Eastern Conference playoff picture: Leafs HOST Tampa Bay

[Gary Nylund]

I get the appeal of Boston, but the fear of facing TB by some here is not a good look.

A healthy dose of fear is a good thing and TB should be a little bit afraid of us as well. But that applies to the players/coaches not the fans - what fans think or don't think, do or don't do, fear or don't fear is irrelevant and has zero impact on what happens on the ice.

 

[Mess]

A healthy dose of fear is a good thing and TB should be a little bit afraid of us as well. But that applies to the players/coaches not the fans - what fans think or don't think, do or don't do, fear or don't fear is irrelevant and has zero impact on what happens on the ice.

Our Leafs play to the level of their competition so I agree that overconfidence breeds complacency and then potential lackluster play.

If you fear or respect your opponent then you're more likely to bring your A game and compete level knowing it will be a battle.

Any player or team that is too confident/arrogant to treat the 2 X Cup champs too lightly won't bring out the best of your abilities, and it likely won't end well. .

 

[ACC1224]

I get the appeal of Boston, but the fear of facing TB by some here is not a good look.

‘some here’ ?
The fans will have zero impact on the outcome.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Crazy that it will come down to the last game of the season to determine our match-up. 66.7% chance we play Tampa, 33.3% Boston.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

My biggest fear playing Tampa is Vasi, just like my fear last year was Price. Leafs facing incredible playoff goaltending goes back to Korpisalo, Rask, and even Hasek. This is the best Leaf team in the franchise's history, yet they may still lose because one of the best goalies on the planet is going to stone them and there isn't a thing they can do about it except pray for a little luck.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Not even when they were tanking for Matty ??

No Sir. Let the hockey Gods take care of that. Can never cheer for a Leafs loss. It's one of my weaknesses.

 

[All Mod Cons]

lol the game means nothing either way for us.

Every game means something to me.

 

[keonsbitterness]

‘some here’ ?
The fans will have zero impact on the outcome.

Well, of course. I meant from a forum perspective. The players are all pros and are ready to face any challenge.

 

[Mattfan02]

Why is the title Leafs host Tampa? Could still be Boston

 

[pawnster]

lol okay, so a Boston win and Tampa loss cool.

I mean, you can lol, but you said Boston has to win and Tampa has to lose in regulation and that's not correct. Boston can lose in OT and Tampa lose, Boston can win and Tampa lose in OT. All Boston needs is 1 point to leapfrog Tampa. Just trying to help you.

 

[tom leafers]

I could never root for a Leafs loss. Just not in me.

2016 was the only exception to the rule lol

 

[Suntouchable13]

2016 was the only exception to the rule lol

2015 was the most unlikeable Leafs team ever, I was not upset when they lost a ton of games.

 

[Aus34Matt]

Why is the title Leafs host Tampa? Could still be Boston

Toronto, Tampa, and Boston all have preferred outcomes in terms of playoff seeding —they’ll each execute their master plan tonight.

 

[keonsbitterness]

2016 was the only exception to the rule lol

Even then I couldn't root for losses. Only after games could I rationalize that losing was beneficial.

 

[ToneDog]

Kyper thinks Bruins and Tampa prefer to go through the Metro rather than through Toronto and Florida. If true I feel sorry for fans who paid to attend tonight's game and die hard fans who watch on TV.

 

[fahad203]

2015 was the most unlikeable Leafs team ever, I was not upset when they lost a ton of games.

2008. Jason Blake was our leading scorer
At least 2015 you had the draft to look forward to that we could get Matthews
We also had Nylander, Kapenen, Hyman, Kadri, Reilly(still young) up and coming

2008 was just down right depressing. John Mitchell, Jamal Myers, Jeff Finger, Boyd Devereux, Jonas Frogen, Jeremy Williams

So many things wrong there

 

[JKG33]

Toronto, Tampa, and Boston all have preferred outcomes in terms of playoff seeding —they’ll each execute their master plan tonight.

If I'm Toronto I'd want Boston, slightly lesser of the two evils

If I'm Tampa I'd want to go through the Metro (Carolina and then NYR/PIT/WSH) to keep a potential matchup with Florida as late as possible

If I'm Boston I'd rather take my chances against Toronto as opposed to Carolina

 

[Suntouchable13]

2008. Jason Blake was our leading scorer
At least 2015 you had the draft to look forward to that we could get Matthews
We also had Nylander, Kapenen, Hyman, Kadri, Reilly(still young) up and coming

2008 was just down right depressing. John Mitchell, Jamal Myers, Jeff Finger, Boyd Devereux, Jonas Frogen, Jeremy Williams

So many things wrong there

2015 before we traded Kessel, they just quit. But, yes, 2008-2009 was an awful season.

 

[IPS]

Bruins have played the Hurricanes twice in the playoffs recently. Sweeping them in 2019 and beating them in 5 games in 2020.

Me thinks the Bruins want this matchup again.

 

[Mess]

Kyper thinks Bruins and Tampa prefer to go through the Metro rather than through Toronto and Florida. If true I feel sorry for fans who paid to attend tonight's game and die hard fans who watch on TV.

