Eastern Conference playoff picture: Leafs HOST Tampa Bay

[leafsfan5]

Tampa is purposely tanking for them.

They know

Tampa hasn't beaten an Eastern conference playoff team in regulation since December 9th. They aren't purposely doing anything. They're in a big funk and have been for a while now.

Nonetheless, they're still the biggest threat in the east due to the possibility of them flipping the switch imo. Would rather take on the Bruins

 

[zeke]

Really, really hard for me to pick a preference between BOS and TB.

I probably have to say that i'd rather avoid TB altogether, though - even if they kinda look shitty and even though i wouldn't be surprised at all to see them fall quickly in round 1 this year no matter their opponent, i just can't feel comfortable with their winning knowledge and Vasi always able to turn on the switch.

But BOS is really damn good and really damn hot and loves beating us in particular. So that's no picnic. But i'm just not going to be scared of Swayman, and while their offense is still good it's just not as deadly as it was.

I really really wish we had held on last game against Florida because we would have had a legit shot at catching them. It's still not impossible....though we pretty much have to win out the rest of the way for it to happen.

 

[Shooter2x]

Really, really hard for me to pick a preference between BOS and TB.

I probably have to say that i'd rather avoid TB altogether, though - even if they kinda look shitty and even though i wouldn't be surprised at all to see them fall quickly in round 1 this year no matter their opponent, i just can't feel comfortable with their winning knowledge and Vasi always able to turn on the switch.

But BOS is really damn good and really damn hot and loves beating us in particular. So that's no picnic. But i'm just not going to be scared of Swayman, and while their offense is still good it's just not as deadly as it was.

I really really wish we had held on last game against Florida because we would have had a legit shot at catching them. It's still not impossible....though we pretty much have to win out the rest of the way for it to happen.

Definitely choose the team with the worse goalie when playoffs are concerned. Vasi can win a series by himself if you catch him during a hot streak. I'm with you on favoring the Swayman/Ullmark tandem.

 

[HolyCrap]

I’m nervous against any team in the playoffs tbh. Last year crushed my expectations. That being said I do believe this is a team that can compete for the cup. They really are getting hot at the right time. Still not sure about or goal tending though. Fingers and toes crossed.

 

[bax]

Really, really hard for me to pick a preference between BOS and TB.

I probably have to say that i'd rather avoid TB altogether, though - even if they kinda look shitty and even though i wouldn't be surprised at all to see them fall quickly in round 1 this year no matter their opponent, i just can't feel comfortable with their winning knowledge and Vasi always able to turn on the switch.

But BOS is really damn good and really damn hot and loves beating us in particular. So that's no picnic. But i'm just not going to be scared of Swayman, and while their offense is still good it's just not as deadly as it was.

I really really wish we had held on last game against Florida because we would have had a legit shot at catching them. It's still not impossible....though we pretty much have to win out the rest of the way for it to happen.

Boston for me. I generally don’t overly care since you have to beat the best anyway but we have a score to settle with Boston. Or at least the fans do lol

 

[Burnie97]

Boston for me. I generally don’t overly care since you have to beat the best anyway but we have a score to settle with Boston. Or at least the fans do lol

Oh I think the players do too. I'd welcome the challenge if I were them.

Time to f*** them up for a change.

 

[horner]

Oh I think the players do too. I'd welcome the challenge if I were them.

Time to f*** them up for a change.

Just remember Jacob's and bettman connection seems they get away with alot of crap.

 

[Gabriel426]

If it is between Bruins and TB. It gotta be Bruins.
Vas is one of the few goalies who can steal a series and TB will be TB comes playoffs unless proven otherwise.
Bruins is tough but they are not as tough as before. Chara and Krug are big loss for them in the back. They also no longer have Rask. Most of all, they don’t have Kreji, who was probably the most underrated 2C in the league.

 

[crump]

If Tampa remain 7th seed (wild card)it's possible we go...
1- Boston
2 - Panthers
3- Lightning
4- SCF (Avs)

We will have earned it.

 

[Burnie97]

Just remember Jacob's and bettman connection seems they get away with alot of crap.

