Can we beat Tampa?

[Maplebeasts]

Yes absolutely. They were the better team for the most part last year and got better while Tampa got worse. Assuming Samsonov holds his own they are absolutely the favourites.

 

[Gabriel426]

They can and the question is will they? We will find out in a few months.

 

[willmma]

Can the leafs beat Boston?

I don't know man. God seems to love the Broons. They are not aging like other teams. The are incapable of losing. Orlov who scored 3 all season just scored 2 for them. Nothing goes bad for them.

Hey, Wes Macauly knocked down Marchand the other day. That's a thing

 

[Judas Tavares]

I do find it interesting that in the same amount of games played this year, Tampa has allowed 22 more goals than the Leafs. It's a 2.62 to 2.97 GA/P ratio.

 

[Lightsol]

The playoffs have never been fair. And people who cry foul over the system are fans of losing teams. Toronto beating the crap out of Ottawa 4 years in a row in another playoff format. Edmonton beating Winnipeg every year in the 80s. Montreal wrecking the Campbell conference in the 70s when there was cross conference playoff play.

It's probably worth mentioning that though we did beat Ottawa 4 times in the 1-8 format, it wasn't always in the same round. And the Edmonton-Winnipeg thing occurred in the same sort of division matchup format as we're currently using. I would argue that a BIG problem is that really, Tampa and Florida shouldn't be IN this division...

 

[GoonieFace]

Ahahahaa.......whoopsie. lol Apologies.

No worries

 

[LizzyDangle]

Uh yeah

 

[BayStBullies]

I predict Cooper bitches to the media about officiating after game 1, regardless of results. The refs will then favour them harder than ever. Keefe can't play that card, as it historically has the opposite effect. The Leafs are pretty much going to be costed 4-8 goals this series from biased calls. They need to be that much better than Tampa. Get ready for it, as the Bruins will be 2x worse.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Perhaps Keefe will keep his pie hole shut and not talk about a "violent" game

 

[LeafGrief]

The only thing the Lightning have that truly scares me is Vasilevskiy. Can we beat them? Damn right we can beat them. But they can beat us.

Has the potential to be an incredible series and I think it will come down to who wants it more. Our guys, namely Matthews and Marner, have gotta find it in them to go to the next level.

 

[LizzyDangle]

Still can't get over that Jeannot trade. Hilarious

 

[Stephen]

I like to think Dubas’ shock and awe trade deadline sets a tone vs Tampa as well. We’re coming to get you, etc.

 

[nsleaf]

The playoffs have never been fair. And people who cry foul over the system are fans of losing teams. Toronto beating the crap out of Ottawa 4 years in a row in another playoff format. Edmonton beating Winnipeg every year in the 80s. Montreal wrecking the Campbell conference in the 70s when there was cross conference playoff play.

It’s never been fair. Just win. It’s not supposed to be fair.

This makes no sense.

 

[Stephen]

This makes no sense.

The playoff format has never been fair if you’re not a strong contender. Was it fair when Calgary was stuck behind Edmonton in the 1980s in a divison format? Were there roadkill teams like Ottawa that lost to Toronto every year when there was a 1-8? It’s never been “fair.”

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Can the Leafs beat Tampa?
Sure, anything is possible.

Will the Leafs beat Tampa? Probably not.

Like Burke said, good teams are built from.the net out. With good defense. And strength down the middle.

Weak teams are built from the wings in. With questionable.goaltending. And shoddy defense.

Which team sounds like the Leafs to you?

Which team sounds like Tampa?

Respect in the handshake lineup isn't good enough this year.

It shouldn't have been good enough last year.

Does anyone really think Cooper would give Keefe any respect this year anyway?

I wouldn't expect it either.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Can the Leafs beat Tampa?
Sure, anything is possible.

Will the Leafs beat Tampa? Probably not.

Like Burke said, good teams are built from.the net out. With good defense. And strength down the middle.

Weak teams are built from the wings in. With questionable.goaltending. And shoddy defense.

Which team sounds like the Leafs to you?

Which team sounds like Tampa?

Respect in the handshake lineup isn't good enough this year.

It shouldn't have been good enough last year.

Does anyone really think Cooper would give Keefe any respect this year anyway?

I wouldn't expect it either.

I
Mean last night aside the Leafs have had good defense and goaltending all year, and can have the deepest center group in the NHL literally any time they choose to.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I
Mean last night aside the Leafs have had good defense and goaltending all year, and can have the deepest center group in the NHL literally any time they choose to.

I would argue that their numbers for defense are good simply because the Leafs spend so much time in the opposition's zone.

The best defense is a good offense.

The Leafs play a fall back defense that encourages the opposition into taking shots, but from bad angles and at a distance. Most teams play this way now. Then they scoop the puck up and rush it back up ice where they get into position looking for high danger cross seam passes in the slot.

They relentlessly move the puck forward at all times.

They use short outlet passes for the breakout but are ambiguous between dumping it in or carrying it in to the opposition's zone. They are a good puck retrieval team.

They almost never play a trap except a 1-1-3 during line changes. Even late in a game where they have a whopping lead they will still send in two forecheckers deep. This all offense all the time philosophy is great for the regular season, but has yet to prove itself in the postseason when teams tighten up the defense and start trapping more.

History has not been kind to this team when it comes to winning playoffs rounds.

Maybe that changes this year, maybe not.

 

[34]

Not with Murray or Sammy in net. No way. They are very bad goaltenders.

 

[danron1376]

terrrible playoff format. 4th overall vs 5th overall meeting in the 1st round.

 

[1specter]

terrrible playoff format. 4th overall vs 5th overall meeting in the 1st round.

Hate to break it to you, but the top 5 in the league also mirrors the top 5 in the East, and even in the old 1v8 format we'd still be playing Tampa

 

[meefer]

Can we beat Tampa, of course we can.
Will we beat Tampa, who knows, that's why you play the game.

I think we've a better team than we did two weeks ago, so I'm pumped. And this is before the deadline, I hope I'll like it more tomorrow.

As to Boston, 3 of their most dangerous 4 players are 34+ years old. Great players/athletes all. But, every other night in the playoffs isn't the same as the regular season.

 

[Gabriel426]

I think the Leafs can’t look at TB and Bruins as obstacles and problems but just need to look at them as just teams they play on their route to the Cup.
They need a mental coach to coach them

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

The playoff format has never been fair if you’re not a strong contender. Was it fair when Calgary was stuck behind Edmonton in the 1980s in a divison format? Were there roadkill teams like Ottawa that lost to Toronto every year when there was a 1-8? It’s never been “fair.”

Disagree. It’s the fact you can be 5th overall and never get a single round of home ice advantage that makes it unfair. Meanwhile you can finish 11th and get it.

 

[Stephen]

Disagree. It’s the fact you can be 5th overall and never get a single round of home ice advantage that makes it unfair. Meanwhile you can finish 11th and get it.

In 1987, the Leafs made the playoffs with a 25 wins in the Norris Division while the Sabres finished 5th in the Adams with 37 wins.

It’s never been fair or balanced and if you want to make the playoffs, home ice or win a round or win a cup, you have to go through your own path.

 

[Dayjobdave]

i'm feeling great about the playoffs. I think with the moves we've made so far, even considering Tampa's moves, our odds have improved from 49% to 51% easy.

It's going to be a hell of a series