Pre-Game Talk: Blackhawks @ Maple Leafs (Monday, December 2nd)

[Mr_Fun]

Hopefully McCabe is good to go in this one. The fact we lost both games to this rebuilding franchise last year should alone be enough to get these guys up for this one. I don’t care about blowing them out or anything like that, just find a way to win.

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[Darcy Tucker]

Bedard has completely fizzled out. Maybe it's just not that easy to be a franchise changing 1st overall like Matthews. Maybe some players just aren't as good as the hype. Interesting to see where their franchise goes in the near future.

Bedard is ballsacks pass it around.

 

[meefer]

We have 12 games before Christmas. This week the Hawks, Preds, Caps and then the Penguins on Dec 8. If we want to take ourselves seriously, if we want to have a chance at winning our division, we have to take 3 of 4 of those games, with Washington being the obvious difficult game, the rest being 'easy' wins. The following week it's the same type of sched., with the Devils being the one 'hard' team, and the Ducks, Red Wings and Sabres being the easier games. Our last 4 before the break has us up against the Stars, the Red Wings, Sabres and we finish with Jets on Dec 24. I'd be satisfied with 8:12 (.666%), but am hoping for 9 W's with the extra coming against one of the Stars, Caps, Jets or Devils.

Of course, that's just comparing teams by stats, and as @Mr_Fun points out, we lost to the Hawks twice last year. If we are different, we cannot lose to them tomorrow. It's just bad business.

This upcoming month is, imo, going to be very important in determining Tre's view towards trades, starting with Fraser Minten. Is the kid going to be able to weather this type of schedule, 12 in 24 days? So far, I think he's done well at 3C, and he's done so with lesser players than who he might be lined up with when the team is healthy. The question, of course, is whether he can bring it every other night? We'll see. Saturday against Washington might be Reaves' last game as a Leaf. I see him dressing because of one Mr. Tom Wilson. Should Wilson get frisky, does Reaves offer any type of pushback? If not, what's his purpose? I see none, and would argue that waivers is his destination. With McMann out, I would urge Robertson be given LW with Tavares and Marner...if only to see if he's worth more in a trade than what people say his value currently is. I also wonder about Hakanpaa and his knee(s)? Is there anything there, his size is certainly attractive, as are his PK stats, but can he play?
Tomorrow:

Knies Matthews Willy Styles
Robertson Tavares Marner
Holmberg Minten Lorentz
Grebs Dewar A Nylander

D as per usual (unless Hakanpaa ?)

Pick a goalie, I like 'em both.

 

[BlackAdam]

For some reason the Blackhawks always light up the Leafs with at least 4 goals

 

[MSZ]

For some reason the Blackhawks always light up the Leafs with at least 4 goals

Traditionally they just don't show up against Chicago.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

4th game in 6 nights, 2nd half of a back to back and 3rd game in the last 4 nights.

Just like they did against Tampa the Leafs have a chance to jump on what should be a tired Blackhawks team, and a Blackhawks team without Seth Jones.

Win tonight take back 1st in the Atlantic and then focus on 1st place in the east.