Eastern Conference playoff picture: Leafs HOST Tampa Bay

[riffle]

And how many playoff series has he won?

It was time to move on from Freddie. I'd rather have Campbell in a critical game over the Freddie we had learned to expect his last couple of seasons here.

If anyone symbolized Leafs playoff failures it was 31.

Jack didn't fare much better, but it's hard to win when you score 1 goal in Game 7. Even Jack admitted he was brutal when it mattered most: (NHL .com)

Hard to have trust in that position given the failure there the last 5 seasons.

 

[danron1376]

we play the bruins in the final game of the season. imagine a bruins win will guarantee a leafs-bruins series? i'd rest the whole team and call up the marlies. oh, and hutch in net.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

After last night, I am hoping for Boston in the first round

 

[HamiltonNHL]

If anyone symbolized Leafs playoff failures it was 31.

That doesn't ring true now.

Wait til the playoffs.

Any hiccups from Campbell and this Freddie bashing doesnt age well.

Our TEAM hasn't been good in the past. Now are team is good, with shoestring goaltending. Freddie + Campbell could have been an amazing combo.

 

[riffle]

That doesn't ring true now.

Wait til the playoffs.

Any hiccups from Campbell and this Freddie bashing doesnt age well.

Our TEAM hasn't been good in the past. Now are team is good, with shoestring goaltending. Freddie + Campbell could have been an amazing combo.

FredEx bashing will always age well. Nothing that ever happens going forward with any Leafs goalie or what he does elsewhere will change what he did here, and that was never win a series.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Looks like the Bolts.

 

[Enniskillen]

I will happily eat a crow 4-16 times if the core shows up in the playoffs.

 

[AuraSphere]

We're playing the Bolts in round 1 unless boston wins 5/5 and tampa wins 3/5 or less of their remaining games.

Basically as long as boston wins 2 more than tampa in their next 5, we play boston. But that's asking for a lot to go right for that to happen.

 

[BTP]

Don’t matter who we face. Play our game and be hungrier than the opponent and we should fear no one. Last night won’t happen again, that was a one off.

Series will go 7, as usual - hopefully this year home ice with fans puts us over the edge.

 

[ToneDog]

We're playing the Bolts in round 1 unless boston wins 5/5 and tampa wins 3/5 or less of their remaining games.

Basically as long as boston wins 2 more than tampa in their next 5, we play boston. But that's asking for a lot to go right for that to happen.

If Tampa and Boston win all their remaining games and we lose ours, we get Shesterkin or Freddy.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

If Tampa and Boston win all their remaining games and we lose ours, we get Shesterkin or Freddy.

It is not gonna happen da only issue left is to we warp up home ice or not vs. Tampa .. I think we will get #2 as Florida is not gonna play their best this weekend they probably rest guys .. and 4 pts in last 4 games given schedule should be ok to achieve .. Boston will do whatever it takes to avoid Canes in round 1 they want to play Florida so watch and see Bruins are gonna tank for last few games to drop below Caps

 

[riffle]

If Tampa runs the table (5-0) the Leafs need to pull 4 points out of the last 4 games, or we're opening up at Amalie arena.

Tampa gets the Preds at home and then has to play at the Panthers. If they win both of those, I would bank they're running the table as they get NYI and CBJ, twice.

Assuming Tampa wins out, the Leafs have to pull 4 points from:

at Panthers
at Caps
Wings
Bruins

The Panthers and Caps are a road back-to-back. Very plausible the Leafs will lose both games. Really need to pull at least a point out of that back to back...or

Leafs are looking at having to beat Detroit and Boston at home to host Game 1.

All of this would've been academic with a Leafs win at Tampa last night. Pandora's box is now unsealed. Will Auston be available to get those potentially needed 4 points?

 

[TorMapleJays]

If Tampa runs the table (5-0) the Leafs need to pull 4 points out of the last 4 games, or we're opening up at Amalie arena.

Tampa gets the Preds at home and then has to play at the Panthers. If they win both of those, I would bank they're running the table as they get NYI and CBJ, twice.

Assuming Tampa wins out, the Leafs have to pull 4 points from:

at Panthers
at Caps
Wings
Bruins

The Panthers and Caps are a road back-to-back. Very plausible the Leafs will lose both games. Really need to pull at least a point out of that back to back...or

Leafs are looking at having to beat Detroit and Boston at home to host Game 1.

All of this would've been academic with a Leafs win at Tampa last night. Pandora's box is now unsealed. Will Auston be available to get those potentially needed 4 points?

Tampa is not going not run the table.

 

[riffle]

Tampa is not going not run the table.

Will be favored in 4 of their 5 games. If they beat Nashville and Florida, they're running the table. Of course, it won't matter if the Leafs can pull 4 points.

Personally, I don't know which one I think is more likely... Leafs getting 4 points over their last 4 or Tampa closing out the season on a 6-game winning streak. Seems like a pick'em.

 

[The Shadow]

It won’t end well for us as usual. Hope I’m wrong

 

[Stephen]

I hope the Leafs organization isn't hoping and praying for soft matchups like Leaf Nation. If they want to be the best, they have to beat the best. Go into any matchup ready to battle at a level and get to the next level of contender status. Rinse and repeat four rounds.

