Eastern Conference playoff picture: Leafs HOST Tampa Bay

[Dreakmur]

Game 7's being the exception to the rule.

Once they get a lead in a series, they're supposed to win.... that's when they lose.

 

[riffle]

Once they get a lead in a series, they're supposed to win.... that's when they lose

#ItWas4-1

 

[Fogelhund]

#ItWas4-1

Does it still hurt you?

 

[Gary Nylund]

Yet there are others, pointing to our records against Montreal, Buffalo and Arizona as evidence we aren’t very good. While I might agree with what you’ve posted, I’d suggest our record against winning teams, is more relevant than that of losing teams, when it’s the winning teams we have to play in the playoffs.

I guess I'd say ignore these "others", this place is full of people who will cherry pick whatever supports their agenda no matter how irrelevant. On the surface I'd agree that our record against winning teams seems like it would more relevant but their both pretty irrelevant really, at least that's how I feel and those recent examples against Boston are both cases in point.

Expecially where we're at as a team as of right now, those games against whoever this season mean squat. What kind of goaltending are we going to get in the playoffs? What happens there is 1000 times more important than how we played against whoever in November. I mean back then we were getting Vezina level goaltending and winning game after game but that means nothing now.

 

[zeke]

Gotta admit I'm torn.

I really want to finish as high in the standings as possible, but FLA is easily the team I prefer to meet in round 1, and I'm.not sure we can catch them in the standings at this point, so it might be best to drop into the wildcards slot.

 

[Tak7]

Give me Tampa.

I'm pretty tired of this team playing down to opponents - the reason they perform so well against top teams in the league, is because they need to be on their toes in order to generate their best effort.

Tampa will have them on their toes. They won't be able to take a shift off. That's the sort of matchup this team needs in order to bring the best out of them.

 

[riffle]

I guess I'd say ignore these "others", this place is full of people who will cherry pick whatever supports their agenda no matter how irrelevant. On the surface I'd agree that our record against winning teams seems like it would more relevant but their both pretty irrelevant really, at least that's how I feel and those recent examples against Boston are both cases in point.

Expecially where we're at as a team as of right now, those games against whoever this season mean squat. What kind of goaltending are we going to get in the playoffs? What happens there is 1000 times more important than how we played against whoever in November. I mean back then we were getting Vezina level goaltending and winning game after game but that means nothing now.

I think looking at team in totality is important. You can't ignore the losses vs. the dregs of the league. You also can't ignore the rest of the games and the story they tell.

Tell me about an impressive road win the Leafs have had this season?

Their two most impressive were vs. a Vegas team missing pieces and a Caps team in the last WC spot.

The best game they played all season on the road was a loss to Colorado in OT.

Playoff series feature road games and this team may not end up with home ice advantage. Big ask to have no wins vs. the types of seeded teams Leafs might face and then expect a series win.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Does it still hurt you?

I don't think the majority get over that until they win a series and if it's against Boston that's even better

 

[therealkoho]

Does it still hurt you?

For me it took about 2 weeks, and then it's in the rear view and you motor on.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I think looking at team in totality is important. You can't ignore the losses vs. the dregs of the league. You also can't ignore the rest of the games and the story they tell.

Tell me about an impressive road win the Leafs have had this season?

Their two most impressive were vs. a Vegas team missing pieces and a Caps team in the last WC spot.

The best game they played all season on the road was a loss to Colorado in OT.

Playoff series feature road games and this team may not end up with home ice advantage. Big ask to have no wins vs. the types of seeded teams Leafs might face and then expect a series win.

Who's expecting a series win? If we don't get quality goaltending, we're not likely to win a series against anyone.

 

[riffle]

Who's expecting a series win? If we don't get quality goaltending, we're not likely to win a series against anyone.

True, but that goes for any team at any time unless your non-quality goaltending is better than the non-quality you're facing.

There's a whole lot that could be typed for implying nobody is expecting a series win. That would mark 5 full years of playoff futility. If we don't expect a single series win in 5 years, there are major problems that need addressing. I don't get the sense that everyone is concerned about much should we lose again and I don't really understand that.

 

[Gary Nylund]

True, but that goes for any team at any time unless your non-quality goaltending is better than the non-quality you're facing.

There's a whole lot that could be typed for implying nobody is expecting a series win. That would mark 5 full years of playoff futility. If we don't expect a single series win in 5 years, there are major problems that need addressing. I don't get the sense that everyone is concerned about much should we lose again and I don't really understand that.

It's not a matter of being concerned or not being concerned. I'm just looking at the situation realistically, that's all. But FWIW, I think people are very much concerned, not sure how anyone could think otherwise.

 

[Le Cobra]

Give me Tampa.

