Series Talk: [A1] Toronto Maple Leafs vs [WC1] Ottawa Senators (TOR Leads 1-0)

[Strangle]

I expect a very competitive series. Impossible to say what team is going to win before it’s even started. I think we’re going to see some spectacular goaltending.

It’s not impossible, Leafs are going to win! See? Done, I said it lol

 

[Golden_Jet]

That's a big ask.

Scroll up

 

[93gilmour93]

Sunday seems so far away right now..

 

[GrumpyKoala]

Ok but at what point should we expect the sens to lose their first round pick?

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Yeah that's where I land.

Zetterlund is a bit of an X factor though. He hasn't been very good for us, but he seems built for the playoffs so he may turn some heads.

Zetterlund has been great decensively and on the boards. He’ll be fine on the 4th line as long as he’s not playing with Highmore.

 

[MCR74]

Ok but at what point should we expect the sens to lose their first round pick?

Pinto might make another bet. You never know.

 

[Strangle]

Why is there a regular season game tonight.... let's get this started already.

What happens if the teams just …. Don’t show up? Is that in the CBA?

 

[Strangle]

Nothing to debate, Ottawa.

That might not even be the leafs 3rd and 4th lines

 

[HockeyVirus]

I count 42 goals from Sens 4th line this year, and 21 from the Leafs.

Third lines
Sens 44 goals and Leafs 42 goals

How did you count this? Adding up their goals?

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Forwards - advantage Toronto
Defense - Draw
Goaltending - advantage Ottawa
Special teams - advantage Toronto
Not being gutless cream puffs - advantage Ottawa

 

[MCR74]

You will also get the argument that the leafs have great goaltending because they have a better defense.

These two things can compliment each other and usually do

I like your use of logic, although quite a few in this thread will fail to grasp it.

 

[Golden_Jet]

That might not even be the leafs 3rd and 4th lines

Then take that up with virus, the one who liked your post, and asked for a debate on those lines.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Forwards - advantage Toronto
Defense - Draw
Goaltending - advantage Ottawa
Special teams - advantage Toronto
Not being gutless cream puffs - advantage Ottawa

Being the Good Guys - Ottawa

 

[HockeyVirus]

Then take that up with virus, the one who liked your post, and asked for a debate on those lines.

He's right though. Those were just from last game. We have had a lot of injuries. I won't be surprised if for example game 1 Robertson is in the pressbox for Patches

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

I think Leafs take game 1 and 2, Sens take game 3, Leafs take game 4 in OT, Leafs win game 5 in OT. Every game is likely a 1 goal game except for game 1.

 

[Peasy]

I think Leafs take game 1 and 2, Sens take game 3, Leafs take game 4 in OT, Leafs win game 5 in OT. Every game is likely a 1 goal game except for game 1.

Leafs winning a game 1, and it being at home

Would be a welcome change of pace.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Leafs winning a game 1, and it being at home

Would be a welcome change of pace.

Didn’t they do it against Tampa a few years back?

 

[HockeyVirus]

I think Leafs take game 1 and 2, Sens take game 3, Leafs take game 4 in OT, Leafs win game 5 in OT. Every game is likely a 1 goal game except for game 1.

I may not live to see the end of a series like that. I would be having Habs series flashbacks in game 4 and 5 OT

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

I may not live to see the end of a series like that. I would be having Habs series flashbacks in game 4 and 5 OT

I honestly believe the Leafs will make the ECF this year and have a solid shot at a cup final. As for winning the cup it all depends who comes out of the west.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Didn’t they do it against Tampa a few years back?

In '22 we did...then lost the series. '23 we got dog walked 7-3 by Tampa in game 1 at home...turned around and won 3 games on the road in OT lol

 

[Relapsing]

This answer says it all. Leafs. Looking for more opinions from others now

Yeesh.

I think Ottawa's 3rd line is better - their chemistry is off the charts, they're defensively responsible first and foremost, and have been shutting down top lines together over 31 games and 200 minutes played together.

Toronto's 3rd line hasn't even played the equivalent of a full hockey game together at 59 minutes played together this season.

Ottawa's 4th line is basically completely new - Zetterlund was a TDL acquisition, and Cousins is coming back from injury. Gaudette can score, but I'm not a fan of his play personally. If there's any glaring weakness in Ottawa's roster right now, it's the 4th line. So on paper the edge goes to Toronto by default, but only because, again, we really don't know how that line is going to play (outside of in the game tonight against the Canes).

Now, you can argue that all you want, but I really don't care - Besides, you've already said you think both of Toronto's lines are better.

So what's there to debate, when the person asking the question has an intractable position? Absolutely nothing.

 

[notbias]

You will also get the argument that the leafs have great goaltending because they have a better defense.

These two things can compliment each other and usually do

Is there anything other than someone saying trust me to back this up... that'd help.

 

[cyris]

Exactly, no playoff experience at all.

I’ll take no playoff experience over what Ulmark has put up in the playoffs thus far.
The goalie on these 2 teams with the best playoff stats is Joseph Woll with a 1.78GAA and .933 save% in 7 games.
So if Stolarz does falter we have a good second option.
How is Ottawa’s second option looking if Ullmark continues to struggle in the playoffs?
Forsberg has worse stats on the season and over his career than either Leafs goalie and has never appeared in the playoffs.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I’ll take no playoff experience over what Ulmark has put up in the playoffs thus far.
The goalie on these 2 teams with the best playoff stats is Joseph Woll with a 1.78GAA and .933 save% in 7 games.
So if Stolarz does falter we have a good second option.
How is Ottawa’s second option looking if Ullmark continues to struggle in the playoffs?
Forsberg has worse stats on the season and over his career than either Leafs goalie and has never appeared in the playoffs.

For backup hard to say, maybe they go with Leevi
8-3-1 this year in Ottawa
1.99 GA and a .925

 

[Dionysus]

I don't think the Leafs D is slow or mediocre at moving the puck. I do agree the Sens are going to try and wear down the D that way, I just think the D is going to wear down the forwards. How many forwards do you even have who can move most of our dmen?

Sens have plenty of guys who are good forecheckers. Brady is in a league of his own for physicality. Grieg, Stutzle, Perron, Batherson, Cousins, Cozens, Amadio, Pinto, Zetterlund are all good on the forecheck. They have been a solid forechecking based team all year. Not Florida level, but it is a big part of their game.

A part of the series I'm interested in seeing. Leafs certainly have more size throughout the backend this season, it will be a good battle.