GDT: Apr 24 7:30pm - BwO and the Leafs vs TB: Freaking Game 4. Baby: ROR? No, the real hero so far is Squiffy's liver

[1specter]

That would be huge.

My biggest fear is Samsonov letting in an early softee.
Prior years have made me come to expect that with the Leaf goalies.

Also expecting a cheap penalty early. Someone steps on a stick and they call a trip, something like that.

Yeah, the first 10 minutes of this game will probably be the biggest test of Samsonov's career to date. Hope he is up to the task.

 

[Kyle089]

The Lightning are going to come out flying tonight. The Leafs better come out with the same intensity. Silence home crowd early and put a bit of doubt in the Lightning. Game 3, they pulled out a win in a game that they probably should've lost and would have lost in years past. Let's see if they can pass the next test tonight and take a stranglehold on the series.

 

[Sypher04]

I'm curious about why our team was so aggressive and actively hitting during Game 2, including surprising participation from Marner, but then seemingly stopped hitting during the third game. What do you think might explain this change in approach?

You know we had 62 hits in game 3, right? 50% more than game 2. Also Marner had zero hits in game 2, and 2 in game 3.

 

[Cor]

Never understood why people worry so much about what coaches say.
They have zero obligation to tell you what they really think(unless your brain dead like Keefe).

Who is worried about it? It's just what it is lol. Jon Cooper has done this for the last decade.

 

[leafsfan5]

I hear ya but that's risky though.
Want to make sure you're on the right side of the puck, no odd man rushes.

I'd rather that than the alternative

Last year the Leafs tried to weather the storm in game 4 and got blown out of the building 10 minutes in. Match Tampa's intensity to start, show them tonight will be a war and we are prepared for it

 

[GoonieFace]

Dude you seriously think Tampa players don't try and game the refs to get calls?

Sure they do, but I don’t think this was one of those times. He got rocked.

 

[ACC1224]

You know we had 62 hits in game 3, right? 50% more than game 2. Also Marner had zero hits in game 2, and 2 in game 3.

Hit stats are meaningless. Probably the least accurate of any stat out there.

 

[justashadowof]

But I thought Pointer dieded?

He didn't even miss a shift.

 

[Twine Tickler]

I talked about game 3 being a massive game for us prior to puck drop. I was anticipating a huge push back from TB after getting their eyes pumped shut in game 2. I was hoping that if we could match or beat their intensity when they brought their A-Game and somehow gut out a result, that it would really put us in the drivers seat.

Looking back on game 3 now, we weren't the better team, but we found a way to win against a TB team that played relatively well. That said, I was a bit surprised by TB's effort TBH. I really don't think that was the best they can play and truly I was expecting more from them. Especially early on. Sure they played a good game, but I honestly felt like it was more so us that did not play well vs. them dominating the game. It never really felt like they were imposing their will on the game, but more so taking advantage of what we were giving them. Again, good game from them, not their best. We on the other hand were extremely careless with the puck and we didn't make it hard on their D to exit the zone at any point in the almost 80 minutes of gametime.

That said, I really think the way things shook out on Saturday could serve as more of a benefit for us in a weird way. Sure it was not a pretty win. We did not deserve that result at all. But I actually think that might be more demoralizing for the bolts. I am not sure this TB team can be completely demoralized, that is what makes them champs, but this is definitely a blow to the morale. Additionally, I feel like Sammy needed a game where he was the reason we won. He was visibly shaky in that 1st. Arguably the the shakiest he has been as a Leaf. He was just not tracking the puck at all. And although I didn't think he ever came back to full form in the game, he found a way to battle through the adversity and make the saves we needed him to make. He ended up being the difference maker.

The mark of a good team is finding ways to win when you don't bring your best, and that is exactly what happened in game 3. Key players stepping up in key moments. Staying in the fight despite having every reason to hit the mat. I am incredibly proud of that resolve if I am being honest.

