the rule books. It’s not often that NHL players speak out against things. It, you know, maybe ignorant question, but like can we fix these masks? Like, can we Yeah, it seems like any direct hit, it’s popping off. Well, you probably want that though because you want it to You don’t want it to stay on maybe because it’ll hook the head to the side or whatever. You probably want it to fall. Well, and probably dampens the impact. Yeah, that’s what I mean. Sorry. Yeah. Yeah. Well, no, you’re we’re we’re we’re on the same track. Same thing. Totally. So, I think just [ __ ] blow it dead, man. You The difference between now and like the ‘ 50s, yes, somebody will ab abuse it, but the difference between now and like the ‘ 50s and 60s when like Jacqu Blunt finally put a mask on was that they all had wooden straight sticks. Yeah. And they could not shoot the way they can now. One of those pucks hits you in the head, you could die. That’s the end of it. Like that is straight up what it is. So if a player on the ice, a player player loses their helmet, they got to get off. Goalie loses their helmet, play can continue because there might be a scoring chance. What? So where’s which which part of the safety are we looking at? The reason that the play can continue with the goalie without a mask is because pucks are coming towards him. Yes. Because somebody else might take another shot, Jesse. So we need to continue this play so that you can face an imminent scoring chance. So that means the puck is coming at you without the mask. Yes. This this is completely against safety and everything that makes sense. Just don’t have mass. Like I h I got big problems with the way that rule is written as well. And Matthew Ny when in his postgame scrum he said um I was a little scared to be honest. Like that’s like like there’s an NHL player he’s defending his teammate and everything but like supposed to be tough. Everybody in that situation should be scared for stallers. This guy had a concussion four months ago. Yeah. Ah, but again, okay. Is this dangerous? Yes. Yes. Do we want to keep players safe? Yes. Are guys going to cheat like crazy? Also, yes. You think a goalie is going to shake off his mask? A million%. And that’s when you have a ref call a penalty or even a penalty shot. Yeah. Yeah. I like a penalty better. Penalty shots are [ __ ] Or the option. I’ll take a minute penalty all day over. Or the option. Yeah. Or the option. Yeah. Penalties declined. It’s going to be a two-minute. That’s exciting, isn’t it? I understand the fan base like if it’s if the Rangers score there but it’s called off because his mask is off. Let’s say they change the rules. I get them being mad about that. I that Yeah, you should be mad about that because you would have scored if that mask stays on and there’s a goal there. So maybe it’s it’s okay that the rules are written this way. I just hope they blow it faster, you know? like don’t wait for the Leafs to gain full possession. Maybe if you just know that like the Rangers aren’t directly shooting it into the net, blow it dead cuz they took a couple passes there and St has made a save and everybody after the game’s like, “Haha, old school. You made a save with no mask. It’s the 40s again.” But it was actually really dangerous. Hey, have you seen any of those guys faces? They’re broken. They’re broken. Yeah, I I unfortunately we’ve lost a lot of them by now, but like that that photo of Terry Sachuk is absolutely insane. I got to speak to John uh Johnny Bower once in my life. I got to ask him two questions and after the first one, his top dentures popped out. Um these these guys like have have been through it. Um, and but to me that play was how you know the Rangers don’t have championship DNA because No, no, because they tried to score. Yeah. You got to put yourself in the mindset of the Florida Panthers. Oh, you should kill the goal. You tee it up and aim straight for the teeth. Yeah. No, actually eyeball eyeball. You’re much more likely to kill the eye. No, Steve. You’re trying to murder him. Yeah. Whatever. And then and then and then you play, you know, got dark. This is all a game of president. You play your joker, which is but I’m his friend and he’s such we’re such good friends. He’s one of our guys. [ __ ] off. All right. Now, uh let’s talk about Matthews and Knander in OT vintage Matthews Knander play. And I think I had to remind my wife of this. She was like, you know, they they talk a lot about Matthews and Martner blah blah. She’s like, they did play together for 10 years. Like I sort of get I’m like, no, they didn’t. No, they were banned from playing together for the first three and a half years. Who did Austin Matthews play with? Have we all forgotten? It’s William Knander. It’s I felt I feel like they got it wrong the whole time. Babcock is like Matthews and Knander play together. Mitch can [ __ ] off. Keith goes Austin and Mitch play together. Willie can [ __ ] off. And by the time that actually Bubé always had Mitch with Matthew. Well, because I think that that was a player request. Ah, they don’t run the asylum. What are you doing? There’s a very popular saying about this. You have the craziest onetwo punch on the right wing in the [ __ ] league and you handcuffed yourself by not alternating. Yep. Why? Gh. Anyway, glad they connected. They looked great. Uh, how do you feel about that? I can’t, you know, it’s complicated. I like to keep a level head. I like to keep a level head. No, like dude, you can’t score for like a week. Switch it up. You have two 11ish million dollar rightwingers and the best goal scorer