Can we beat Tampa?

[Maple Leaf]

They can
But boston?

 

[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.

Now 2.63 and 3.00. I know they will likely tighten up in the playoffs, but again, they've been leaking goals. Something to keep an eye on and may need to be the area that is exploited.

 

[JadedLeaf]

We can and we will

 

[m1ker]

Tom Wilson 50% retained or this team is dead to me

 

[kb]

Tom Wilson 50% retained or this team is dead to me

This is dumb. What about the salary cap, other teams, or even Washington?

Put down the NHL 23 controller....what happens on there is not a reflection of what happens in real life.

 

[Arzak]

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.

You Sir pushed the ref's excuse to the extreme.

Leave some room for other excuses. 8 goals just for Cooper crying to the refs in the best of 7 series(technically 8goals in 6 max since he bitching after game 1).
If true Cooper is already the favourite to win Conn Smythe.

 

[TIGERCOOL]

Really wanted another scoring threat on this team. Lot of pressure for Knies to step into the NHL and fill that role for us now. Matthews playing like a shell of his former self gives them the edge in game breaking talent, to go alone with scoring depth and goaltending. They'll get dive happy like last year and eat us alive on special teams.

We'll need a lot of breaks to win. Oh well. GLG.

 

[LurkMuller]

Shocked that TB weren't able to add a d-man today(even a depth option). They traded away Cal Foote and never replaced him. They currently have 6 nhl dmen on the roster (cernak injured) one of whom is Haydn Fleury, who's played 23 nhl games this year and another is Nick Perbix, who, while he's been good in a sheltered role, only has 50 nhl games to his name and 0 playoff experience. They're basically one more injury away from having to call guys up from the AHL.
Meanwhile Toronto has 8 guys who were all regulars in the NHL this year, plus Timmins, Benn and Mete.

 

[kb]

Shocked that TB weren't able to add a d-man today(even a depth option). They traded away Cal Foote and never replaced him. They currently have 6 nhl dmen on the roster (cernak injured) one of whom is Haydn Fleury, who's played 23 nhl games this year and another is Nick Perbix, who, while he's been good in a sheltered role, only has 50 nhl games to his name and 0 playoff experience. They're basically one more injury away from having to call guys up from the AHL.
Meanwhile Toronto has 8 guys who were all regulars in the NHL this year, plus Timmins, Benn and Mete.

It's strange when you consider the asset cost they paid for Jeannot. The Leafs picked up ROR, McCabe, Acciari, and Lafferty for arguably the same or less than what Tampa paid for a luxury add when their real need was on D.

Their entire D of 7 is composed of a star having a dreadful season (Hedman), another good D playing (and getting paid) too much, and too high (he's more of a low end #2/high end #3) in the lineup (Sergachev). A solid #4 playing as a #3 (Cernak). After those 3, there are 2 bottom pairing D (Cole, Bogosian), plus a rookie who needs sheltering (Perbix), and a lifer AHL'er (Fleury).

Their move to add Jeannot at the price paid made no sense on any level. And wow, do they miss McDonagh.

 

[LurkMuller]

It's strange when you consider the asset cost they paid for Jeannot. The Leafs picked up ROR, McCabe, Acciari, and Lafferty for arguably the same or less than what Tampa paid for a luxury add when their real need was on D.

Their entire D of 7 is composed of a star having a dreadful season (Hedman), another good D playing (and getting paid) too much, and too high (he's more of a low end #2/high end #3) in the lineup (Sergachev). A solid #4 playing as a #3 (Cernak). After those 3, there are 2 bottom pairing D (Cole, Bogosian), plus a rookie who needs sheltering (Perbix), and a lifer AHL'er (Fleury).

Their move to add Jeannot at the price paid made no sense on any level. And wow, do they miss McDonagh.

Exactly. From what I've read, they tried hard on deadline day to add a defenseman but ultimately struck out. Maybe they get lucky and make it through the first round without any injuries but that seems like a massive gamble. Big advantage here for Toronto especially given that they're already a significantly better defensive team.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

If they play like they did against Calgary they can beat anybody in this league.

At NO point in that 3rd period, despite having a rookie in net did I feel like they were going to lose.

They had that 3rd period on lockdown.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

we will beat Tampa

 

[Dekes For Days]

2022 Playoffs -> 2023 Playoffs
(roster changes)

Toronto:

Mikyehev -> O'Rielly
Engvall -> Jarnkrok
Spezza -> Acciari
Blackwell -> Lafferty
Kase -> Knies

Muzzin -> McCabe
Lyubushkin -> Liljegren

Campbell -> Samsonov
Mrazek -> Murray

Tampa:

Palat -> Jeannot

McDonagh -> Cole
Foote -> Perbix

 

[PhiladelphiaKessel]

2022 Playoffs -> 2023 Playoffs
(roster changes)

Toronto:

Mikyehev -> O'Rielly
Engvall -> Jarnkrok
Spezza -> Acciari
Blackwell -> Lafferty
Kase -> Knies

Muzzin -> McCabe
Lyubushkin -> Liljegren

Campbell -> Samsonov
Mrazek -> Murray

Tampa:

Palat -> Jeannot

McDonagh -> Cole
Foote -> Perbix

I’d say lybushkin -> schenn but agree with everything else. Liljegren this year is definitely > then last year too

 

[Dekes For Days]

I’d say lybushkin -> schenn but agree with everything else. Liljegren this year is definitely > then last year too

Lyubishkin -> Schenn would be the stylistic comparable, but since we don't know for sure what the lineups will be this year, I just did the best roster of 12F/6D/2G for each team, and I don't think Schenn deserves to be above Holl or Liljegren. It's possible though, based on what Keefe did last year, that it will be Lyubushkin -> Schenn and it will remain Holl/Liljegren -> Holl/Liljegren.

 

[kevsh]

Now there's a coach who holds his stars accountable.
3 Cup finals, 2 cups. Maybe he's onto something?

 

[Leafsfan74]

Yes. the Leafs beat them last year but the refs and I suppose the league wouldn't have it. T.B were also the biggest divers I've seen, and amazingly they were rewarded.

Maybe the fear of losing Leaf fans will wake up the league to ensuring a fair game. All this season the posting numbers on here have been down, that metric must be a barometer for something.

 

[Machinae]

Tampa really could've used some smart adds on D like Gustafsson and Schenn

 

[mapleleaf979]

Leafs have an on and off switch, after tonights loss to the Canucks, the playoffs are going to be a roller coaster ride

 

[BraveCanadian]

I think the Leafs *can* beat Tampa. I would never bet on it, though. You never know what you're going to see from this team night to night.

 

[Bloomberg]

I think we'll beat Tampa if we have a healthy team

 

[Shooter2x]

Tampa knows how to become a cohesive unit and then Vasi is the finishing touch to shut you down. And their depth can actually score

Our swappable lawn chair "dunno wtf I'm doing " approach has us not even ready to take on lottery teams without getting smashed because the team is so out of sync.

Typical Dubas Era Leafs. I will be shocked if we look fluid in round 1 especially with Chief Keefe at the helm

 

[RoadWarrior]

In theory yes but it will never happen with this core, coach and management group.

 

[Lemontree]

Yes, they can. This is the weakest roster Tampa has had in past 4 seasons however why anyone would expect the Leafs to beat them is beyond me.

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

Lmao we can't even beat Vancouver