Can we beat Tampa?

[Notsince67]

Team needs to shore up it's weaknesses. Get Knies signed and trade Engvall. If engvall can only muster 2 shots in the last 4 game, imagine what he will do in the playoffs. He is unmotivated and a sizable rookie can do no worse with a bit of upside.

 

[Dekes For Days]

You realize we are also one goalie injury away from playing either a 6 NHL game 3rd stringer or our 4th stringer right?

No, we're one goalie injury away from playing a two-time cup winner.

 

[sxvnert]

Muzzin and Lyubushkin were vital to neutralizing the larger Lightning forwards. Unless Dubas has a plan to replace that gaping hole in our defence they'll run over the leafs D with little effort.

 

[notbias]

Muzzin and Lyubushkin were vital to neutralizing the larger Lightning forwards. Unless Dubas has a plan to replace that gaping hole in our defence they'll run over the leafs D with little effort.

what? Muzzin did okay because he is a good D, Lub did bad because he is a bad D.

 

[ToDavid]

Last year’s series was as close as can get and Toronto has gotten better while Tampa has arguably gotten worse.

Not to say it’s not going to be another close battle, but they’re very beatable.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Any team can win against any other team.

 

[Arzak]

Note that Tampa knows how to win in the playoffs; in the last 3 years they have 3 SCF appearances with 2 cup wins. They core players also know how to play "dirty". Tampa's D took a hit with McDonagh traded so that is an area to exploit a bit.
I can bet Tampa will play far more dirtier this time around compared to last season.


Also, it doesn't matter who or what you add if the team as a whole does not perform. Unlike the regular season what you need in the playoffs is:

1. Will before skill. no amount of skill will ever win over "will" in the playoffs. You want to play like you are there to win. Period! Fancy bs in the playoffs ain't gonna work
2. In the playoffs you cannot win by playing perimeter hockey; you have to go to the net; take the abuse and stand in front of the net take away the eyes of the goalies
3. You have to finish your checks, playing pansy hockey isn't gonna work. You have to be able to take the hit to make the play too.
4. You have to go to the corners, win board battles and win 50-50 pucks -> no amount of skill will ever compensate for lack hardwork, persistence, and the mindset to go and say "that puck is mine; you are not going to have it"
5. Special teams: You have to make your special teams work. Your PK has to be twice as good as your PP. You cannot surrender goals on PK and you should not suck momentum out of your game on PP
6. Your defense should be able to lay body, clear crease so goalie can see the puck and make life of the opposition forwards hell
7. You have to make every shift count; you cannot be lazy even for 1 second
8. Be aware that some interference/hooking/holding/slashing calls are not going to be called in the game so don't stand around looking at the ref when there is an infraction against you like a jackass -> keep moving your feet. The moment you are looking at the ref you are giving opposition anywhere from 3 to 5 second advantage to make play and that is enough for them to cause some damage
9. When there is a shot take it ->
   1. if the shot is clean then look to score;
   2. if shot is not clean then look to get rebounds
      1. here you will need players to crash the net to look for rebounds not playing softass perimeter bullshit hockey
10. Manage the puck!!!
    1. Treat the puck like the most prized thing you own; don't be lazy/fancy with it.
    2. Every puck movement should have a purpose; it should not be thrown away for a hail mary
11. Once your shift is done, it is about the next shift -> don't waste your time/energy thinking about the previous shift
    1. that time has passed; it ain't coming back
12. Finally!!! -> mindset, mindset, mindset
    1. don't freakin CHOKE. Have a mindset that you are there to play the best hockey you have ever played.
    2. Play every game like it is Game 7

Bottom Line: In the playoffs there is no time and space; and with that in mind you have to accomplish the points I mentioned above. On top of that regardless of how the ref is calling the game you gotta go out there and compete.

The core players have to do that, if not, doesn't matter what you add to this team they will not have much success in the playoffs.

Leafs weak link is their defense -> d-men need to up their game in the playoffs.

Rielly and Matthews have had underwhelming season thus far they will have to raise their game.

Keefe has been outcoached in every series in the playoffs; he has to be better! he should not drink any 'koolaid'; he has been humbled three times in spectacular fashion. Time for Keefe to wise up and be focused espcially learning how to coach "on the fly"

^^
This. 100% agree with all of it. And to give the obvious answer of course we can beat them. McDonagh and Palat will be missed. We are improved, I would go as far as saying we are the better team this year.

The only thing I hate about it is how much of is exactly the way Bruins are playing. They take regular season as preparation for playoffs. You don't see many off-shifts or lines that are not finishing every check. Their special team are usually top 5. But for me, the difference is being used to this kind of hockey. Our players need to switch physically and mentally. Boston players are therefore as a whole less prone to stupid mistakes compared to a team that is playing a different style of hockey for 82 games.It comes down to repetition vs focusing on playoff hockey which taxes you more mentally.