on earth. Mhm. And you’re not even going to tinker with it? Oh my god, this organization. Well, they they have to now. Now they’re forced to. It’s sort of like when uh it’s sort of like in your favorite movie, the one movie you’ve seen. Moneyball. Moneyball where they trade a player so that Art How can’t play him. Steve watched Moneyball and was like, “Okay, I’m done.” That’s all the movies for my lifetime. Well, that was it. I’ve seen I have nothing will ever meet this. Movies have peaked at Moneyball. I don’t need more movies. That is an accurate depiction of Mark Shapyro and that everyone involved is very happy with how they were portrayed. No, like they’ll play Cowan with Matthews and Nice and then in certain situations they’ll put Willie there and I’m like right on time boys. Right on time. Worth noting Cowan did not play in the third period. He did. Ugly. Not uh ugly game. Ugly game. Hey, rookie. Rookie. Rookie. Not his best. Not his be. I It’s interesting because I actually thought he made some of the best defensive plays of his career. um on account of he’s three games in. Okay. Um but also a lot of give. Lorent’s going to be in it looks like tomorrow against Seattle. Um he should be I don’t love him. Who’s coming out? Well, he was hurt. That’s why they wanted to just give him extra rest. No, but yesterday was Well, he was eligible. They reported it as a healthy scratch, which I didn’t like cuz he’s coming off an injury. You know what I mean? So, he was cleared to play. Okay, let’s Okay, let’s get to the real question, which is what who’s come out? Who do you have an answer? I have no idea. Oh, I I I I don’t know what the lines are right now. Um I could look it up probably has them. My guess is Robbie. Um and I’m not picking on him. His game was fine uh yesterday. Robertson hit Robertson. I thought that was very funny. So it’s interesting. Matt Matthews didn’t practice. He did do some skates before, but he’s taking a breather today like Knander did yesterday. Uh they’re playing a lot and Yarn Croak sat between N and C. So we don’t know. It looks like it’s going to be Yarn Croak. You think so? Yeah. Yarn coming out. Really? Based on those lines, it would be Loren Swah and Joshua. I thought he was very good. Like Robertson, do Mc McMahon, Michelli, Tvarz, Neilander, N Matthew Cowing, just based on those practice. I’d like to see Yarn Croak, do McMahon. That’s fun. That could be I like I like McMahon on the right. Yarn Croak can play the left. Uh Lorent Wah Joshua doesn’t seem like a very good time uh for the other guys. Yeah, that’s interesting. thing. I don’t I don’t love Yarn Croak coming out, but like there’s got to be a rotation here. Ble hasn’t even got into a game yet. Um, and you have to give Austin a shot at the Rocket, you know, cuz if you leave Yarn Croak in there, he’s going to steal it from Austin, and you don’t want that. It’s like, does he still lead the team? No, I think I think Austin does now. Oh, cuz he has the two empty net. Anybody that took Yarn Croak in Fantasy just had the best week of their lives. And my I would encourage you to drop him after this. I don’t think you’re going to have God’s green earth took yarn in fantasy league, man. Deep league. I don’t know. I don’t know. You got to have a 24 team league or something. I don’t think anyone in his family took him in fantasy. And if they did, they’re in first. Uh I would love to know if somebody took him and actually got the points for it, like actually addressed him, too. There’s no way. Um there’s just no way. Anyway, so like listen, what do we what do we take from what do we take from last night’s game? Obviously, it’s game five or six. I don’t even know. Uh, what do we take? Um, uh, they’re a more organized team than the Rangers. I would say there’s a lot of The Rangers played nervous. They played really nervous, jumpy hockey. And yeah, as a Leaf fan, I would know. I can already hear you screaming it. I would know. Um, it’s good to see Austin get his cookies. Willy’s getting his cookies. Willy’s up to nine points. Uhhuh. I know some of those are on empty netters. I don’t really care. I don’t think he does either. They’re both doing really well. The big guys are performing. You’re getting a few depth performances, which is nice. Stallers looks really sharp. Like overall, if you just look at the individual pieces, you’re getting what you want out of the lineup. Are they still kind of disjointed? Yeah. I tell you, the player I’m cheering for the hardest every time he takes the ice just because I don’t think he’s playing poorly. Hold on, Jesse. Who do you think he’s gonna say? Who is Who is Steve? I don’t think he’s playing poorly. I think he’s doing a lot of good things and I just don’t think it’s going his way. Uh, I am going to say uh Oh, it’s not. Are you going to say Nick Roberts? Do me. You’re both wrong. Matias Machelli. Ah, okay. All right. I like the things that are going on when he’s on the ice. He works really hard and he’s fighting it. I think he’s fighting it. And I think he needs to slow down a little um because he’s had so many sexy setups that either haven’t ended in a shot or a goal and one of them’s going to damn well go in and the building’s going to go, “Holy [ __ ] who’s this guy?” Um it hasn’t come yet and I hope it comes before he finds his way into the bottom six and potentially out of the lineup.

Steve Dangle, Adam Wylde and Jesse Blake recap the Toronto Maple Leafs win against the New York Rangers and discuss how they feel abut the teams performance through 5 games.

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