Series Talk: [A1] Toronto Maple Leafs vs [WC1] Ottawa Senators | Part II (TOR lead 3-0)

[Apex Predator]

The only thing left for the TML to achieve in the playoffs is blowing a 3-0 lead in round 1

Oh man don’t put that out in the universe

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Perhaps, yeah. Haven't seen the best of either Stutzle or Tkachuk or even Batherson and Cozens yet. Will we? If not, we're done.

Alternatively...we are up 2-0 and Matthews has been a playmaker so far.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Going up 2-0 instead of 1-1 going back to Ottawa is huge

I'll give you that big time. It hurt very badly as a Sens fan and I can imagine how good it felt as a Toronto fan.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Alternatively...we are up 2-0 and Matthews has been a playmaker so far.

I guess

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I guess

Just a fact lol he shows up and takes over one game and it is curtains on this series.

 

[Evilhomer]

Perhaps, yeah. Haven't seen the best of either Stutzle or Tkachuk or even Batherson and Cozens yet. Will we? If not, we're done.

Personally, I think it's just an experience thing. If Ottawa can continue to build they will be a strong team over the next few years.

 

[Fatass]

Im not even a fan of either team, I live in the region. Sens have done nothing in this city for many years to get the real fans back. Dont blame the fans. The late owner was a complete moron and it will take years to fix that. Likely be in Quebec City by then. Ottawa isnt a big or fun enough of a city for an NHL team.

Ottawa is an excellent nhl market. They need a rink that isn’t closer to Arnprior than it is to downtown. Hopefully they get that new rink built downtown.
Up and coming club for sure too. Young core with all the needed parts except experience.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

There was a whole lot of Stolarz doubting going on before the series like Leaf fans don't have two eyes and have witnessed whatever the f*** we have rolled out in net in previous years lol

Who was doubting him exactly? I saw a lot of excitement over him being the starter.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Leaf score board watching. But looks like Ottawa has been the better team???

Stolarz the big difference?

Ottawa has not been the better team.

Nobody on Ottawa has more than 1 point.

5 Leafs have at least 2 points.

4 Leafs have 3 points

3 Leafs have 4 points.

No Ottawa has not been the better team.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Who was doubting him exactly? I saw a lot of excitement over him being the starter.

From Leaf fans yes lol everyone else dismissed his regular season entirely.

 

[MCR74]

Ottawa is an excellent nhl market. They need a rink that isn’t closer to Arnprior than it is to downtown. Hopefully they get that new rink built downtown.
Up and coming club for sure too. Young core with all the needed parts except experience.

Everyone wants that new rink downtown (Leafers included), not just for games but concerts and other events. Having it in the sticks is asking for trouble. My buddy took the bus to Peter Gabriel's show at the Kanata arena last year and got there just as he was hitting the stage. Ridiculous.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Ottawa is an excellent nhl market. They need a rink that isn’t closer to Arnprior than it is to downtown. Hopefully they get that new rink built downtown.
Up and coming club for sure too. Young core with all the needed parts except experience.

Considering how long it takes to build anything in this country these days, I expect that downtown arena by the year 2050. Hell, even the Eglington Crosstown might be done before that.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Oh goodness no. I hate that the Leafs are this good. I see a club that reminds of those 60’s teams. The Big M (Matthews) Keon (Marner) Armstrong (Tanev)
I hate it!

Appreciate the comps but you know that Big Chief was a forward right ? You’re referring them being grizzled vets maybe ?

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

From Leaf fans yes lol everyone else dismissed his regular season entirely.

Sorry, I didn't see it.

 

[HockeyVirus]

A masterclass in turtling? Ten (!) shots in two periods sound like turtling to me. Nothing wrong with that. It worked

Is this where we are allowed to complain about reffing or no?

 

[HockeyVirus]

Leaf score board watching. But looks like Ottawa has been the better team???

Stolarz the big difference?

No they have not been the better team. Absolute copium. They haven't lead for a second this series how can they be better?

 

[DueDiligence]

All the credit has to go to Berube who has the Leafs playing solid defense and a "bend not break" style. Certainly it helps having Tanev and Carlo who are solid defenders but they are limiting high danger chances and collapsing down low to protect the front of the net. The team waits for their offensive opportunities but is talented enough to take advantage of them.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

No they have not been the better team. Absolute copium. They haven't lead for a second this series how can they be better?

Most of their chances came on the pps but Leafs laid a goose egg in second period . Ottawa didn’t get a shot on goal in the 3 rd until about 6 minutes left ( which they scored on ), so they weren’t exactly pushing like gang busters trying to come from behind .

 

[D Wakaluk]

I think we just played like shit in the 2nd tbh. I don't think it was some kind of strategy to sit back...we got outplayed pretty soundly in that period. We didn't really sit back in the 3rd.

That's fair.

 

[gary559]

Toronto should start looking to the next series. I feel like this one's over.

 

[HockeyVirus]

All the credit has to go to Berube who has the Leafs playing solid defense and a "bend not break" style. Certainly it helps having Tanev and Carlo who are solid defenders but they are limiting high danger chances and collapsing down low to protect the front of the net. The team waits for their offensive opportunities but is talented enough to take advantage of them.

I think the biggest thing, outside of system stuff, is how calm Berube is. Keefe has playoff baggage himself and as the post season approached he got tense and tight and the team felt it and reflected it. They were waiting for things to go wrong.

Berube is just like "meh just 1 game" energy win or lose and the team needs that. He has them focused on the moment not the big picture. Again, what we badly needed.

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

Holy hell are the Sens pathetic. The Jackets would have at least put up a fight.

Batherson is a f***ing loser.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Most of their chances came on the pps but Leafs laid a goose egg in second period . Ottawa didn’t get a shot on goal in the 3 rd until about 6 minutes left ( which they scored on ), so they weren’t exactly pushing like gang busters trying to come from behind .

You don't win playoff series or cups because you were the better team for 1 period when your were losing by 2 goals I don't recall fans saying "wow the Leafs played so well they should could have won" all the years we lost coin flip series in game 7s.

 

[Just Rude]

Perhaps, yeah. Haven't seen the best of either Stutzle or Tkachuk or even Batherson and Cozens yet. Will we? If not, we're done.

I thought Stutzle was great last night, but that's just me. Kid was everywhere.

 

[MCR74]

I think the biggest thing, outside of system stuff, is how calm Berube is. Keefe has playoff baggage himself and as the post season approached he got tense and tight and the team felt it and reflected it. They were waiting for things to go wrong.

Berube is just like "meh just 1 game" energy win or lose and the team needs that. He has them focused on the moment not the big picture. Again, what we badly needed.

This. Chief probably didn't like what he saw last night, but he has the experience to steer the ship.