I'm pretty tired of this team playing down to opponents - the reason they perform so well against top teams in the league, is because they need to be on their toes in order to generate their best effort.

Tampa will have them on their toes. They won't be able to take a shift off. That's the sort of matchup this team needs in order to bring the best out of them.

we get Tampa we get swept. end of story. you thought Price was bad? how about Price on a team like Tampa lol

we get Tampa in a later round, we have a better chance. first round is our kryptonite since after Belfour left.

 

[Tak7]

we get Tampa we get swept. end of story. you thought Price was bad? how about Price on a team like Tampa lol

we get Tampa in a later round, we have a better chance. first round is our kryptonite since after Belfour left.

I can 100% guarantee we do not get swept if we go up against Tampa in the 1st round.

 

[Rob Brown]

we get Tampa we get swept. end of story. you thought Price was bad? how about Price on a team like Tampa lol

we get Tampa in a later round, we have a better chance. first round is our kryptonite since after Belfour left.

We won't get swept, but I agree that Tampa would be a very difficult draw. In reality there's no 'easy' option for us - it's Tampa, Florida, Carolina or Boston in all likelihood.

 

[NMacrules]

Thanks for your crystal ball insight. Can I borrow it so I can get the lottery numbers?

There is 17 games left man.

 

[NMacrules]

I can 100% guarantee we do not get swept if we go up against Tampa in the 1st round.

No you can't

 

[Rob Brown]

No you can't

No different from people saying we will get swept, lol.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

4% chance Leafs catching Tampa
@zeke

 

[HamiltonNHL]

What I’d like:

I like the Leafs vs the Metro much better.

if we finish WC1, and Florida finishes with the most points in the East, we will be assigned to the Metro division playing Carolina first.

 

[Bluelines]

Funny because literally every indication is they're better than the standings make them appear.

Team sv% below .900 every month but one leads you conclude that they are better than they appear?

Their 2nd line having more goals scored against than for leads you to believe they are better than they appear?

Having a .500 record vs non playoff teams over the last few weeks leads you to believe they are better than they appear?

I just gave you three indications that they are not literally every indication better than they appear, eh?

They are a team that out scores their coaching and structural problems. That is not the description of a team that is literally better than they appear.

 

[Bluelines]

Give me Tampa.

I'm pretty tired of this team playing down to opponents - the reason they perform so well against top teams in the league, is because they need to be on their toes in order to generate their best effort.

Tampa will have them on their toes. They won't be able to take a shift off. That's the sort of matchup this team needs in order to bring the best out of them.

As middling as Toronto has been over the last month, Tampa has been on a Torontoesque mediocre performance and that is with Vas in nets. I'd take pretty much any team but Boston, Carolina and Pitts. Boston because they have been on an extended heater, Carolina because they are just so balanced from top to bottom and Pitts because they feast on the Leafs.

 

[Mess]

As middling as Toronto has been over the last month, Tampa has been on a Torontoesque mediocre performance and that is with Vas in nets. I'd take pretty much any team but Boston, Carolina and Pitts. Boston because they have been on an extended heater, Carolina because they are just so balanced from top to bottom and Pitts because they feast on the Leafs.

Tampa might be playing possum at present, coming off 2 straight Stanley Cups, and knowing what a 20+ game playoff marathon drive involves, may be taking their foot off the pedal at present and conserving their energy for the playoffs.

Tampa might not care where they finish in the Atlantic as defending champs they fear no one, and have the experience behind them to know what is still ahead. So it might not be the next 20 games but the 20 games thereafter their focus.

While the other teams might burn themselves out down the stretch, jostling for position and emptying the tanks in the regular season, only to reach the playoff starting line spent.

 

[riffle]

Here's a look at some remaining schedule details. Florida has the most cupcake schedule of any team left that we're competing with in the Atlantic.

From ESPN:

 

[Bluelines]

Tampa might be playing possum at present, coming off 2 straight Stanley Cups, and knowing what a 20+ game playoff marathon drive involves, may be taking their foot off the pedal at present and conserving their energy for the playoffs.

Tampa might not care where they finish in the Atlantic as defending champs they fear no one, and have the experience behind them to know what is still ahead. So it might not be the next 20 games but the 20 games thereafter their focus.

While the other teams might burn themselves out down the stretch, jostling for position and emptying the tanks in the regular season, only to reach the playoff starting line spent.

Do you think Champs hide from a challenge? I don't think it's in Coopers DNA to intentionally play Meh! I'm no where near these guys in terms of skill and I'm so competitive that I play full contact no holds barred Scrabble with the wife, to the point she wont talk to me afterwards, because I take no prisoners'. Imagine being a pro athlete and how conditioned you are to compete. Maybe your right, I just can't conceive Cooper, Stammer, Kucherov. Vas, Hedmon, all intentionally tanking to rest.