GDT: Around the League - 2021/22 - Playoffs edition

[PromisedLand]

Watching how Tampa came out in this game and the way they played in the 3rd period a lot of teams should save a tape of that. A lot teams could learn from it including the Leafs. Tampa has that killer instinct.

Dubas/Keefe and by extension the core are drinking their own koolaid. they think they are better than they actually are with no results to support their stupid ways.

Leafs are not winning anything. The future is bleak as long as dubas/keefe regime continues. Tavares' contract is also going to be an anchor on top of Matthews/Marner overpayments and no term. Matthews is a UFA in 2 years, with his NTC/MNC kicking in after next season same time Marner's NTC/NMC also kicks in btw.

How big of an F-up is that is the dubas era it is just astounding.

Leafs do not have a #1G, don't have a point shot or a true #1D, Muzzin/Brodie are aging and apparently we will be relying on aging Gio

ohh and btw... we dont have a cap space to bolster depth scoring, acquire a top1/2 D or a #1G.

6 years of Matthews era wasted; is not nothing!.... people think that there is nothing wrong.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

i guess we should be proud that we are the only team in the East that can beat TB 3 times in the playoffs.
If only we can play the worst record team in the playoffs, Leafs would have advanced like they did last season against the Habs, oh wait, we lost that series after leading 3-1.

I really hope the boys don’t take comfort of almost beating TB and being the only team to play a Game 7 against TB instead of being piss that if only they finished off TB, they would be playing in the Cup Finals now.

Leafs had a realistic chance of being the 1 seed in these playoffs. But instead they chose to lose 4 games in a season series to the likes of Buffalo while losing other games to bottom feeders. They did this to themselves. Could have atleast had 1 series win which may have gave them a bit more confidence against Tampa but they let it slip

 

[Mess]

Rangers were a fraud though.

Without Shestirkin they probably don't make the playoffs.

Well in fairness if you take away NYR Hart Trophy league MVP finalist, then you could also take away the Leafs 60 goals Hart finalist and make a similar prediction.

But your point is well taken that "Good teams are built from the goalie out, through strong defense.. "

Vezina Trophy winning Shestirkin stats on the regular season for 2021-22

Goals Against Average
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[TR]
[TD]2021-22 NHL 2.07 (1st)[/TD]
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Save Percentage
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[TD]2021-22 NHL .935 (1st)[/TD]
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Goals Allowed Adjusted
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[TD]2021-22 NHL 70 (1st)[/TD]
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Goals Saved Above Average
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[TD]2021-22 NHL 45 (1st)[/TD]
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Adjusted Goals Against Average
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[TR]
[TD]2021-22 NHL 2.11 (1st)[/TD]
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[/TABLE]

Its stats like that take a Rangers team from being and non playoff team the past 2 years to the final 4 this year and Shesterkin gave NYR a chance to upset the Cup champs.

If the Leafs had their own Shesterkin even if they had to pay him Tavares money instead of another high priced forward the Leafs would be far more Cup competitive also and takes you from being a pretender to a contender with a real goalie. IMO

Tavares back home to NY for Shesterkin 1-1 straight up.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Since Gallant was being hailed around here earlier, can he also be blamed for letting his team choke a 2-0 series lead?

He deserves heat for the forward tinkering in game 6. Kakko gets scratched and yet Strome, who could barely skate, was in the lineup and then left halfway through the game. Kakko had a bad game 5 but he was pretty solid in the first four games and probably could've helped way more at 5 on 5 than a 20% Strome

 

[Dekes For Days]

Tampa has won 11 straight series. The Leafs are the only team to have scored more goals than Tampa in a series, and are one of only 2 teams to take them to 7 games.

Leafs have now lost to the Stanley Cup finalist, in 7 games, in 3 of the last 4 years.

Fun fact: Tampa's 2nd worst series goal differential in that stretch was against the 2020 Blue Jackets.

 

[ULF_55]

Last 3 games Lightning-Leafs after Lightning woke up.

4-3
3-4 OT
1-2

Leafs goals: 8
Lightning goals: 9

Series goals:
Leafs: 24
Lightning: 23

Did anyone beat Lightning in Tampa besides the Leafs?

Someone can verify totals if they want, multi-tasking ...

