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GDT: 1/20/25 - 7:30PM EDT - Tampa Bay @ Toronto

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JJ was okay, but not great ultimately. Woll was much better. I'm not going to say Tampa 100% gets a point with Vasy in net, but I think.he can stop at least one of those that went in. Anyway, hope the gamble pays off with him vs Montreal, but if Cernak is still out and they have to rely on a right side of Raddysh, Crozier and Perbix, I wouldn't place a big bet on it.

Lightning1995 said:
Unless the Lightning can find a way to get into the Metro bracket it’s hard to see this team making a run
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Sure they can. Do you think this is going to be the configuration of the team by the playoffs? They will be 4-6 players different (and better). Even with this lineup, they weren't far off from at least getting a point tonight. Toronto may be a bad matchup atm, but it's far from unwinnable.
 
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JTBF81 said:
JJ was okay, but not great ultimately. Woll was much better. I'm not going to say Tampa 100% gets a point with Vasy in net, but I think.he can stop at least one of those that went in. Anyway, hope the gamble pays off with him vs Montreal, but if Cernak is still out and they have to rely on a right side of Raddysh, Crozier and Perbix, I wouldn't place a big bet on it.


Sure they can. Do you think this is going to be the configuration of the team by the playoffs? They will be 4-6 players different (and better). Even with this lineup, they weren't far off from at least getting a point tonight. Toronto may be a bad matchup atm, but it's far from unwinnable.
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It’s not just tonight record against the Atlantic is abysmal
 
Realistically, the Leafs are a better team at this point in time. They had the talent in recent years but TB had the edge in "intangibles" , now that is no longer the case. We got rid of some of those guys and they haven't been adequately replaced from within.

Vasilevskiy gives TB a chance to compete with the best. But this team is one, probably two pieces away from being one of the true contenders on paper. Granted, when they're firing on all cylinders anything is possible. Tonight they had a slow start with a depleted D, still gave it a go and had a chance. Pretty standard game, not much to bitch about.

Toronto has some big guys who can skate and their bottom 6 is tougher to play against these days. D is balanced and has a bit of everything. That whole team knows how to play now in any circumstance. And yet people are clamoring for the Gourdes (who I will always respect, he's a good player), Palmieris, Donatos and Buntings of the world. We need some horses folks, wake up.
 
bov said:
Realistically, the Leafs are a better team at this point in time. They had the talent in recent years but TB had the edge in "intangibles" , now that is no longer the case. We got rid of some of those guys and they haven't been adequately replaced from within.

Vasilevskiy gives TB a chance to compete with the best. But this team is one, probably two pieces away from being one of the true contenders on paper. Granted, when they're firing on all cylinders anything is possible. Tonight they had a slow start with a depleted D, still gave it a go and had a chance. Pretty standard game, not much to bitch about.

Toronto has some big guys who can skate and their bottom 6 is tougher to play against these days. D is balanced and has a bit of everything. That whole team knows how to play now in any circumstance. And yet people are clamoring for the Gourdes (who I will always respect, he's a good player), Palmieris, Donatos and Buntings of the world. We need some horses folks, wake up.
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Those guys all improve the team in some way, although I'd have Gourds and Bunting pretty far down. Getting two more guys who can chip in and provide actual depth in the middle 6 will greatly improve the team. They don't need brutes who can't score and just hit/fight in the bottom 6, and there aren't many that have size, cam skate well, and score who will ne available anyway. Adding a couple of capable 3rd line guys who can play with Geekie, if Paul on the 2nd line is the new plan, will go a long way to making them even harder to matchup against. If they can get a guy that plays a heavy game, great, but that failed with Jeannot and wasn't working great near the end with either Maroon or Perry.
 
JTBF81 said:
Those guys all improve the team in some way, although I'd have Gourds and Bunting pretty far down. Getting two more guys who can chip in and provide actual depth in the middle 6 will greatly improve the team. They don't need brutes who can't score and just hit/fight in the bottom 6, and there aren't many that have size, cam skate well, and score who will ne available anyway. Adding a couple of capable 3rd line guys who can play with Geekie, if Paul on the 2nd line is the new plan, will go a long way to making them even harder to matchup against. If they can get a guy that plays a heavy game, great, but that failed with Jeannot and wasn't working great near the end with either Maroon or Perry.
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Lol, "brutes who can't score and just hit/fight" as if anybody is talking about that.

It's plain common sense what this team doesn't have, but desparately needs to be able to go deep. Matthews and Knies for example aren't known for any of that, but when the chips are down they are basically unstoppable for this group the way it's built now. They can be physically dominant and nobody can do a damn thing to them. Now obviously I am not asking or expecting players of that caliber, but you need big bodies who can make things happen, not these dime a dozen pesky little guys who try their best. And yes, you need guys who can be a bit mean and tough.

Bolts check almost every box outside of those elements. It is glaringly obvious.

Having said all that, I'm not blaming this game on it, they simply lost to a good team and it was a competitive match in the final 40.
 
bov said:
Lol, "brutes who can't score and just hit/fight" as if anybody is talking about that.

It's plain common sense what this team doesn't have, but desparately needs to be able to go deep. Matthews and Knies for example aren't known for any of that, but when the chips are down they are basically unstoppable for this group the way it's built now. They can be physically dominant and nobody can do a damn thing to them. Now obviously I am not asking or expecting players of that caliber, but you need big bodies who can make things happen, not these dime a dozen pesky little guys who try their best. And yes, you need guys who can be a bit mean and tough.

Bolts check almost every box outside of those elements. It is glaringly obvious.

Having said all that, I'm not blaming this game on it, they simply lost to a good team and it was a competitive match in the final 40.
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Palmieri isn't little, neither is Bjorkstrand (both players I've been pushing). They aren't getting the kind of players you're talking about, so I'm sticking to realistic adds that will still help quite a bit. Donato isn't that small either
 
Stammertime91 said:
I missed this one. How did we look?
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Terrible 1st period from almost everyone aside from JJ. Better in the 2nd but two more horrendous defensive mistakes that Toronto capitalized on led to a 3-1 deficit. Tampa closed to 3-2 and then 4-3 after each team scored on a power play. Tampa had some chances to tie, but couldn't convert (Point just missed on one). Cooper pulled JJ too early as usual, and they scored the empty netter to finish it. Given the right side of the defense atm, it is what it is, and I still think Vasy stops at least one of the 1st 4 they scored, but who knows. Defense was pretty bad at some key points, unfortunately.
 
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JTBF81 said:
Palmieri isn't little, neither is Bjorkstrand (both players I've been pushing). They aren't getting the kind of players you're talking about, so I'm sticking to realistic adds that will still help quite a bit. Donato isn't that small either
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Palmieri and Donato(maybe) are literally smaller than NHL average based on statistics alone at their listed size but I'm not going down that road again. I'm not getting caught up in calling a 6'0 guy small, you're missing the point. You could add both for free and TB likely won't sniff the cup, there is something you're just missing about the reality of the game and what it takes to go all the way. It's not about their skillset or track record, it's about roster building and the balance of a team. You've dropped a few names in various threads I can agree with but for the most part, way off base and not what TB needs at all.
 
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