GDT: Around the League - Stanley Cup Edition - Round #2

[dubplatepressure]

I've been watching pretty much every series in the playoffs and the compete level is just wild. Why couldn't the Leafs show some of that same compete level, determination, do whatever it takes to put your bodies on the line to win? I mean, heart and soul these others teams are playing with and tons of passion.

Embarrassing seeing this and then seeing what the Leafs did in games 5 through 7.

I cannot answer "why", but I can say that every team still in this (not in the north) has already proven they can win a series before.

Can players "learn" to elevate their game? Yes. Some don't though. We have a culture here that tends to neuter that do-whatever-it-takes mentality. We have seen country club boys here in the past.

 

[socko]

Mitch would have had the golf tee times set up by now.

Hopefully his golf drive is better than his hockey shot.

 

[ToneDog]

Barzal = extreme perimeter player

We could use one or two. Barzal has been great tonight and scored tying goal in game #3. That is more than you know who did in 7 games vs a so-so Habs team.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Rask has been really good

 

[2 Slick]

Pure defensive domination by the Islanders the last 4-5 minutes, gave them nothing.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Isles proving you don’t need multiple mega millions players to win. Just a solid system and heart and soul players.

 

[dubplatepressure]

NYI are just all grit.

 

[ToneDog]

Lou hockey vs Dubas hockey. Night and day. Series tied at 2.

 

[Cleetus]

Pageau was excellent tonight, shut down the "perfection line"

 

[hamzarocks]

I don't get why leaf fans talk about other players stars in the playoffs.

Barzal, Point, Rantanen, Aho have all been excellent in their playoff careers and have worked through difficulties to be productive players.

Don't try and diminish them by comparing those 4 to Marner

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Lou hockey vs Dubas hockey. Night and day. Series tied at 2.

AKA spreadsheet hockey vs reality.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Isles proving you don’t need multiple mega millions players to win. Just a solid system and heart and soul players.

Is it enough for a Cup though? Don’t get me wrong they’re a great team but do they have the firepower to take down the likes of Colorado, Vegas, Tampa, or even finish off Boston?

 

[Superstar]

Lou hockey vs Dubas hockey. Night and day. Series tied at 2.

So the Isles could send their 4th line out to defend a one goal lead, and also score an empty net goal? You mean we couldn't do that with Joe Thornton?

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

The Islanders goal horn is amazing. I hope they'll still use it in the new building

 

[Trapper]

That was playoff hockey.

 

[ToneDog]

Pageau was excellent tonight, shut down the "perfection line"

Some posters laugh at Lou for signing him while Dubes signs Boyd, vesey, Jumbo, and Simmonds.

 

[fahad203]

Is it enough for a Cup though? Don’t get me wrong they’re a great team but do they have the firepower to take down the likes of Colorado, Vegas, Tampa, or even finish off Boston?

Maybe not but at least they give themselves a chance.

 

[ToneDog]

That was playoff hockey.

Real hockey.

We saw more battles/fights tonight than we saw in the Leaf season and playoffs.

Some of the Dubas fan boys had to cover their eyes if they tuned in.

 

[Pookie]

Congrats to Lou and Leo and Matt.

Exciting series to watch.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

So the Isles could send their 4th line out to defend a one goal lead, and also score an empty net goal? You mean we couldn't do that with Joe Thornton?

Nah Thornton was too busy bringing leadership to PP1

 

[socko]

The nastiness of that made it pretty entertaining, the regular season version of that though is pretty tough for me to get through.

 

[Mess]

I’m having a lot of fun watching the Bruins/Islanders series. I thought Shanahan was the guy to build us along that style.

As for Dubas, his can and will failed. I don’t want to even think if what his plan is next.
These teams have solid top 9’s that play with passion and intensity. Everyone doesn’t need to be a “supa star”

My boy Matty Barzal willed his team today into a tie in the series 2-2 with a goal and assist and took a licking and kept on ticking.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Is it enough for a Cup though? Don’t get me wrong they’re a great team but do they have the firepower to take down the likes of Colorado, Vegas, Tampa, or even finish off Boston?

Probably not, even with a healthy Lee. Not sure if Boston is much better than them, and neither team can compete with Tampa from that side of the bracket imo

 

[Stephen]

I don't get why leaf fans talk about other players stars in the playoffs.

Barzal, Point, Rantanen, Aho have all been excellent in their playoff careers and have worked through difficulties to be productive players.

Don't try and diminish them by comparing those 4 to Marner

Barzal gets overlooked a lot in those vs Marner debates because his regular season numbers have looked pretty average since his rookie year when he played behind Tavares (ironically enough his career high is still higher than Auston Matthews).

Part of the reason is he's in that Islanders system and it's not built to generate glamorous numbers. Also worth noting that in the years leading up to the 2015 draft, there was all the Connor McDavid hype for first overall, but Mathew Barzal was the McDavid of the West and projected to go 2nd. So he's got ridiculous pedigree as well. One thing you also have to love about his game is his explosive skating and speed.

Also, also worth noting is when the Leafs picked Marner they also looked at Rantanen, Werenski and Barzal.

If Marner had that aspect to his game I would be a lot more confident in his evolution process moving forward.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

I don't get why leaf fans talk about other players stars in the playoffs.

Barzal, Point, Rantanen, Aho have all been excellent in their playoff careers and have worked through difficulties to be productive players.

Don't try and diminish them by comparing those 4 to Marner

I’m never defending any of our players in comparisons again. Cizikas over Matthews? Sure what the f*** do I care. Tuch over Marner? You bet man. These guys come to play in the playoffs, Matthews and Marner don’t. I won’t begrudge any fan picking other players besides our choke artists.