Around the League - ...in 56 Games
- Thread starter uncleben
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Superstar
"Be water, my friend."
- Jun 25, 2008
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I'm sure losing 5-2 identical scores over 3 games against the Islanders is an encouraging sign...
BertCorbeau
F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
The Isles have feasted on the bottom feeders of their division:
Vs Buffalo: 5-0-0
Vs NJ: 2-1-0
Vs NYR: 2-1-0
They're 5-4-4 against the rest .. Funny enough they've dominated the Bruins though so far going 3-0-0
Vs Buffalo: 5-0-0
Vs NJ: 2-1-0
Vs NYR: 2-1-0
They're 5-4-4 against the rest .. Funny enough they've dominated the Bruins though so far going 3-0-0
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
Thats crazy. The NHL remains by far the worst officiated of any pro sports league and its not even remotely close
Warden of the North
Ned Stark's head
NJ shuts out one of the "real Stanley Cup contenders" in Boston.
SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
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What is interesting though is that a lot of those teams are not what they were. It is a tough division, but I think the Leafs would still be at the top of it.
I feel like it will be the most contested division, only to get crushed by the good teams in the other divisions when they get to the Conference Finals... which is pretty much par for the course for the Metro now that Crosby and Ovi can't dominate on their own.
Jimmy Firecracker
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque.
Jimmy Firecracker
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque.
Ain’t that the truth. That division is overrated due to great recent success but teams have definitely taken a step back. Pens and Caps aren’t what they used to be and neither has performed well in the playoffs the past couple of years. Flyers have some young guys that could use seasoning but they’re rising, Bruins defence is completely re-shaped but is still good, even though it is very young and inexperienced. Islanders lack the high end skill on other contenders but they’re probably the best coached and best example of a real team in the division.
Rangers and Devils are too mediocre to really compete, and Buffalo is a tire fire.
SeaOfBlue
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All I would say is that none of them would be at the top of another division. They would probably end up doing just as well as they are right now in their current division.
It is the toughest division because they have the most playoff caliber teams, but it is like a division full of Winnipeg with worse goaltending. If we win against Winnipeg, we can easily beat any of them in the playoffs.
We will see after the TDL, but as long as we only need to go up against one of Tampa or Vegas, we have a chance of winning the Cup.
Gurglesons
Registered User
The East is full of teams playing playoff hockey. The Leafs would need to be immediately ready to play a trap even if say PIT or PHI comes out of the division.
As a PIT fan, I love the Leafs brand of hockey. But, if they have to face the Isles or PHI in the CF I’d be worried. TBH I’d take the Bruins or PIT this year. You guys tend to kick the shit out of WAS too.
uncleben
Global Moderator
SeaOfBlue
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WSH, PIT, PHI, NYI, and BOS all have winning records against us in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.
The thing is that this time around, we don't have Babcock at the helm, and our defense is significantly better than when those teams last played us. We've played some of them a few times under Keefe and we have done much better. And some of those teams are not as good as when we've last played them.
Gurglesons
Registered User
It’s different in the playoffs though. PIT barely scrapped by Ottawa in 2017 despite them being the worst team they faced.
I hope the Leafs do it. I’m so tired of the arguments around that team.
SeaOfBlue
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All of the leagues have subpar officiating but the NBA is by far the worst. We have premandated game management but the NBA lets superstars get away with so much that their games would suffer if they didn't get it.
I don't think we are on that level. Skill teams and players suffer and the slow, physical teams benefit, but it is far from as bad as the NBA IMO.
I don't often find myself defending the Leafs but having them in the same division as the team I follow it has kind of made me more aware of 2 things.
First like the toxic part of the Nucks fanbase, a small post genX group of Leaf fans cast a shadow on the many great fans of the Leafs.
The 2nd thing is the amount of goal-post moving that's done to discredit the season the Leafs are having. The North by far has the least amount of loser points given out and teams like the Pens, Caps, Jackets, Rangers, Avs, Blues, Stars, would be eaten alive in the North.
None of their goalies or team D has been that good and are relying on getting loser points. The Leafs, Nucks, Jets and Oilers, are not easy to contain and all have enough fire power to beat the American teams I listed. The only team's that I think would have the same record if they were in the North is Vegas and TBL. The rest of the teams have just as many flaws but of course that doesn't fit the narrative of the North being worse than the other divisions.
willmma
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SeaOfBlue
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The playoffs always have some kind of randomness aspect to them. Columbus did not score a single PP goal against us and were worse at 5-on-5 but their goalie was better than ours and that was the difference. They also swept Tampa two years ago and a year later Tampa went on to win the Cup despite mostly just getting more skilled gritty guys at the bottom of their lineup (and that was mostly without Stamkos too). Now they likely don't even make the playoffs.
The absolute best team usually does not win, but it is usually one of the best teams and the Leafs are one of those teams. We still need to get through the North and that is not going to be easy, so we will see when/if we get to the Conference Finals.
SeaOfBlue
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He probably knew that he would get a penalty and Marchand would get away scot free.
The unfortunate thing is that is likely how it would have gone down
Gurglesons
Registered User
Columbus plays the style I’m talking about.
I just think Toronto (or whoever comes out of the North) and who ever comes out of the Central is going to be shocked by how slow and boring the hockey is in the Pacific and East. Literally every team outside of the Rangers and PIT is playing Trotz hockey in the East. And Sullivan is trying to coach the Pens to play Trotz hockey.
SeaOfBlue
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Some of the Canadian teams try it on us too. It works sometimes, but a lot of the time it comes down to the opposing goalie being on their 'A' game because we can complete stretch passes and have improved our forechecking ability a lot since Keefe has taken over.
It also depends on how much they will call the hooks and holds. If teams are staying stationary and aren't able to get away with those penalties, we will be able to outskate them.
It'll be interesting to see. I wouldn't mind going up against the Islanders. They've been talking a lot of crap since Tavares came here and think they are a lot better than they are. I think we can beat them, but right now we need to worry about maintaining our division lead and how to navigate whoever we play in the first two rounds. Winnipeg could be a tough matchup and we get to play them for the next three games starting on Tuesday so this could be an early indication of where the Leafs are at going into the TDL.
Mess
Global Moderator
I'm sure glad I renewed my NHL centre Ice package this year as getting my hockey fix from watching these USA teams above and beyond just the Leafs and that CDN division as it allows me to still follow and watch many of the star players of the NHL.
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