Series Talk: ECQ: Boston Bruins (2-0) Toronto Maple Leafs. Well. We can Win at Home. We Have to.

[Mugzy97]

LW	C	RW
DANTON HEINEN Rating: 74.3#40 LW	RYAN DONATO Rating: 74.8#59 C	BRIAN GIONTA Rating: 71.3#66 RW
TIM SCHALLER Rating: 70.0#110 LW	NOEL ACCIARI Rating: 69.7#195 C	TOMMY WINGELS Rating: 70.8#163 RW

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When I look at their line combinations, I don't see how they measure up with us other than they are all playing above their heads. If I am JVR and TyBo I am licking my lips. Two UFAs playing against a couple of rookies and an old man who's best before date expired when he was with the Habs.

Yeah that 3rd and 4th line don't compete with ours at all.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Yeah that 3rd and 4th line don't compete with ours at all.

their 3rd line will probably be DeBrusk-Krejci-Backes or something

 

[thusk]

Any such strategy you suggest is only available when Leafs are at home and have last change .. In Boston the Bruins get to dictate the match- ups for the most part.

Either way I'm expecting Matthews and Kadri to be going against Bergeron and Krecji head to head with Bozak verses Riley Nash and then 4th lines vs 4th lines.

Yeah sure Boston will try to send Bergeron line against matthews one but babcock is one of smartest coach in the NHL.

Defensive faceoff, leafs can send Plekanec line so if Boston want to use Bergeron line on offensive faceoff, they will not have any other choice to send him against 4th line. If our 4th line is on the ice against any other line and they won the faceoff, they can immediatly came back to the bench and switch. offensive playoff, we can send any lines and if we losing the faceoff, nothing prevents a change just after losing the faceoff. Still have some ways to do it in Boston.

But yeah sure we will not be able to send 4th line everytime against bergeron in Boston, but the less often that Matthews / Marner are going to have Bergeron on their backs, the more they will be able to contribute offensively.

 

[Mugzy97]

their 3rd line will probably be DeBrusk-Krejci-Backes or something

Then their 2nd line will get crushed? I don't understand what you mean.

 

[ACC1224]

God bless us if Komarov is even top 9 in minutes for forwards. He’s a shell of a shell of his former self.

Babcock admitted that Nylander, Matthews and Marner aren’t normal people/players. I’m assuming he will play them well.

You'd have to assume he will be unless they manage to stay out of the box.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Then their 2nd line will get crushed? I don't understand what you mean.

they're missing some important players who will probably be on their second line when they get back and match up against Kadri's line

 

[Mugzy97]

they're missing some important players who will probably be on their second line when they get back and match up against Kadri's line

Oh I see. Who are they missing on F that is not in that breakdown? Rick Nash is one obviously, but who else?

 

[I Believe]

Oh I see. Who are they missing on F that is not in that breakdown? Rick Nash is one obviously, but who else?

Riley Nash as well, he's been solid this year.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Oh I see. Who are they missing on F that is not in that breakdown? Rick Nash is one obviously, but who else?

Also missing Riley Nash who has been good for them. Kuraly is a good 4th liner as well

 

[Incetardis]

I was back and forth in who I'd like to play in round 1 but now that we got the Bruins it seems meant to be. This team gets to exercise the demons of old and send a message to the rest of the league that they're legit. Matchup wise I hope Babs just puts Matthews out against Bergeron and let them go to town. Early returns will obviously dictate this but he's such a possession monster that they won't have the puck as much and thus won't be able to score. Its also a vote of confidence from the coach letting his young star know he feels he's ready to take on the elite when the stakes are at their highest. Also feel like Kadri, Marner, Marleau will dominate any other matchup than Bergeron so let them do damage while the big boys cancel eachother out. Needless to say I'm pretty frickin excited! Go Leafs Go!

 

[Suntouchable13]

I can not f***ing read the series thread in the playoffs forum, I am already agitated by the people who are underestimating the Leafs. Think that it will be a short series for the Bruins.

 

[inthe6ix]

button last night was analyzing how the b's can be beat with pressure on the forecheck and quick passes in the offensive zone which the panthers did so effectively last night

as always our speed will be key

on the backend, our d will have to pick up the boston forwards earlier at the red line instead and pressuring it back into their zone instead of letting them dump it in our corner and run free to cycle

their d will be hard pinching as well and that's where we get in trouble

 

[Beaumaris]

Rumour has it that the Bruins will try to deflate the puck!

Hopefully they deflate their fans.

 

[ToneDog]

Also missing Riley Nash who has been good for them. Kuraly is a good 4th liner as well

INJURIES
ANDERS BJORK Rating: 72.4#66 IR1	RICK NASH Rating: 75.0#32 IR2	RILEY NASH Rating: 72.5#105 IR3
BRANDON CARLO Rating: 71.3#77 IR4

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[Brown Dog]

I can not ****ing read the series thread in the playoffs forum, I am already agitated by the people who are underestimating the Leafs. Think that it will be a short series for the Bruins.