True but after all the bullshit in the past I'd imagine the refs will be told to be very careful about their reffing.

I'd be fine with the refs just letting them play but no soft bullshit calls either way and let guys drop the gloves to solve an issue if needs be and move on. I feel like a dinosaur saying that but instead of letting stuff build

If Tampa remain 7th seed (wild card)it's possible we go...
1- Boston
2 - Panthers
3- Lightning
4- SCF (Avs)

We will have earned it.

Probably the only way other non Leafs fans would call it a real cup win with no asterisk.

 

[Tak7]

Tampa hasn't beaten an Eastern conference playoff team in regulation since December 9th. They aren't purposely doing anything. They're in a big funk and have been for a while now.

Nonetheless, they're still the biggest threat in the east due to the possibility of them flipping the switch imo. Would rather take on the Bruins

Even if they don't flick a switch, Vasilevskiy is good enough to basically win a series on his own.

That's the fear that comes with a first round matchup with Tampa - even if you're able to keep some of their big scorers quiet, and find a way to crack their strong D, you're up against a goalie that can totally steal a series and totally get into the other team's heads. He's that good.

 

[Pi]

Even if they don't flick a switch, Vasilevskiy is good enough to basically win a series on his own.

That's the fear that comes with a first round matchup with Tampa - even if you're able to keep some of their big scorers quiet, and find a way to crack their strong D, you're up against a goalie that can totally steal a series and totally get into the other team's heads. He's that good.

Exactly, in a goalie battle, even if Jack Campbell is perfect, he can't beat Vasy's experience and ability to keep games close or steal them. Just look at his record in series clinching games...if we fall behind in the series, it's pretty much over.

Tampa has the experience of winning back to back and even if things aren't going great for them right now, there is no doubt we are underdogs against them even with home ice advantage.

You have to beat the best to be the best but I don't want them in the first round. Give me Boston who has two inexperienced goalies in the playoffs.

Tampa is a team full of all stars just like ours but the difference in net is too big for me to purposely want to play Tampa in the first round.

I would purposely tank the last game against the Bruins to get them in the first round if it came to that.

 

[bax]

Oh I think the players do too. I'd welcome the challenge if I were them.

Time to f*** them up for a change.

I hope so. It would be an awesome series.

 

[Enniskillen]

Love this cup talk LOL

 

[BTP]

Exactly, in a goalie battle, even if Jack Campbell is perfect, he can't beat Vasy's experience and ability to keep games close or steal them. Just look at his record in series clinching games...if we fall behind in the series, it's pretty much over.

Tampa has the experience of winning back to back and even if things aren't going great for them right now, there is no doubt we are underdogs against them even with home ice advantage.

You have to beat the best to be the best but I don't want them in the first round. Give me Boston who has two inexperienced goalies in the playoffs.

Tampa is a team full of all stars just like ours but the difference in net is too big for me to purposely want to play Tampa in the first round.

I would purposely tank the last game against the Bruins to get them in the first round if it came to that.

All of this is true... However, I think you are underestimating just how much hockey they've played.

The reason they look crappy right now isnt because they are "going through a funk".. Its because they are TIRED. They are gassed. And ripe for a first round exit.

They're back to back cup champs, I don't care how good their goalie is, don't care about their past record... They WILL be tired. They've played A LOT of hockey. They also wont be nearly as hungry.

No team in any sport has 3-peated since the Kobe/Shaq Lakers in 2000. Because it's damn near impossible in this era. Every many other team will be hungrier and more well rested.

I'd take our chances, every team runs out of gas. I'm betting money Tampa has. Watch their games, they look tired in every outing.

 

[Pi]

All of this is true... However, I think you are underestimating just how much hockey they've played.

The reason they look crappy right now isnt because they are "going through a funk".. Its because they are TIRED. They are gassed. And ripe for a first round exit.

They're back to back cup champs, I don't care how good their goalie is, don't care about their past record... They WILL be tired. They've played A LOT of hockey. They also wont be nearly as hungry.

