Series Talk: [A1] Toronto Maple Leafs vs [WC1] Ottawa Senators | Part II (TOR lead 3-2)

[The Shadow]

We told people this isn’t the same leafs of the past. We now have elite goaltending and Berube has changed these guys to play a playoff style brand of hockey.

I think they can play much better than game 1 as well.

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

Game 1 and you guys already obsessing about the refs?

Are Leafs fans even denying the reffing was one sided? Sportsnet and ESPN both called them out on it and so is a ton of neutral observers.

 

[MCR74]

Game 1 and you guys already obsessing about the refs?

It started before game 1.

 

[Catscountry40]

As neutral fan the officiating was just bad.

It is playoff hockey.

Leafs won't make it long flopping like that hoping for calls.

Showing the core four softness.

 

[Peasy]

Are Leafs fans even denying the reffing was one sided? Sportsnet and ESPN both called them out on it and so is a ton of neutral observers.

Wont be the last time you experience one sided reffing in a playoff game. Crazy to be cryin so much after game 1 but I guess its been a minute for sens fans.

Sens looked like an early years Leaf team going out of their way to be "hard" and trying to impose the body and got caught chasing and taking infractions.

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

Wont be the last time you experience one sided reffing in a playoff game. Crazy to be cryin so much after game 1 but I guess its been a minute for sens fans.

Exactly. Hopefully next game it’ll be the opposite and we’ll get our makeup calls. Just gotta start going down as easy as Matthews and OEL

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Are Leafs fans even denying the reffing was one sided? Sportsnet and ESPN both called them out on it and so is a ton of neutral observers.

Stop taking dumb ass penalties. Really difficult to not cross check people in the face I guess lmao

 

[MCR74]

As neutral fan the officiating was just bad.

It is playoff hockey.

Leafs won't make it long flopping like that hoping for calls.

Showing the core four softness.

You must've watched a different game.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Yes there is. Toronto has elite goaltending this year. Their actual 5v5 play is not that much different from previous years, arguably slightly worse.

Maybe if you are a casual fan of the team. It is clear as day what they prioritize has changed massively. Leafs did a good job cleaning up rebounds and not giving any clean shots. Blocked shots and got sticks on pucks to prevent shots. Oh and they made sure Stolarz could see the pucks as well.

Stolarz is huge and athletic and can make the first save most times. It is a good combination even if the advanced stats dislike it. And the Leafs were the advanced stats losers for many years. End of the day, a win is what matters.

 

[Damisoph]

Hard to believe the narrative is still "reffing bad" with that disgraceful showing from the sens. Dirty af, constant cross checks all game.

 

[The Management]

Ottawa looked pretty bad. Ullmark wasn't sharp, but I didn't think they played well defensively around him, notably Chabot and Jensen. Their forwards weren't the relentless forecheckers, as advertised. Their transition game wasn't that remarkable. And, of course, they looked frustrated and undisciplined.

Lot of hockey left to play and they could easily turn it around. Green can probably get them taking fewer dumb penalties. That should be an easy fix. The bigger concern I would have is the play in front of their own net and the leaky goaltending. Those two things have been a team strength and a key factor in locking up their wildcard ticket, but you wouldn't have guessed it last night. Harder issues to fix, especially if they feel they may have a goaltending crisis.

 

[LOFIN]

We told people this isn’t the same leafs of the past. We now have elite goaltending and Berube has changed these guys to play a playoff style brand of hockey.

I think they can play much better than game 1 as well.

Has it really changed all that much, other than the fact that they defend the slot better? Let's see how this series progresses, and if the Leafs make it to the second round, how they fair against much more seasoned playoff teams in Tampa and Florida.

I'm still not convinced about the Leafs offence. Scoring on the powerplay is a step in the right direction, something they've sucked in previous years.

 

[Peasy]

Exactly. Hopefully next game it’ll be the opposite and we’ll get our makeup calls. Just gotta start going down as easy as Matthews and OEL

Crazy bein this desperate and hoping for make up calls

Loser mentality.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Are Leafs fans even denying the reffing was one sided? Sportsnet and ESPN both called them out on it and so is a ton of neutral observers.

What calls were 100% clearly not penalties? If I had to make an argument, the Tanev call and the trip on Nylander were on the softer side. The rest of the calls are legit and really you got lucky.

The crosscheck to Tavares head SHOULD have been 5. It went to 2. Lots of checks up high on Leafs all night, trips, etc. Those are going to be called 100% of the time playoffs or not. Whistles going away is more subtle interference and things, it doesn't mean you can attempt to injure no problems.

 

[Lshap]

I missed half the game. Were the refs responsible for Ottawa only scoring 2 goals?

 

[Leafsfan74]

Ottawa looked like a completely inexperienced playoff team in game 1 which shouldn't really come as a surprise.

They acted like spoiled brats in a pee wee game, not as professional players would. They represented their city, coach and families as a Bush League team would. Embarrassing to watch really.and at a time when the whole world is tuning in.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Crazy bein this desperate and hoping for make up calls

Loser mentality.

He thinks calls are consistent game to game lol. Sens fans are in for a rude awakening. It will be different refs who will have different standards game 2. Frustrating thing about the playoffs.

Sens players are better off burning the tape and not expecting them to get the calls

 

[JediOrderPizza]

I noticed the Leafs didn't feel the same during the reg season, so wasn't shocked to see them play well in game 1.

They don't look like they were carrying old wounds like previous playoffs.

 

[MCR74]

I missed half the game. Were the refs responsible for Ottawa only scoring 2 goals?

Yes.

 

[Idiot Stick]

ottawa messed up not playin Nick "Leaf killer" Cousins

 

[HockeyVirus]

ottawa messed up not playin Nick "Leaf killer" Cousins

They made that choice to have guys to help the PK. Hopefully that is a focus for them and they do the same thing again game 2. Maybe put Hamonic in there too?

 

[Seb]

I was super hyped for this series but Ottawa has not delivered. They better bounce back otherwise it's pretty much already over.

 

[Idiot Stick]

They made that choice to have guys to help the PK. Hopefully that is a focus for them and they do the same thing again game 2. Maybe put Hamonic in there too?

that reminded me of our series vs vegas where we were constantly on the pk it felt

didnt end up so good

 

[Warden of the North]

Wierd how Leafs fans were told to suck it up when we've been on the bad end of the playoff reffing game before. I would say some of them were weak, but all were legitimate penalties. I don't recall anything egregious that was missed penalizing the Leafs but am happy to be proven wrong. The Sens were apparently whining quite a bit to the refs and the refs were getting annoyed.

Anyways, this was a role reversal for the Leafs. The Sens played the game the Leafs played in far too many playoff series before: lose composure when calls get made, breakdown of special teams, and a goalie struggling. The only thing missing was someone doing something stupid and getting suspended for the rest of the series.

I'm not expecting this to be an easy series, but it's pretty clear the Sens have to regain composure and play a near perfect game. The Leafs have the talent to take a minute off, however I expect them to tighten up quite a bit once they get rolling.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I was super hyped for this series but Ottawa has not delivered. They better bounce back otherwise it's pretty much already over.

No series is over after 1 game. Hell, Leafs lost game 1 vs Lightning 7-3 and then won game 2 7-2 and the series in 6 games in 2023.