Series Talk: [A1] Toronto Maple Leafs vs [WC1] Ottawa Senators | Part II (TOR lead 3-1)

[AvroArrow]

3 of 4 goal Ottawa scored was not goal Stolarz normally allowed this season.

Struzle goal
Pinto goal
Sanderson goal

While true, if we just did better on special teams that game is over before the Sanderson winner ever happens. If we PK successfully, game over in regulation. If we don't allow that shorty, game over in regulation. If we actually convert on a 4 minute PP in OT, game over.

Ullmark let in his fair share of softies earlier in the series, although Stolie needs to be better, we got destroyed on the special teams in game 4. Regroup on home ice and keep playing the way they have (for the most part) and I think we close it out in game 5.

Just can't lose the special teams battles that badly and expect to win, can't be putting ourselves in the situation we did in OT.

Ottawa battled hard, they were desperate and found a way, full marks to the Senators.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Can anyone summarize the thread so far? I’d hate to have to go through all 2k posts

Leafs are up 3-1
Last 3 games went to overtime

 

[Breakers]

Green is not a good coach

he just isnt

 

[kevsh]

but I honestly think you should take into account the psyche of the players in the Leafs uniform right now. If you don't think there are some doubts, some unspoken fear, well I've got news for you.

This Leafs core has been emotionally broken for 4 or 5 years already.

I've repeated a few times over this epic run of failure: Losing has become almost the default result for them. Like the theory of learned helplessness, they just go into every series now expecting to lose.

If MLSE had any soul they'd have shipped both Mitch and Auston off long ago as a mercy trade. Even before last season's all-but-guaranteed 7-game loss to the Bruins it was just cruel to keep sending them out there year-after-year, especially in this market, and considering these are still young men who could have some success somewhere else, without the pressure, expectations and the the massive burden of not just winning but ending nearly 60 years of futility that is clearly too much for them.

For this series, I think the 3-0 lead has given them enough of a cushion that they'll eventually win it, even just by luck or Sens somehow screwing up on their own. I think we'll have our answer though Tuesday night: If the Leafs can somehow play calm & composed, all-business, and not let the inevitable bad penalty, soft goal, etc. deflate them they may just be okay.

And I think for there to be any chance of this group killing off that loser mentality they really, really need to end this Tuesday, and with extreme prejudice.

 

[maskingagent]

Would have been nice to end this on Saturday but I'll take putting on a show for the home fans to end this series. I don't think we will see overtime again in Game 5.

Leafs 5 Sens 2

View attachment 1024822

I agree. Tuesday night the Leafs are going to crush ottawa by a 3 or more goals. It will get overly chippy come the 3rd period and they will shake hands and the Toronto media will be able to talk about the next series.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I think the 1st period will say a lot tomorrow tbh if the Leafs can get up early by a goal or two that could break the Sens and they will just pack it in. Sens get up early and bad thoughts start creeping in on the Leafs side lol

 

[thusk]

True, but what you are missing out in this list is recent history. And truly, I'm not saying this because I'm Habs, but I honestly think you should take into account the psyche of the players in the Leafs uniform right now. If you don't think there are some doubts, some unspoken fear, well I've got news for you.

If they blow it tomorrow, they will be 100% even more scared of a repeat. Berube will have to do a great coachng job here I think.

not necessairly

If Stolarz still struggling in gm 5 like he did in gm 4 and leafs lost it.. Woll will probably start gm 6 and bring a new kind of energy

The pressure will be there if they blow it and goes in a gm 7

 

[The don godfather]

By that logic, they would rather Leafs move on asap. They would need the Leafs to make a deep run. If this goes 7, I don't think Leafs win. Then Sportstnet's ratings tank for the subsequent rounds, so what did they gain? This ends tomorrow evening.

 

[The don godfather]

They will make them win game 7 double overtime. ratings through the roof.

 

[Paddyjack]

not necessairly

If Stolarz still struggling in gm 5 like he did in gm 4 and leafs lost it.. Woll will probably start gm 6 and bring a new kind of energy

The pressure will be there if they blow it and goes in a gm 7

I'm pretty sure they don't want a game 6, in Ottawa, that could cause them to go 7, with all the history of failures in such a situation. So the pressure is right now , especially after blowing a 4 minutes PP in OT that could have ended the series.

It's funny because this year, I though the Leafs were legit in what I saw against the Sens, I liked their game - even though they are the Leafs and I hate them lol - butsince I hate the Sens even more, well I rooted for the Leafs. Right now though, I can see a shadow creeping out at the horizon, and tuesday will be big.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Is there any league in which any player, let alone a well known top tier player; can take a shoulder in the jaw from another player when the puck or ball is nowhere near the play? Not even a penalty called while the player has to be looked at for concussion symptoms. Is this 2025 or 1925?

The sport remains in the Stone Age and I saw some of the worst of it both prior and just after Bettman took the reigns.

The growth of the sport can only slightly be attributed to his decisions, since the NHL rode the organic growth of ALL sports, in no small part due to live TV and big advertising opportunities for companies.

It should be double the popularity around the globe that it is today, especially with so many nations represented. However, it's not, and I can't for the life of my understand why not

Hmmmm....

 

[lang006]

Green is not a good coach

he just isnt

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Is there any league in which any player, let alone a well known top tier player; can take a shoulder in the jaw from another player when the puck or ball is nowhere near the play? Not even a penalty called while the player has to be looked at for concussion symptoms. Is this 2025 or 1925?