As for tonight, we need to be 10x better then we were on Saturday. We cannot play the way we did Saturday and expect to win TBH. We need to clean up our zone exits in a big way. It looks like TB is really clogging up the neutral zone, and it's really causing us trouble in our own end. If the middle of the ice is hard to break through cleanly during the 1st period, we might need to implement the ally-oop play to back off their D and stretch the ice a bit. It's a tactic I am not sure I have seen Sheldon ever use, but it was something Babs used to implement a lot to gain more space in the neutral zone. We will lose this series if we continue to turn over the puck in our own half of the ice. It's time to get pucks in behind their D and make them work for their opportunities. Make them go 200 feet and stop handing them gifts.

Lets keep the foot on their throats and put this one away early!

Go Leafs Go!

 

[ACC1224]

Who is worried about it? It's just what it is lol. Jon Cooper has done this for the last decade.

All coaches do that.

 

[Sypher04]

Hit stats are meaningless. Probably the least accurate of any stat out there.

I would agree with you except that it’s usually that they are underreported not over

 

[Guided by Veseys]

Dude you seriously think Tampa players don't try and game the refs to get calls?

Yeah it was a bit dramatic. It would have been like if Tavares came back 5 minutes later after losing consciousness in Game 1 against Montreal. Point looked like he had suffered a career threatening injury ffs. Glad he isn’t really hurt though, I like Brayden Point as a player, he’s a superb hockey player.

 

[ACC1224]

I would agree with you except that it’s usually that they are underreported not over

yes, many are missed and some tend to inflate the home team.
Islanders were always notorious for that.

Yeah it was a bit dramatic. It would have been like if Tavares came back 5 minutes later in Game 1 against Montreal. Point looked like he had suffered a career threatening injury ffs.

You've obviously never had the wind knocked out of you.

 

[justashadowof]

Game 3 was both a glorious win and possibly the Leafs' worst game of the series to date. They will have to play much better unless Samsonov has miraculously turned into Patrick Roy.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

yes, many are missed and some tend to inflate the home team.
Islanders were always notorious for that.


You've obviously never had the wind knocked out of you.

No never. What’s it like?

 

[1specter]

Game 4 from last year. Gave up one a minute in, with Holl creating a giveaway under pressure and then screening Campbell. Then the second one comes 4 minutes later, Muzzin can't control it, and Campbell with a shit pokecheck straight to Bellemare. 2 minutes after that, a stretch pass to Maroon who blows right by Rielly, and Jack goes down early biting hard on the deke.

Within 10 minutes, the game was lost. Then in the first 5 minutes of period 2, just to add insult to injury Campbell lets in a dogshit goal that goes right through his glove on a softie from Colton.

 

[geo25]

The only reason Vassy is “good” is because he wears a outrageously large chest protector. That’s it. It’s borderline illegal.

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That's crazy!!@

 

[DirkStraun]

I really hope the boys come out strong tonight and step on Tampa's throat. If we lay another game 2 style beating on them I feel confident we can end it in 5 back in Toronto. This TB squad looks more pedestrian then they have in years and our late season trades gave us an edge we have not had with this squad.

Go Leafs Go

 

[al secord]

You don't think he was hurt?

I think it's obvious he was winded. And if you've ever been winded, you literally feel like you're dying.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I'd rather that than the alternative

Last year the Leafs tried to weather the storm in game 4 and got blown out of the building 10 minutes in. Match Tampa's intensity to start, show them tonight will be a war and we are prepared for it

Yeah nothing good comes from letting the other team dictate the start of the game in this situation. The Leafs have won both games when they scored first, and lost the other one. Looking to last year, it's a pretty similar story. You can't play catchup against a team like Tampa

 

[keonsbitterness]

No never. What’s it like?

Can't breathe for up to a minute, then normal breathing slowly returns. Had it happen to me twice playing touch football.

 

[geo25]

All coaches do that.

I used to believe this tesm would only go as far as Austin takes them....now, I see and believe its ROR....a true warrior.

 

[TorMapleJays]

We are ready for tonight! Let’s go Buds

 

[al secord]

No never. What’s it like?

You're fighting to breathe. 5 mins later you're right as rain.

 

[leafsfan2point0]

Tampas going to come out flying. We can’t let them score early, the first goal will be huge tonight.
Go Leafs Go!