 

[Clark4Ever]

Not much of a consolation at this point, but it looks like we were Tampa Bay's toughest challenge thus far.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Last 3 games Lightning-Leafs after Lightning woke up.

4-3
3-4 OT
1-2

Leafs goals: 8
Lightning goals: 9

Series goals:
Leafs: 24
Lightning: 23

Did anyone beat Lightning in Tampa besides the Leafs?

Someone can verify totals if they want, multi-tasking ...

It always sucks to lose but no matter how much people want to deny it, the Leafs definitely played well in these playoffs for a change. I think people are just losing their minds because we've lost so many years in a row and while that's understandable, it's pretty obvious that this year was different. A loss is a loss is a loss so in that sense it was the same. But for the first time in years, I'm not ashamed of the way we played and that's something at least.

If not us, TB vs COL is definitely the final I wanted to see. This has the potential to the best finals in a very long time!

 

[ULF_55]

Well in fairness if you take away NYR Hart Trophy league MVP finalist, then you could also take away the Leafs 60 goals Hart finalist and make a similar prediction.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Its stats like that take a Rangers team from being and non playoff team the past 2 years to the final 4 this year and Shesterkin gave NYR a chance to upset the Cup champs.

If the Leafs had their own Shesterkin even if they had to pay him Tavares money instead of another high priced forward the Leafs would be far more Cup competitive also and takes you from being a pretender to a contender with a real goalie. IMO

Tavares back home to NY for Shesterkin 1-1 straight up.

So will Vasilevkiy be taken out by some goon in the Ball Arena?

 

[Vaive50]

Perspective:

Tampa Bay never showed up for game #1 in the Leafs series and lost 5-0. Its that game that is giving a minority of Leaf Nation fans some false sense of hope, as a silver lining that we did something no other team did this playoff season against them, to soften what was another playoff round #1 loss.

After that slow start Tampa and Vasilevskiy started heating up, and TB won 3 of the last 4 games against Leafs, then they only allowed 3 goals in 4 games against Florida in a sweep, and then after losing 2 on the road in NY they won 4 straight with Vasilevskiy back in his Conn Smythe form again.

Tampa has won 11 of their last 14 playoff games this year on their path to their 3rd straight Cup, and in stark comparison our Leafs have only won 8 playoff games total over the course of the last 3 playoff years vs CBJ, MON and TB with this same Leaf core and 3 playoff round #1 losses.

Hopefully the team and its players realize these are polar opposite playoff trajectories, and being competitive in 1 series does not equate to similar expectations throughout.

Saying that the Bolts didn't show up for the first game is the worst excuse anybody can ever use for a professional team that has so much top talent and get paid $millions. They did show up but we showed up better after killing a 5 minute major. The only way the Bolts could tie game 6 was due to a 100% phantom 5 on 3 PP for almost an entire 2 minutes. Game 7 was totally gift wrapped by the refs (why disallow JT's goal for interference and not disallow the Bolts 2 goals which had obvious interference). Total WWE here, refs only see what they want to see, even though there are 4 zebras on the ice, but at least WWE is known to be scripted.

The refs tried everything they could to help the Bolts, the 5-minute major, another 5 on 3 in game 5 and when that didn't work, they gave the Bolts another 5 on 3 for an almost entire 2 minutes assuming something will finally work for the Bolts and then the refs totally managed game 7, can't anyone see how obviously managed those games were, the only games that didn't need managing were games 2 and 4 cause the Leafs were so far behind to start. These friggin Bolts don't impress me one bit, they are like the bad guys in wrestling who usually win by cheating or they beat the lowly Habs for their 2nd cup.

I hope Kadri and the Avs destroy the Bolts.

 

[Stephen]

When I see Perry all I can think is that leafs chose Simmonds over him. SMH.

Try not to think of it that way, the Leafs also preferred Jimmy Vesey and Joe Thornton...

 

[ToneDog]

He deserves heat for the forward tinkering in game 6. Kakko gets scratched and yet Strome, who could barely skate, was in the lineup and then left halfway through the game. Kakko had a bad game 5 but he was pretty solid in the first four games and probably could've helped way more at 5 on 5 than a 20% Strome

You are correct. Rangers however did not take any games off. IMO they ran out of gas after going 7 with Pitt and Canes.

