GLENDALE, Ariz. — It was almost as if Sheldon Keefe flipped a light switch.
"I just think a little bit more freedom," said Auston Matthews, when asked why they looked so much better. "We weren’t really just giving up the puck. I thought if something wasn’t there, we’d just kind of come back and hang on to it and we’d all come up and support each other and we didn’t have guys all over the place.
If a picture is worth 1,000 words, the heat map from Thursday’s game might be worth 1,000,000. A team that has failed to meet expectations and had dropped six in a row suddenly started generating from the parts of the ice where goals come from: "More importantly than how we played, I just thought we had really good energy on the bench. I was really impressed," said Keefe. "Just the interactions with the players on the bench, the energy, the vibe, the reaction of the players on Barrie’s goal — you just see that they really care for him as a teammate and really feel good for him."He’d barely slept in the last 48 hours and got a win in his first game coaching at this level.
reporterchris MapleLeafs So is the parade back on then?
reporterchris MapleLeafs Not Sheldon. Matthews got better cocaine, most probably from Ryan Reaves the night before in Vegas.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Let's see how they play in Colorado then asess.
reporterchris MapleLeafs And Babcock deserves a switch on his bare-white Canadian ass! 🌿🤣
reporterchris MapleLeafs It was just one game guys. Maybe let the guy coach 4 or 5 games first.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Nothing changed, it’s just the Matthews effect! 💯 Get him some real players to play with and he’ll be a multiple Conn Smythe winner. Even tho TML don’t deserve it 🤬
reporterchris MapleLeafs One game. Toronto is hilarious. 1967
reporterchris MapleLeafs Um doesn't every team win the first game under a new coach when their coach gets fired cause they're tanking? Sincerely, Long time Oilers fan.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Oh boy ... who approved this one ?
reporterchris MapleLeafs No..its because the boys are worried for their jobs !!!
reporterchris MapleLeafs Getting more interesting all the time ... Leafs' Fan Forever ...
reporterchris MapleLeafs Parade route is intact
reporterchris MapleLeafs If getting millions and millions of dollars doesn't motivate you then don't even talk to me a the difference a coach makes in 12 hours....... Keefe is the second coming i guess.
reporterchris MapleLeafs What a disgusting and disparaging thing to say a day after a top coach like Babcock has left... gimme a break, the money these guys are getting the switch should be in the on position 24/7 with no off option.
reporterchris MapleLeafs 'a light switch' are you kidding me.. wow one win and we are already sizing up the Stanley cup rings....'you people' kill me.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Never change leaf fans, never change.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Lol. They were losers of 6 straight. You could make the argument that statistically they were due, which would be a more reasonable statement.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Ya sure..
reporterchris MapleLeafs Settle down it's one game let's see after 5 games if this is real!
reporterchris MapleLeafs Haha one win and planning the parade, typical and pathetic
reporterchris MapleLeafs Easy boy, easy. Still a shit team
reporterchris MapleLeafs It's a no-brainer that every team plays above their ability to date when a coach is fired for 1-2 games. If we've seen it once we've seen it a thousand times.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Seriously? One win and all is fixed in Leaf land? Should they just put the Stanley cup in their dress8ng room? overreaction overrated stilloutofplayoffs
reporterchris MapleLeafs Holy fuck it’s just one fuckin game against the coyotes lol. Trying beating the bruins or the capitals
reporterchris MapleLeafs And I’m a Leaf fan but this was ridiculous
reporterchris MapleLeafs Player motivation changed..thats what.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Funny of course Toronto was going to play better the coach got fired. The players know that it’s their responsibility to react and play better. They only beat Arizona.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Every coach knows that an inch more effort give a mile more results. A extra drop of adrenaline makes all the difference. And a good motivator can get that every night as opposed to just occasionally.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Good start still lots of work to do in your own end wingers not covering the point. Selke Spezza coming back in his own end is a also good thing.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Gotta be coach of the year candidate for sure
reporterchris MapleLeafs It’s happens often but doesn’t last
reporterchris MapleLeafs 'GM 1'
reporterchris MapleLeafs I think Shanny had a hand on the switch as well.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Wave the pompoms Johnston.