Eastern Conference Standing in terms of Goal Against defensively

Rank	Team		GP​	W​	L​	OTL​	PTS​		GF​	GA​
1​	Carolina Hurricanes		82​	54​	20​	8​	116​		278​	202​
2​	New York Rangers		81​	51​	24​	6​	108​		251​	205​
3​	Boston Bruins		81​	51​	25​	5​	107​		252​	215​
4​	Pittsburgh Penguins		81​	45​	25​	11​	101​		267​	226​
5​	Tampa Bay Lightning		81​	50​	23​	8​	108​		281​	229​
6​	Florida Panthers		81​	58​	17​	6​	122​		338​	236​
7​	Washington Capitals		81​	44​	25​	12​	100​		273​	242​
8​	Toronto Maple Leafs		81​	53​	21​	7​	113​		310​	251​

Play the better Offense or Defensive teams is on the line for Boston and Tampa either Toronto or Carolina?

Going through the Metro means the toughest defensive teams and going through Atlantic gets Matthews and Barkov and the top offensive teams.

I'm a big believer in .... "Defense Wins Championships"

 

[tom leafers]

Even then I couldn't root for losses. Only after games could I rationalize that losing was beneficial.

Then you are a better fan then i, good sir.

 

[tom leafers]

Eastern Conference Standing in terms of Goal Against defensively

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Rank[/TD]
[TD]Team[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]

GP​

[/TD]

[TD]

W​

[/TD]

[TD]

L​

[/TD]

[TD]

OTL​

[/TD]

[TD]

PTS​

[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]

GF​

[/TD]

[TD]

GA​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

1​

[/TD]

[TD]Carolina Hurricanes[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]

82​

[/TD]

[TD]

54​

[/TD]

[TD]

20​

[/TD]

[TD]

8​

[/TD]

[TD]

116​

[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]

278​

[/TD]

[TD]

202​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

2​

[/TD]

[TD]New York Rangers[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]

81​

[/TD]

[TD]

51​

[/TD]

[TD]

24​

[/TD]

[TD]

6​

[/TD]

[TD]

108​

[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]

251​

[/TD]

[TD]

205​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

3​

[/TD]

[TD]Boston Bruins[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]

81​

[/TD]

[TD]

51​

[/TD]

[TD]

25​

[/TD]

[TD]

5​

[/TD]

[TD]

107​

[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]

252​

[/TD]

[TD]

215​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

4​

[/TD]

[TD]Pittsburgh Penguins[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]

81​

[/TD]

[TD]

45​

[/TD]

[TD]

25​

[/TD]

[TD]

11​

[/TD]

[TD]

101​

[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]

267​

[/TD]

[TD]

226​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

5​

[/TD]

[TD]Tampa Bay Lightning[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]

81​

[/TD]

[TD]

50​

[/TD]

[TD]

23​

[/TD]

[TD]

8​

[/TD]

[TD]

108​

[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]

281​

[/TD]

[TD]

229​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

6​

[/TD]

[TD]Florida Panthers[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]

81​

[/TD]

[TD]

58​

[/TD]

[TD]

17​

[/TD]

[TD]

6​

[/TD]

[TD]

122​

[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]

338​

[/TD]

[TD]

236​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

7​

[/TD]

[TD]Washington Capitals[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]

81​

[/TD]

[TD]

44​

[/TD]

[TD]

25​

[/TD]

[TD]

12​

[/TD]

[TD]

100​

[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]

273​

[/TD]

[TD]

242​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

8​

[/TD]

[TD]Toronto Maple Leafs[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]

81​

[/TD]

[TD]

53​

[/TD]

[TD]

21​

[/TD]

[TD]

7​

[/TD]

[TD]

113​

[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]

310​

[/TD]

[TD]

251​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Play the better Offense or Defensive teams is on the line for Boston and Tampa either Toronto or Carolina?

Going through the Metro means the toughest defensive teams and going through Atlantic gets Matthews and Barkov and the top offensive teams.

I'm a big believer in .... "Defense Wins Championships"

our GAA stat is skewed though given our absolute shit our goaltending was for a solid 2 months

 

[jstaal]

Bruins have played the Hurricanes twice in the playoffs recently. Sweeping them in 2019 and beating them in 5 games in 2020.

Me thinks the Bruins want this matchup again.

 

[tom leafers]

any update on Bunting? cant seem to find anything except the dreger quote where he said they expect him to be ready for the start of the playoffs.

Edit- saw some footage from Master's twitter of bunting skating/practing. Looks promising he will be back for game 1 indeed

 

[Mess]

I am of the thinking that you shouldn't stress over what you can't control; there is no "easier" path for us. I would just love for it to be Boston so we can clear the cloud hanging over our head from past defeats.

But the Leafs do control their own destiny in this game.

Win and they play Tampa Bay !!!

Leafs are doing everything in their power to dress a roster not to win tonight, giving Boston every opportunity so Leafs can avoid TB.