 

[Nineteen67]

I doubt anyone on the Leafs actually watched the game last night.

Including management.

 

[PromisedLand]

It always sucks to lose but no matter how much people want to deny it, the Leafs definitely played well in these playoffs for a change. I think people are just losing their minds because we've lost so many years in a row and while that's understandable, it's pretty obvious that this year was different. A loss is a loss is a loss so in that sense it was the same. But for the first time in years, I'm not ashamed of the way we played and that's something at least.

If not us, TB vs COL is definitely the final I wanted to see. This has the potential to the best finals in a very long time!

Just FYI and Matthews, Nylander and Marner's NTC/NMC starts end of next season i.e. 2022-2023
Dubas has been such a huge collosal failture and people keep saying "leafs played well"; celebrating because leafs decided to compete? Thats the bar in the dubas era huh?

 

[Mess]

Last 3 games Lightning-Leafs after Lightning woke up.

4-3
3-4 OT
1-2

Leafs goals: 8
Lightning goals: 9

Series goals:
Leafs: 24
Lightning: 23

Did anyone beat Lightning in Tampa besides the Leafs?

Someone can verify totals if they want, multi-tasking ...

NHL doesn't work on aggregate goals like say Soccer does at times, so its smart to focus on individual game results not total goals in a series which is meaningless to deterring winners and losers.

Tampa Bay didn't show up in game #1 and Leafs won 5-0, then Leafs didn't show up in game #4 and got hammered 7-3, just because Leafs outscored TB 8-7 in GF in those two games, its still only 1 toss-away loss for each team.

This was really down to a best of 5 series thereafter when you drop those 2 extremes outcome games. Your results above reflect the series winning formula of Tampa winning game #2 by 5-3, game #6 by 4-3 in OT and game #7 by score 2-1 ... Aggregate goals in TB wins .. .11 GF vs 7 GA.. (including 2 games in TO with Leafs having home ice advantage) and of course the series clinching game 7.

The fact Leafs scored more goals in the overall series meaningless really. Its when you score not how many overall you score.

 

[ULF_55]

NHL doesn't work on aggregate goals like say Soccer does at times, so its smart to focus on individual game results not total goals in a series which is meaningless to deterring winners and losers.

Tampa Bay didn't show up in game #1 and Leafs won 5-0, then Leafs didn't show up in game #4 and got hammered 7-3, just because Leafs outscored TB 8-7 in GF in those two games, its still only 1 toss-away loss for each team.

This was really down to a best of 5 series thereafter when you drop those 2 extremes outcome games. Your results above reflect the series winning formula of Tampa winning game #2 by 5-3, game #6 by 4-3 in OT and game #7 by score 2-1 ... Aggregate goals in TB wins .. .11 GF vs 7 GA.. (including 2 games in TO with Leafs having home ice advantage) and of course the series clinching game 7.

The fact Leafs scored more goals in the overall series meaningless really. Its when you score not how many overall you score.

No doubt.

Last 3 games both teams were up to speed.

1 win
1 OT win
1 loss

for Tampa.

 

[Nineteen67]

Tampa has won 11 straight series. The Leafs are the only team to have scored more goals than Tampa in a series, and are one of only 2 teams to take them to 7 games.

Leafs have now lost to the Stanley Cup finalist, in 7 games, in 3 of the last 4 years.

Fun fact: Tampa's 2nd worst series goal differential in that stretch was against the 2020 Blue Jackets.

Precisely what Cooper was saying. If they don’t play proper competitive hockey against Colorado and mail in a game or two it‘ll be extremely difficult to win the Cup.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Just FYI and Matthews, Nylander and Marner's NTC/NMC starts end of next season i.e. 2022-2023
Dubas has been such a huge collosal failture and people keep saying "leafs played well"; celebrating because leafs decided to compete? Thats the bar in the dubas era huh?
View attachment 558252

The Leafs played well.

These is no celebrating.

I didn't say anything about any bar.

 

[ToneDog]

Precisely what Cooper was saying. If they don’t play proper competitive hockey against Colorado and mail in a game or two it‘ll be extremely difficult to win the Cup.

Tampa can smell a 3 pete that will make them one of the best teams in the history of the NHL. That has been their goal this season.