reporterchris MapleLeafs I wouldn't start the parade yet
reporterchris MapleLeafs Ok guys.. let's all relax...it's one game...
reporterchris MapleLeafs ITS ONE GAME. Holy. Not time for hot takes yet.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Clear last night that they were playing fun hockey again! The past year they seemed rigid, forwards + defence were separate units yet last night they played like a 5 man unit, backed each other up backchecking in D zone and forwards covering pinching D in O zone. Hope it lasts!
reporterchris MapleLeafs Time to unfollow Leafsnet
reporterchris MapleLeafs First game
reporterchris MapleLeafs How about a little bit of credit for the players aswell 🤷♂️
reporterchris MapleLeafs New coach bump...they’ll let in 6 on the weekend.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Play a team that’s good then gloat
reporterchris MapleLeafs Funny how all the Oilers, Isles, etc. Fans went from 'haha losers. What a dumb move. Babcock is gud. Dubas is bad. Blah blah blah' to 'calm down its one game against the Coyotes' (2nd place in Pacific btw)
reporterchris MapleLeafs After a while ever team needs a change. He's been a winner were ever he went as Don Cherry says.
reporterchris MapleLeafs I’m really not too interesting in what the media claim are success stories until I see the level of performance late in the season when points are more difficult to earn. I’m guessing they’re still too small and easily pushed around.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Usually teams get a fire under their butts right after a change. It’s doesn’t last long mostly unless you are the Blues
reporterchris MapleLeafs No, it was just Arizona.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Hockey fans in Canada aren't stupid, stop trying to bullshit us. It's one game after a coaching change. Happens all the time. Did you not learn your lesson a few weeks ago when you called their 3 game winning streak a spark for the rest of the season?
reporterchris MapleLeafs Lol, it’s only one game!
reporterchris MapleLeafs
reporterchris MapleLeafs It’s been one game and it’s parade back on lol.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Lol easy, it only 1 game. He has a lot of light flipping to go with this team, there lopsided
reporterchris MapleLeafs Lol what changed. It's one game. Looks like the parade is back on, according to Leafsnet. I'm staking my spot along Yonge Street today.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Yay everybody....the parade plans are back on!!
reporterchris MapleLeafs Come on. It’s only 1 game!
reporterchris MapleLeafs It was game Jesus Sportsnet
reporterchris MapleLeafs Sportsnet even named Keefe first star...give us all a break with all this bias 'reporting'. Stick to whom the 3 stars actually are. Another reason why people see Sportsnet as a complete joke and amateur hour compared to TSN. 'Keefe for Jack Adams' is likely their next post.
reporterchris MapleLeafs One bloody game folks! 🙄
reporterchris MapleLeafs Give ‘em the Cup.....
reporterchris MapleLeafs Anderson save in the 1st was the difference.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Look who is writing this story? reporterchris have you heard him talk? This guy is clueless and I think in his vocabulary every other word is Leafs! Do not take anything he says seriously and let's be honest he along with everyone else are planning the parade route again
reporterchris MapleLeafs U guys are clowns,it’s one game and it was the coyotes.flip a switch.
reporterchris MapleLeafs Start the parade! 😂😂😂
reporterchris MapleLeafs He may have flipped the light switch but the power isn't on!
reporterchris MapleLeafs Don’t think you’re jumping the gun there ?
reporterchris MapleLeafs Everyone just calm down. I guarantee you that Keefe will be fired one day too!
reporterchris MapleLeafs 1 game against Arizona. Don’t over do it.
reporterchris MapleLeafs oh god already?
reporterchris MapleLeafs Plan the parade
reporterchris MapleLeafs Seriously? This happens every coaching change or almost. Let’s see how they are towards the end of the season.
reporterchris MapleLeafs
reporterchris MapleLeafs Ive banned this shit show in my house (sportsnet)
reporterchris MapleLeafs Parade is back on
reporterchris MapleLeafs It’s pretty common to see a team win a few in a row after a coaching change. We’ll see in a couple weeks
reporterchris MapleLeafs Easy Laaf nation, it was just 1 win........finally!
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