GDT: Cats out of the Bag - Panthers @ Scotiabank

[hotpaws]

I have tickets to this one. That on top of the fact that it's the second night of a back to back against a good team, with Mrazek in net, means I'm fully expecting a stinker.

I'll have to make sure to savor the pre-game dinner and alcohol to make sure the night is a success.

the Panthers are on the second night of a b2b as well but it's also there 3rd game in 4 nights

so in the immortal words of Demar Derozen just before he got shut down and the team eliminated in the playoffs again

"don't worry , we gats dis"

 

[Golden_Jet]

I’m taking the over on this one.

 

[Pi]

Are we back to being a good team if we win this one?

 

[Pinto]

Expecting a battle.

Lol I wouldn’t if I was you.

 

[Pi]

2-5-1 vs ARZ/MTL/BUF

Not so good.

In the end that's gonna be what costs us playoffs positioning. Good news I guess is playoffs positioning doesn't look like it matters much this year in our division. (Also we're 4-2-0 so far against potential first round opponents fwiw.)

Yeah and that also doesn’t mean much.

I just feel like if there is any year to experiment as much as possible before the playoffs begin, it’s this year.

We can lose every game from here on out and still be guaranteed to make the playoffs so use that to your advantage and stop playing Simmonds and Spezza every game and give a chance to the college guys that sign + Robertson etc to figure out the best combinations and get the second line going.

IMO, every single first round playoff opponent we face is tough but if I had a choice, I’d want Carolina because Fred is in net and he’s probably the number one contributor to us choking in crucial games so let’s play the enemy we know.

 

[AvroArrow]

I’m taking the over on this one.

Nice, now go back to the sens board

 

[Coachcorner]

View attachment 522460​

Kinda like taht dirty 4th line milord. Like they thuggin. For reneall sire.

We might have to score-a-lot of gezoals tonight though. They is very offensive oriented and still scoring, WHAT!!!!

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Are we back to being a good team if we win this one?

we can never know....thats the mystery of being a leaf fan.

 

[Coachcorner]

Man... Don't underestimate Sasha please lol. Huber is also a beauty.

Huber might totallo kill in the playoffs this season sire. He out there, like a lurking monster. Deep in the heart of south park lurks a stalker.....

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Yeah and that also doesn’t mean much.

I just feel like if there is any year to experiment as much as possible before the playoffs begin, it’s this year.

We can lose every game from here on out and still be guaranteed to make the playoffs so use that to your advantage and stop playing Simmonds and Spezza every game and give a chance to the college guys that sign + Robertson etc to figure out the best combinations and get the second line going.

IMO, every single first round playoff opponent we face is tough but if I had a choice, I’d want Carolina because Fred is in net and he’s probably the number one contributor to us choking in crucial games so let’s play the enemy we know.

Its funny but it wouldn't be out of world to see freddy be like....OH HELL NO ! IM NOT GOING THROUGH THAT AGAIN and become Jonathan Quik God mode.

 

[Rude Dog]

Pissed off at the result last night not the effort. New day. Hoping to celebrate a Canada / Leaf win tonight. If not, the hot take machine will be bursting at the seems by morning.

 

[Rude Dog]

The leafs should only be playing Simmonds against teams that pose a threat physically like Florida. There is no reason for him to be playing against teams like the Habs or Jersey.

 

[D00bis]

Wonder what kind of disappointment are we in for today? Lol

 

[D00bis]

The leafs should only be playing Simmonds against teams that pose a threat physically like Florida. There is no reason for him to be playing against teams like the Habs or Jersey. Kills the 4th line.

I feel the same normally but he hasn’t been able to do that effectively for most of the year. At this point I’d rather a more skilled fast 4th line that can forecheck and put up some points.

 

[ULF_55]

Point percentage 9th. in the league.

Been falling for a couple months, long gone are the days they were over .700.

I expect they'll stay in the playoffs they'd really have to collapse and the Islanders would have to keep playing at their 7-2-1 pace.

At this point maybe it is just about killing 2 hours in the day until the real season begins ... with the Leafs.

Really depends on Panthers goaltender, he plays well Leafs lose.

 

[m1ker]

I hope Blackwell gets an opportunity to play up in the lineup tonight

 

[aingefan]

Hoping for: Mrazek statement game
Expecting: insufferable post game chatter regardless of outcome.

 

[Nylanderthal]

4-point swing ahead of this one. At least the Panthers aren't coming in upset over blowing one to the lowly Senators. Hopefully, we can play that role and play a full 60 minutes. Otherwise, it may be like that visit to Florida where the boys were too focused on being in Florida and not on the game a few years back.

This one feels like one of those 6 or 7-1 games coming, where we're on the wrong end of it.

My prediction is Mrazek goes from starter to bench before the 1st is over or early in 2nd.

Of course it is.

 

[Nylander88]

The leafs should only be playing Simmonds against teams that pose a threat physically like Florida. There is no reason for him to be playing against teams like the Habs or Jersey.

I think himself and Spezza should be rotated at 4RW. And the rotation is based on opponent, like you mentioned above

 

[Nylanderthal]

Leafs need to respond. They played well enough to win but sometimes you don't. Still believe in this team unlike some fans who seem to want them to lose and praising other teams.

Right there with you, bud this place is embarrassing a good chunk of the time.

 

[Nylanderthal]

2-5-1 vs ARZ/MTL/BUF

Not so good.

In the end that's gonna be what costs us playoffs positioning. Good news I guess is playoffs positioning doesn't look like it matters much this year in our division. (Also we're 4-2-0 so far against potential first round opponents fwiw.)

With this season’s narrative being about how the regular season doesn’t matter & only the results in the post season are important I’ve allowed myself to not get as stressed out over losses to shit teams.
I’m more concerned about how they play vs who’s likely to be their playoff competition.

 

[Eye Test]

Why would we ever split up lines 1&3? If you’ve played hockey you know not to touch those. One of the best lines in the league and one of the best shut down lines in the league. Same people asking to separate our top line will be complaining about lack of chemistry a week later.

Need to mix up lines 2-4 and get better goaltending.

11/91/88
89/15/19

 

[Leafs87]

Does Thornton still play somewhat regularly? I see he’s only played 27 but is that due to injury or being scratched regularly?

 

[Nylander88]

Hope we see a shake-up tonight with JT-Willy. Can't have a lame effort against a team this good in Florida. Keep Kerfy-Willy together. Give JT some big bodies that can fly (Kampfs wingers). Essentially just a JT and Kampf swap.
Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Engvall-Tavares-Mikheyev
Kerfoot-Kampf-Nylander
Blackwell-Spezza-Simmonds

Will certainly be nice to get Kase back. Absolute worker bee out there

 

[crump]

So I imagine this will be a hard hitting affair what with Chariot, Bennett, Gudas and Weegar in the mix. Even Giroux is still giving out the hits. This will either be a great playoff style game, or the dogs breakfast since they both played last night. Just nobody get hurt.