If they wanted to play a Wild Card team they shouldn't have no showed all season long against junk teams like Buffalo, Arizona, Vancouver and Montreal. They also won a division last year and they fumbled that big time as front runners, so who knows what good being the favorites are. At the end of the day, it's time to put up or shut up.

 

[Morbo]

I hope the Leafs organization isn't hoping and praying for soft matchups like Leaf Nation. If they want to be the best, they have to beat the best. Go into any matchup ready to battle at a level and get to the next level of contender status. Rinse and repeat four rounds.

I doubt it...they got the softest two matchups they'll ever get the last two seasons. when are two teams that weak ever going to meet us in a playoff series ever again?

 

[danny90]

I doubt it...they got the softest two matchups they'll ever get the last two seasons. when are two teams that weak ever going to meet us in a playoff series ever again?

Weren’t the leafs and Jackets basically even in the standings? Didn’t Montreal make it to the finals?

 

[Stephen]

Weren’t the leafs and Jackets basically even in the standings? Didn’t Montreal make it to the finals?

Seem to recall the Leafs were extra disrespectful towards CBJ, practicing using the visitors dressing room and other fluff nonsense as opposed to understanding the Jackets strengths, weaknesses and take down of Tampa in 2019. When it comes to perceived inferior opponents the Leafs just really take the foot off the gas.

 

[ClarkSittler]

To be honest neither team scares me. Not saying we're gonna win for sure, but it's not our opponent I worry so much about. What I really want is home ice in a 7 game series.

I just don't see us winning a potential game 7 on the road in round 1. I know we lost the final game last year at home, but there were only 2500 fans in the stands.

A full house this year would make a difference. Fan support would help the boys and maybe the officials would be pressured to call it fairly for a change.

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

Honestly Tampa would be a more fun series. Boston a more history based one. Either would be a great series. I feel like I want Tampa tho. Leafs really pushed back physically that last game and it was great to see. Beating Tampa in round 1 would go further with the players too I think.

 

[riffle]

Sunday night is going to be absolutely huge for 1st round implications. Hard to overstate how big the Leafs at Caps and Lightning at Panthers games are as to the Leafs potential home ice fate.

The permutations of outcomes are interesting...

A Leafs win and a Tampa loss in regulation or OT ends it. Leafs have home ice in Round 1.

A Leafs loss and a Tampa win in regulation really tightens things with Tampa having a game-in-hand (NYI). Leafs would need 3 points vs. Detroit and Boston to clinch home ice. (assumes Tampa wins out)

A Leafs OTL and Tampa win means Leafs need 2 points out of their remaining 2 home games vs. DET and BOS. (assumes Tampa wins out)

A Leafs loss and Tampa loss means the Leafs need just 1 point vs. DET or BOS to clinch home ice. (assumes Tampa wins remaining 3 games)

If both teams lose in OT, Leafs still need 1 point vs. DET or BOS (assumes Tampa wins remaining 3 games)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The pressure will become very real if Toronto loses in regulation and Tampa wins. That will potentially force the Leafs to at least not lose in regulation to the Bruins, assuming they beat Detroit, a safe assumption. This assumes Tampa wins their remaining 3 vs. NYI, CBJ and CBJ, a very safe assumption.

Possible doomsday scenario if Toronto loses to Caps in regulation and Tampa beats Florida:

THE LEAFS CANNOT LOSE TO DETROIT, IN REGULATION, IF THEY LOSE TO THE CAPS AND TAMPA BEATS FLORIDA unless you're counting on the Isles or Jackets to beat Tampa. Leafs will most likely need 3 points
in the final 2 games.

There is no scenario in which Boston can pass the Leafs, but Boston can still finish ahead of Tampa if Boston runs the table, or has 3 regulation wins and an OTL and Tampa has 2 regulation losses. (RW tiebreaker would give Bruins the 3rd seed)

 

[Mess]

Seem to recall the Leafs were extra disrespectful towards CBJ, practicing using the visitors dressing room and other fluff nonsense as opposed to understanding the Jackets strengths, weaknesses and take down of Tampa in 2019. When it comes to perceived inferior opponents the Leafs just really take the foot off the gas.

They seemed to be so focused on where and what line to insert Nic Robertson on, that they spent little to no time attempting to break down film, knowing full well CBJ was going to deploy an aggressive 2 man forcheck and neutral zone trap, that worked so well againt TB the previous year. They were the 3rd highest scoring team playing the 3rd lowest so all they thought they had to do was show up.

Facing the 2 X reigning Cup champs in round #1 will leave little room for complacency, because we saw a 8-1 drubbing if they don't bring their "A" game.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

Kerfoot* - Matthews - Marner
Mikheyev - Tavares - Blackwell*
Engvall - Kampf - Nylander
Clifford - Spezza - Simmonds

 

[crump]

Hopefully these recent losses will have the team focussed and ready to prove something. I don't care who they face, they can't take anyone lightly. Losing vs Tampa and Panthers will have Leafs as clear underdogs against the SC champions and Eastern Conference winners. Lose the last game against Boston and everyone will be saying they are underdogs against them too. That's fine, they will probably rise to the occasion this time if Soup is playing alright. Just no more injuries ffs.