The sport remains in the Stone Age and I saw some of the worst of it both prior and just after Bettman took the reigns.

The growth of the sport can only slightly be attributed to his decisions, since the NHL rode the organic growth of ALL sports, in no small part due to live TV and big advertising opportunities for companies.

It should be double the popularity around the globe that it is today, especially with so many nations represented. However, it's not, and I can't for the life of my understand why not

Hmmmm....

Yeah there being absolutely nothing...even a pity fine for the Zub hit on JT is wild lol it was literally just straight head contact only. No debating it.

 

[TheNewEra]

I think the 1st period will say a lot tomorrow tbh if the Leafs can get up early by a goal or two that could break the Sens and they will just pack it in. Sens get up early and bad thoughts start creeping in on the Leafs side lol

objectively basically this, if leafs take the lead sens will start running around more sending it into a spiral and giving the leafs powerplays

if sens get the early lead might see some panic plays from players that have been on the team the last few years and not to mention the chaos that unfolds after

 

[Leafsfan74]

Yeah there being absolutely nothing...even a pity fine for the Zub hit on JT is wild lol it was literally just straight head contact only. No debating it.

There is going to be a day when a player gets paralyzed or dies on the ice via a dirty hit.

When it does the video will travel around the globe and the NHL and its executives will be sued for billions. It's ridiculous in my opinion.

Hard hockey, two guys willing to fight etc. that's different. Dirty hits, elbows, slashes etc, especially away from the play is just approved assault. No other serious league anywhere allows this. This isn't the UFC ffs

 

[Namikaze Minato]

There is going to be a day when a player gets paralyzed or dies on the ice via a dirty hit.

When it does the video will travel around the globe and the NHL and its executives will be sued for billions. It's ridiculous in my opinion.

Hard hockey, two guys willing to fight etc. that's different. Dirty hits, elbows, slashes etc, especially away from the play is just approved assault. No other serious league anywhere allows this. This isn't the UFC ffs

"we don't allow it, it says you cant do it in the rulebook! Its the players who are at fault!"

- The NHL, probably

 

[NyQuil]

Is there any league in which any player, let alone a well known top tier player; can take a shoulder in the jaw from another player when the puck or ball is nowhere near the play? Not even a penalty called while the player has to be looked at for concussion symptoms. Is this 2025 or 1925?

The sport remains in the Stone Age and I saw some of the worst of it both prior and just after Bettman took the reigns.

The growth of the sport can only slightly be attributed to his decisions, since the NHL rode the organic growth of ALL sports, in no small part due to live TV and big advertising opportunities for companies.

It should be double the popularity around the globe that it is today, especially with so many nations represented. However, it's not, and I can't for the life of my understand why not

Hmmmm....

If I am hearing this correctly, you believe that hockey is not popular because Tavares got hit by a guy who wasn’t looking at him and then returned to the game later?

 

[MiscBrah]

Last game in OT and the 3rd was the first time that the leafs had to face adversity in this series. You could see the frustration starting to creep in, like they were wondering what was happening and why they weren't scoring. The leafs are their own worst enemy, Ottawa has planted the seed of doubt. That seed will have grown into a little sprout by the time tomorrow's game starts. By Thursday, the sprout will be a big thorny weed in the minds of every leafs player. By game 7 next Saturday the thorny weed will have taken over the minds of every leafs player and you will see a complete melt down.

edit: basically leafs have to win tomorrow night or this series likely goes to 7. and game 7's are a nightmare for this leafs core.

 

[AcerComputer]

Can anyone summarize the thread so far? I’d hate to have to go through all 2k posts

Ottawa fans believe they have the Leafs right where they want em, and will win in game 7.

 

[AvroArrow]

Yeah there being absolutely nothing...even a pity fine for the Zub hit on JT is wild lol it was literally just straight head contact only. No debating it.

Haven't you heard ? Headshots are perfectly legal as long as you're standing still and the opponent is skating towards you.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

In a nutshell it went from the leafs always lose in round 1, leafs grab a 3-0 lead in the series and we got this....
View attachment 1024910

Sens squeak out a game 4 win in overtime and that woke up a few of the leafs haters to spit out a bit more nonsense but after Game 5 it will be back to this until Round 2
View attachment 1024910

Well, let's hope tomorrow night it goes more like this.

 

[AvroArrow]

Ottawa fans believe they have the Leafs right where they want em, and will win in game 7.

I'm sure they would much rather be down 3-1 than up 3-1 in the series

Leafs have Sens where they want them

Game 5 at home after dominating them in games 1/2 at home

 

[DuncanMacpherson]

What difference would that make? The winner of this series plays either Tampa or Florida regardless of any chants.

If the Habs beat Washington wouldn’t Leafs play the Habs?

 

[AcerComputer]

If I am hearing this correctly, you believe that hockey is not popular because Tavares got hit by a guy who wasn’t looking at him and then returned to the game later?

And Steckel wasn't looking at Crosby when he almost ended his career when he "accidently" elbowed him in the head...just skating by.... oopsie!

 

[TheBeastCoast]

If the Habs beat Washington wouldn’t Leafs play the Habs?

Nope. Bracket doesn't get reseeded. Habs are in the Metro bracket.