Cooper vs Bednar. Vasi vs Kuemper. Should be a great series.

 

[TMLeafer]

That's why I was ready for major changes after previous losses, but didn't have (as many of) those knee jerk reactions after this one.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Precisely what Cooper was saying. If they don’t play proper competitive hockey against Colorado and mail in a game or two it‘ll be extremely difficult to win the Cup.

NHL teams do not "mail in" playoff games.

 

[Mess]

No doubt.

Last 3 games both teams were up to speed.

1 win
1 OT win
1 loss

for Tampa.

When watching Tampa Bay down the stretch of the regular season it looked like they were playing possum and coasting along at 75% effort unconserned about final standings point totals, knowing a long and gruelling playoff run was ahead and they were pacing themselves.

It didn't matter that Leafs finished 2nd with 115 points to their own 110 and 3rd place finish, unafraid to win on the road if need be.

However it does take a little time to flip the playoff switch and Tampa Bay started slow in the playoffs but are getting stronger with each round.,

Same deal with Vasilevskiy who as Conn Smythe holder generally posts a above +.920 sv% and less than 2.0 GAA, so it took him a few games in the Leafs series also to regain that former playoff form and now he is getting better with each round. If the Leafs got the same Vas as Florida did in round #2 I'm afraid the net results would have been even more enLightening.

Eventually the cream always rises to the top, and that is happening as TB goes for a 3 peat and solidifying themselves as a dynasty.

What happens to the Leafs who are essentially "running in back" this year, if they were to face TB in the playoffs next year as potential 3 X Cup Champs, and is the "close series" clouding things?

 

[keonsbitterness]

StL and Boston lived up to its hype and was a cracker.

Disappointing grind-fest. Game 7 was the worst when Bruins stupidly tried to go all-physical in the 1st, tired themselves out, and then had nothing left for the rest of the game.

Vasilevsky is a goalie, not a defenseman.

How does his xgf/60 look?

Just FYI and Matthews, Nylander and Marner's NTC/NMC starts end of next season i.e. 2022-2023
Dubas has been such a huge collosal failture and people keep saying "leafs played well"; celebrating because leafs decided to compete? Thats the bar in the dubas era huh?
View attachment 558252

If we get another playoff dud, I expect that Apr-Jun next year will be one of the most interesting and eventful periods in Leafs history.

NHL doesn't work on aggregate goals like say Soccer does at times, so its smart to focus on individual game results not total goals in a series which is meaningless to deterring winners and losers.

Tampa Bay didn't show up in game #1 and Leafs won 5-0, then Leafs didn't show up in game #4 and got hammered 7-3, just because Leafs outscored TB 8-7 in GF in those two games, its still only 1 toss-away loss for each team.

This was really down to a best of 5 series thereafter when you drop those 2 extremes outcome games. Your results above reflect the series winning formula of Tampa winning game #2 by 5-3, game #6 by 4-3 in OT and game #7 by score 2-1 ... Aggregate goals in TB wins .. .11 GF vs 7 GA.. (including 2 games in TO with Leafs having home ice advantage) and of course the series clinching game 7.

The fact Leafs scored more goals in the overall series meaningless really. Its when you score not how many overall you score.

You didn't show up in this post.

 

[Gabriel426]

I am getting abit annoyed that some think taking TB to game 7 is some sort of accomplishment and getting past the first round is some sort of achievement. Half the teams in the playoffs=8 teams make it past the first round every year.
Yes, the boys played better this playoffs, they also almost beating TB….but the fact is TB is playing in the Finals for the third straight year while our Leafs didn’t make it to the second round at the same period.

 

[kb]

I am getting abit annoyed that some think taking TB to game 7 is some sort of accomplishment and getting past the first round is some sort of achievement. Half the teams in the playoffs=8 teams make it past the first round every year.
Yes, the boys played better this playoffs, they also almost beating TB….but the fact is TB is playing in the Finals for the third straight year while our Leafs didn’t make it to the second round at the same period.

Well, it means that the posters who want to blow it all up are not thinking clearly. One goal away is not half a world away.

Unless you really want to hammer home the whole first round thing, even if each time was with a different team and even though past performance has absolutely no bearing on todays performance. But people keep harping stupidly on it.