Eastern Conference playoff picture: Leafs HOST Tampa Bay

[Dave92]

We need to lose tomorrow. Boston is a much easier matchup.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Tampa doesn't care who they face, they will probably rest their big boys tomorrow. What's the point of playing them?

 

[TorMapleJays]

If Tampa plays like this against us, I think we will do alright.

But, I really hate Boston.

Would love to watch the great hockey of Toronto and Tampa, but the Leaf in me wants blood.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Won’t Tampa most likely be resting some of their top players like Toronto is doing? I think it’s a strong chance that Boston can easily win against Toronto tomorrow night without their first line and number one goaltender.

Just based on how the story has gone, I’d rather see Toronto face Boston in the first round as a form of retribution if they can beat them. I think Toronto would absolutely annihilate Boston, I don’t know why I feel that way, but I do.

All the frustrations this team has of the first round, the stars feel of being disrespected ("Oh they are chokers, their just soft only scores points in reg season") ... And you give them the Bruins? The team who really started the narrative?

If they don't at least go down swinging, that is a signal this team doesn't have it. No more game 7 performances like we have seen.

 

[Jacquestrapless]

Islanders played tonight as well. Idk if Bolts will rest guys, but since it is the Islanders last game and it is on home ice, they'll play it like a playoff game imo. I'm hoping it'll be a bruising type game.

 

[zeke]

Sign me up for the Bruins PLEASE.

Bolts scare me.

 

[zeke]

Won’t Tampa most likely be resting some of their top players like Toronto is doing?

Usually bad form for a team to rest guys when playoff slots are still at stake. Kinda risking the ire of the hockey gods. But maybe they don't care.

 

[Stolie the Goalie]

Boston has two good but unproven playoff goalies.
Tampa has Vasilevskiy who could win a series on his own

Which do the Leafs prefer?

 

[Buds17]

Because there just had to be some kind of excitement left for the biggest day of the regular season!

Will we end up with the first time meeting or Chapter...82,000??? vs the Bruins?

 

[Leafsfan74]

Honestly, let the chips fall where they may. The Leafs should be in a place where they believe after a 113 point season and an improved, physical D that they can defeat any team they will themselves to defeat.

 

[mikeyz]

I want Boston so badly.

 

[authentic]

Won’t Tampa most likely be resting some of their top players like Toronto is doing? I think it’s a strong chance that Boston can easily win against Toronto tomorrow night without their first line and number one goaltender.

Just based on how the story has gone, I’d rather see Toronto face Boston in the first round as a form of retribution if they can beat them. I think Toronto would absolutely annihilate Boston, I don’t know why I feel that way, but I do.

Probably because they’re the much better team

 

[BertCorbeau]

Honestly, let the chips fall where they may. The Leafs should be in a place where they believe after a 113 point season and an improved, physical D that they can defeat any team they will themselves to defest.

Pretty much this. Just get through tomorrow without injuries, let the big dogs rest

 

[bax]

I want Boston so badly.

Me too. It’s probably a mistake on my part but I’m not overly worried about them and their refs this year.

 

[Alamo Leafer]

I want Boston so badly.

Same here. I definitely will not watch the Leaf game tomorrow since I can never root against my beloved team fcol

 

[robertmac43]

I want Boston so we can put to rest some of our demons?

 

[bax]

Usually bad form for a team to rest guys when playoff slots are still at stake. Kinda risking the ire of the hockey gods. But maybe they don't care.

I doubt they care.

 

[Clark4Ever]

It would be much more intense to play the Bruins. I hope it happens.

 

[Clark4Ever]

The Bruins would be a handful for sure, but the lesser of 2 evils under the circumstances.

 

[Stolie the Goalie]

It would be much more intense to play the Bruins. I hope it happens.

A Rask and Chara less B's would make a more favorable match up and add the home ice advantage but these are the Leafs they could also self implode and blow another 3-1 lead and lose the series.

 

[Shak19]

Boston is the right opponent for us. We need to avoid Vasilevsky, he can win a series.
Boston goalies are unproven in playoff conditions.

 

[IPS]

A Rask and Chara less B's would make a more favorable match up and add the home ice advantage but these are the Leafs they could also self implode and blow another 3-1 lead and lose the series.

Also Krejci - notable Leafs killer.

This really isn't the same Bruins team at all. Honestly I'm kind of warming up to facing them instead of Tampa.

 

[leafsfan5]

Please for the love of God let Boston overtake Tampa, PLEASE

Tampa is the one team in the conference I am not confident against

 

[Vaive50]

The B's and Bolts are about equal in GAA and far better than us, so let's use our strength to our advantage. Comparing Offensive stats, we're much better off against the Bruins, even though our stats are also better than Tampa but Kuch will be something different in the playoffs. We have been getting closer to beating them. First they were up 3-1 and then we won 2 to force a game 7, then we were up 3-2 but just couldn't close it out (in both cases I say "Thanks Kadri").

 

[PROUD PAPA]

If TB loses tonight and BOS wins, I feel like the Leafs will go with no goalies for the game tomorrow.

I've said all along Tampa is the only team i don't want us to face in the 1st round.
If I were coaching i'd have Holl playing goal in his regular pads.