No team in any sport has 3-peated since the Kobe/Shaq Lakers in 2000. Because it's damn near impossible in this era. Every many other team will be hungrier and more well rested.

I'd take our chances, every team runs out of gas. I'm betting money Tampa has. Watch their games, they look tired in every outing.

While all that is true, don't think for a second Cooper will not let them know that if Tampa were to lose to Toronto it will be bigger news than any of their Cup wins. He'll have them motivated to work their tails off to make sure that they win.

I would much rather have Boston but in reality they are both tough match ups and all I am looking forward to is making sure we keep our home ice advantage.

 

[Gallagbi]

Exactly, in a goalie battle, even if Jack Campbell is perfect, he can't beat Vasy's experience and ability to keep games close or steal them. Just look at his record in series clinching games...if we fall behind in the series, it's pretty much over.

Tampa has the experience of winning back to back and even if things aren't going great for them right now, there is no doubt we are underdogs against them even with home ice advantage.

You have to beat the best to be the best but I don't want them in the first round. Give me Boston who has two inexperienced goalies in the playoffs.

Tampa is a team full of all stars just like ours but the difference in net is too big for me to purposely want to play Tampa in the first round.

I would purposely tank the last game against the Bruins to get them in the first round if it came to that.

Tampa has also played more hockey than any other team the past 2 years and just lost a huge line for them in the playoffs with all of Gourde, Coleman and Goodrow all moving on.

I get the Vasi argument, but this isn't the same team that won the past 2 years and they should also be more worn down than anyone else.

Ultimately I don't think it really matters

 

[DarkKnight]

I’d rather take Boston than the defending two time champs all day long.

 

[Menzinger]

I won't complain if they start to ease up Matthews/Marner/Nylander/JT in terms of usage the closer we get to the end of the season

 

[Pi]

I’d rather take Boston than the defending two time champs all day long.

Yeah, in the end we get who we get but if I have a choice, I want Boston instead of Tampa.

People can talk about how worn they are and how many games they have played but the first Cup was in a bubble with no travel, the second wasn't a very hard road for them either with the way the divisions changed.

They can match us on firepower, they have Hedman and McDonagh on D and Vasy in net. It's a great match up if you are neutral but I don't think either team wants it.

Tampa would much rather play Carolina or New York than us too.

 

[DarkKnight]

Yeah, in the end we get who we get but if I have a choice, I want Boston instead of Tampa.

People can talk about how worn they are and how many games they have played but the first Cup was in a bubble with no travel, the second wasn't a very hard road for them either with the way the divisions changed.

They can match us on firepower, they have Hedman and McDonagh on D and Vasy in net. It's a great match up if you are neutral but I don't think either team wants it.

Tampa would much rather play Carolina or New York than us too.

It’s the goaltending that scares me most with TB, but I think we can beat anyone. Something poetic with Boston too, don’t think we will be intimated this time around.

 

[BallardEra]

Looking at the remaining last 10 games each for Boston and Tampa, I'd say that Boston has the tougher schedule.

 

[HellasLEAF]

Well well, here we are again. Tampa or Boston, again.

As a long time Leafer who has witnessed many disappointments, my initial reaction is I don't want to see Boston again at this time. I would rather lose to Tampa than Boston, should they lose. I don't care who is on the team, I don't care that Chara is gone. Not factoring into my preference.

So for that reason, Tampa.

 

[BallardEra]

Well well, here we are again. Tampa or Boston, again.

As a long time Leafer who has witnessed many disappointments, my initial reaction is I don't want to see Boston again at this time. I would rather lose to Tampa than Boston, should they lose. I don't care who is on the team, I don't care that Chara is gone. Not factoring into my preference.

So for that reason, Tampa.

Hmmm...in a way I want Boston. Exorcise that demon like the Caps did versus the Pens and then you go all the way.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Gimme the bear instead of the lightning in a bottle that is the bolts.

I still maintain the bolts look bored of the regular season, they aren't playing the best for sure but I don't want to see Vasigod awake and then Mcdonagh and Hedman saying hello to our boys. No fun.