Not sure how you can count out a team with Auston Matthews and as much depth as we have.

 

[inthe6ix]

INJURIES
ANDERS BJORK Rating: 72.4#66 IR1	RICK NASH Rating: 75.0#32 IR2	RILEY NASH Rating: 72.5#105 IR3
BRANDON CARLO Rating: 71.3#77 IR4

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playoff time baby

i fully expect both rick and riley will be available for them and in the lineup on thurs

 

[hockeyes]

It seems pretty simple, if the Leafs skate and keep the pressure on like they've shown they can, they should be moving on to the 2nd round.

My only real concern is does Marchand "accidentally on purpose" injure someone before the series ends?

 

[Beaumaris]

We’ll win in 7. Don’t ask me how I know

How do you know when that.

 

[ACC1224]

It seems pretty simple, if the Leafs skate and keep the pressure on like they've shown they can, they should be moving on to the 2nd round.

My only real concern is does Marchand "accidentally on purpose" injure someone before the series ends?

Without a doubt he'll do something stupid. Hopefully the Leafs don't lose anyone because of it.

 

[Beaumaris]

Argos, Toronto FC, Raps, Leafs, Jays

Great year to be a sports fan in the GTA...

Buds in 6!

And Edmonton call themselves “city of champions”

 

[ToneDog]

playoff time baby

i fully expect both rick and riley will be available for them and in the lineup on thurs

Rick was supposed to return from concussion last night. They may have postpones it. Either way they are better with the Nashes. If we play like we did vs TB and Nashville for 60 minutes, we got this.

 

[Nithoniniel]

One thing that worries me is our third line. They've been good because they have been feeding on opposing teams depth now without Marner on it, as moving him off the line meant teams didn't match against them as much. Now they'll likely suit up against a line of DeBrusk-Krejci-Backes, and I am very pessimistic about that matchup.

I don't understand this overconfidence in our depth. Bruins are one of the few teams in the league that can match us in that regard. I might have seen a mismatch of fourth lines if we kept that dominant line together, but otherwise I don't think we have much of an advantage in that regard. And even that is highly doubtful given that they are likely to have Riley Nash on their fourth line.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Bruins fan here. Their recent bottom 6 is going to be nothing like what it has been recently with players coming back from injury. Nobody knows what the actual line-up will be because they've never had all forwards playing at the same time since Rick Nash was acquired.

This can be locked in though:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-X
X-Riley Nash-X
Schaller-Kuraly-X
X
Wingels, Gionta

Donato has been one of the more dangerous players since he joined the team, and showed good chemistry with Krejci, but the safe, boring thing to do would be to sit him. I disagree with that considering the Bruins could use mroe players like him vs. the Leafs, but if that happens, you'd probably see:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Rick Nash (played together before Nash went down, decent chemistry, nothing special)
Heinen-Riley Nash-Backes (go-to 3rd line pre-Nash, probably the safe bet)
Schaller-Kuraly-Acciari (usual 4th line)
Donato

I would like to see:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Donato
Heinen-Riley Nash-Rick Nash
Schaller-Kuraly-Backes
Acciari

Heinen could be anywhere as well. He's played with Krejci, Riley Nash/Backes, and even the 4th line at the start of the year.

 

[Muston Atthews]

Key is to keep Matthews away from Bergeron at home and will need contributions from the 2nd and 3rd lines when we’re in Boston. Any points from Matthews in Boston should be seen as a bonus

 

[Mugzy97]

Bruins fan here. Their recent bottom 6 is going to be nothing like what it has been recently with players coming back from injury. Nobody knows what the actual line-up will be because they've never had all forwards playing at the same time since Rick Nash was acquired.

This can be locked in though:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-X
X-Riley Nash-X
Schaller-Kuraly-X
X
Wingels, Gionta

Donato has been one of the more dangerous players since he joined the team, and showed good chemistry with Krejci, but the safe, boring thing to do would be to sit him. I disagree with that considering the Bruins could use mroe players like him vs. the Leafs, but if that happens, you'd probably see:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Rick Nash (played together before Nash went down, decent chemistry, nothing special)
Heinen-Riley Nash-Backes (go-to 3rd line pre-Nash, probably the safe bet)
Schaller-Kuraly-Acciari (usual 4th line)
Donato

I would like to see:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Donato
Heinen-Riley Nash-Rick Nash
Schaller-Kuraly-Backes
Acciari

Heinen could be anywhere as well. He's played with Krejci, Riley Nash/Backes, and even the 4th line at the start of the year.

Thanks