Do the Leafs get more credit in hindsight for taking the Panthers to 7 games?

[pb1300]

really enjoy the posts claiming Bob having bad games is the only reason the series went 7 as if the Leafs weren't playing with their backup goalie lol. Maybe they win Game 3 if Stolarz is in there, who knows.

Still no excuse for the horrific performances in game 5 and 7 tho.

Maybe they lose Game 2 with Stolarz in net. You can’t just skip a game and a half, and assume the Leafs win game 2.

 

[Mr Positive]

I might be tempted to say that if not for that game 7 performance.

I'd also agree with the narrative that that quick two game lead the Leafs built was more about the Panthers figuring things out. If the Panthers had to face Carolina first, then the Leafs, the result might have been similar with the Canes going to 7 and the Leafs down 3-0.

Imo the Leafs are better than the Canes but I could be wrong. They are similar

 

[TheDoldrums]

Maybe they lose Game 2 with Stolarz in net. You can’t just skip a game and a half, and assume the Leafs win game 2.

It seems a pretty safe assumption that being able to use the guy with a much better SV% would have probably been helpful overall

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

I agree with this to a certain extent, because aside from Knies, your top players still haven’t proven they can perform in playoff hockey. I just don’t see this team winning anything with Matthews and Nylander at the forefront. They simply don’t have that drive or edge needed to lead a team deep.

That one sequence where Nylander entered the offensive zone, lost the puck, and casually skated to the bench while the rest of the team was battling along the boards, says everything. It perfectly sums up why this team won’t win with him being a leader on the team.


.

Knies also had 0 points in his last 4 games of the Florida series, so I don't know if he proved he can perform either.

 

[57special]

The game 5 and 7 scores were pretty damning, especially when you consider they were home games.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Yeah if they fought them hard to 7 games, maybe. They laid two eggs on home ice.

 

[Tuggy]

Sure, give them a banner.

 

[Davenport]

If the Panthers win the Final series in 5 or 6 games, the Leafs will be re-appraised - even though the Buffalo Sabres would have won the first two games of that second round series with the goaltending Florida was receiving.

 

[pb1300]

It seems a pretty safe assumption that being able to use the guy with a much better SV% would have probably been helpful overall

Assumption goes out the window 30 minutes into game 1. You can talk about the series from there, not like you did in your previous post, assuming they’d be up 2-0 in the series, and 3-1 in Game 3.

 

[GlitchMarner]

The Leafs were a good team and no one should have expected a quick or easy series win for FLA.

The Panthers should have been considered the favorites, but I don't see why a division-winning, 108 point team should get credit for taking a series to seven games. They were terrible in their last two home games and should have played a lot better in G7. They showed once again that they are capable of competing against the best the NHL has to offer but not quite capable of beating the cream of the crop.

They need to make some changes and try to go deeper next year.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Leafs win if Bennet doesn't take Stolarz's head off.

Doubt it, they would have lost 4-1 instead of 6-1

 

[Sasha Orlov]

it really would have mattered. Stolarz had a .926 and Woll had a .909. the two were on entirely different levels.

Embarrassing

 

[Junohockeyfan]

When you lose 6-1 twice at home, your team is gutless and has no business beating a championship quality team.

 

[BLNY]

Of course not. They had a chance to be up 3-0 in games. They absolutely $hit the bed on home ice in games 5 and 7. When the chips were down, they were exposed. Again.

 

[AvroArrow]

You know what my problem is with you guys? Matthews gets hit, or Tavares gets him, and they just walk away, or nobody shows up to pick a fight. That’s a problem to me. This year was a bit different due to the additions made, but it’s still the same. Hate Tkachuk as much as you all want, but that shit that he did Aho last night was because of the hit on Reinhardt. Like it or not, agree with it or not, but that’s accountability, and defending your teammates.

That video for Marner screaming at the team, and with Nylander I believe from last year, is all good and well, but neither of them do anything when the puck is not on their sticks. Marner a bit more, but nothing that stands out to you.

In 20 years, you’re going to remember Rodrigues’ performance in the Finals last year, or Tkachuk 4OT winner, or any countless other instances that lead the Panthers to where they are now. What can you say for the Leafs though? Nothing. And that’s not a shot at the team, that is because of their inability and refusal to create those everlasting memories.

Facts.

Remembering that clip of Matthews smiling pretending like he doesn't care, when Chiarot was rag dolling him from behind in the Montreal series. Meanwhile he was just terrified of standing up for himself, that shits not gonna fly or work in the playoffs. A physical game like this, intimidation and that physical factor absolutely plays a big factor.

Knies has it, but it can't just be 1 guy. Slowly warming up to the idea that you need guys who are going to be scumbags if you want to get through the playoffs. It is what it is.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Like Florida taking out their .926 starting goalie?

The 2025 excuse. Replaces the refs, Bettman, Perros, bad bounces and no state income tax excuses from the last 8 years.

Just a reminder that Stolarz is a career back up who played 34 games during the regular season and had a .901 save percentage in the playoffs playing mostly against Ottawa.
Every single team had injuries including Dallas missing Heiskanen and Robertson for a stretch of games.

 

[Beezeral]

No. The copium from the leafs fanbase is insane

 

[Czechboy]

I'd put that banner right beside the 'Nucks beat the oilers in the regular season series' banner.

 

[Beezeral]

I'd put that banner right beside the 'Nucks beat the oilers in the regular season series' banner.

Naw. Right next to their “respect in the handshake line” banner

 

[sampollock]

I say no way.
figs are the cup favorites every year from SN and TSN
suck it

but they should make another dvd as they did for the playoffs in 1993

 

[WarriorofTime]

I think this year was the Leafs best team. Two years ago was up there too but I think this year was a bit better. The biggest issues for why they can’t run it back is that it’s been nine years of too similar results, two core unrestricted free agents and a cap structure that’s proven too fundamentally flawed, and that in large part due to the last part they are a completely leveraged team to a degree you don’t see too often for a team that’s never made a final.

 

[Hunter368]

In the end, in the end all teams who lost in the second round are good teams, but not great and are missing something. The losers in the third round at also good teams, but not great and are missing something.

So far, from my pov really only great team this year in the playoffs is the Panthers…..but time will tell how this playoffs finish off.

 

[SUX2BU]

No

 

[sampollock]

fig fans will jump up and down on this thread
this is the type of thread that fuels the "parade is on again" attitude

 

[HopelessSensFan]

2013 Leafs were leading 4-1 in G7 until the epic collapse in the last 10 minutes. Then Bruins streamrolled Rangers and Penguins and gave a tough fight to the mighty hawks in the SCF. Does that mean that leafs were also close to Chicago and could be considered as No 3 team in the league? Come on it doesn’t work like math.