You can look back at our playoff struggles and point out individual mistakes that cost us each round. You'll find different players so just trade them away for a player that won't make that mistake, no need to look at the issue team-wise...

 

[GoonieFace]

No one can beat a team with Tanner Jeannot on it, just ask Nashville

 

[Damisoph]

This is bonkers. The difference in the series last year was razor thin and we're better this year. Now if we can only do something about that friggin PP, it's looking stagnant and we'll need to be way better for the playoffs

 

[The Apologist]

This is bonkers. The difference in the series last year was razor thin and we're better this year. Now if we can only do something about that friggin PP, it's looking stagnant and we'll need to be way better for the playoffs

If previous years are any example, this wont be a concern. We just need to make sure our PK is ready to go. They are far more likely to be needed.

 

[ER89]

Can we? Yeah.

Will we? Doubtful.

 

[Drytoast]

Yes. We can. We could have last year but the refs heavily favored Tampa and gave them the series. If the refs do that again, we are f***ed.

 

[daethfromabove1979]

This is bonkers. The difference in the series last year was razor thin and we're better this year. Now if we can only do something about that friggin PP, it's looking stagnant and we'll need to be way better for the playoffs

I say the difference is that the Leafs panic under pressure, you could see it in the final minutes of game 7 last year. They folded like Superman on laundry day when they needed to calm things down, they were shooting from the dumbest angles, handled the puck like a grenade, and Tampa just sat back and cruised to the win. How do you not panic after losing six straight years in the first round though?

 

[aingefan]

Of course, yes.
I’d like to see more fans throw some positive vibes into the universe.

 

[DueDiligence]

All comes down to goaltending. If the Leafs get good or better , they win.

 

[Damisoph]

I say the difference is that the Leafs panic under pressure, you could see it in the final minutes of game 7 last year. They folded like Superman on laundry day when they needed to calm things down, they were shooting from the dumbest angles, handled the puck like a grenade, and Tampa just sat back and cruised to the win. How do you not panic after losing six straight years in the first round though?

Narratives are fun.

 

[GoonieFace]

Yes. We can. We could have last year but the refs heavily favored Tampa and gave them the series. If the refs do that again, we are f***ed.

Of course it was the refs, it’s always the refs

 

[The Apologist]

Of course, yes.
I’d like to see more fans throw some positive vibes into the universe.

I am positive the Leafs could beat anyone in the NHL. The refs? That's a little harder.

 

[All Mod Cons]

We've lost to good teams. We've lost to bad teams. We've lost to refs. We've lost to luck. We've lost to goalies. We've lost to taxes. We've lost to schedule.

Will we miraculously avoid losing to any and all of those things? We'll have to wait and see.

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

If the games are called fairly, yes.

 

[The Podium]

I think a big thing that people are forgetting, Tampa is coming off their first series loss in 12 straight. They are finally “beatable”

Team needs to shore up it's weaknesses. Get Knies signed and trade Engvall. If engvall can only muster 2 shots in the last 4 game, imagine what he will do in the playoffs. He is unmotivated and a sizable rookie can do no worse with a bit of upside.

I really don’t understand the hate boner for Engvall. Ya he’s soft and looks lazy at times, but he is also one of the best defensive wingers on this team while providing the only offense from the bottom 6.

Ideally the bottom 6 isn’t littered with soft forwards, but Engvall a weird one for the fans to scapegoat.

 

[Drytoast]

Of course it was the refs, it’s always the refs

The loses to Washington, Columbus, Montreal and Boston twice? not the refs. We sucked the bag and hated leads. But last year, having argued about it extensively I'm fairly certain the refs had made an impact which proved to be the difference.

The refs f***ed us.

For an immediate example please look at the winning goal scored in game 7. Nick Paul skates right past Muzzin who had his stick SAT ON and thus was not able to check Paul to negate the 2v1. So any ref that was actually watching Paul, would have by extension seen the infraction.

Holding the Stick. Meaning in hockey. Definition. NHL

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alvin-almazov.com

That's just one example of key penalties called against us at key moments. Tavares had his goal called back for interference, Paul did not. When you have two teams as closely matched as Toronto and Tampa were...that shit matters.

 

[Buds17]

We can and we will...have to wait and see what each team looks like heading into said series.

We've obviously come close before, but...you know.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Of course it was the refs, it’s always the refs

I mean....it kinda was last year lol Tampa was dead and the refs gave em a good round of CPR boosted them back to life in game 6 and 7. Because f*** Wes MacCauly.

 

[Jmo89]

Yes they can beat Tampa, but they'll need decent goaltending (especially in OT) and clutch scoring from the top 6 in elimination games.

They're capable of both, so hopefully they get over whatever mental hurdles and get it done.