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

[Kiwi]

he can, but I doubt it. We're really not well off if we need that to happen

We need him not to get filled in

If Matthews can hold his own in a head to head matchup with Bergeron it would go a long way to winning this series, we've got to get at least that

 

[Budsfan]

Not just any clam chowder.. it's gotta be New England clam chowdah!

I love Boston Clam Chowdah with bacon but maybe with a side order of Roasted Bruin on a stick (A Leafs Hockey Stick)

 

[iBlaze81]

Can somone please put Auston Matthews head on the Hulk throwing the bear gif. If it's not already done.

 

[LeafFever]

The one big issue for Boston is they can shut down Matthews and still lose. Bergeron can't stop 4 lines.

 

[mix1home]

I live in Montreal right now. I'm off work Thursday and debating whether I can justify leaving my pregnant wife to drive down to Boston for game 1. Very white people problems.

Family comes first. Get the beer, watch bears beaten by Leafs on tv, kiss your wife.

 

[DarkKnight]

It's almost perfect in a sense. This organization has completely turned itself around, now we have the chance to eliminate one last painful memory that has become symbolic of all our past failings. I see opportunity.

 

[JamieG19]

Does everyone agree this is the playoff that Matthews becomes a legend?

I can't see the Bruins being able to hold him at bay. The only way is if they manage to knock him out. If they can't, there's no stopping the Leafs.

It's Auston's time.

 

[Nithoniniel]

Does everyone agree this is the playoff that Matthews becomes a legend?

I can't see the Bruins being able to hold him at bay. The only way is if they manage to knock him out. If they can't, there's no stopping the Leafs.

It's Auston's time.

They can put the best head-to-head center in the last 20 years on him. You should probably temper your expectations.

The one big issue for Boston is they can shut down Matthews and still lose. Bergeron can't stop 4 lines.

They'll roll three strong lines. They are not a one line team.

 

[Beaninfritz]

This is the first time this decade that I won't be working nights. I am going to thoroughly enjoy these playoffs.

 

[ottomaddox]

pretty sure in the last playoffs Grabovski had the 2nd most minutes among forwards. if he tries **** like that again we don't have a chance

Time travel edit.

____________

I am sorry, but the pre-Komarov bashing is getting crazy. Let him have 30 seconds of ice time before you declare his beheading.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[mix1home]

That's good news than, thanks! And yes it is strange, I guess WPG just gets no respect at all which is kind of sad.

Perhaps analysts see peg series with injured wild as sure sweep in 4 games and then schedule spots are empty for 3 evenings. Pit-phi series could go 7, so whey will get more games, better ratings and whole lot more of ads revenue.

 

[frizzer1]

For me it may come down to how well the leafs D will be able to handle to bruins forecheck...

 

[Tak7]

For me it may come down to how well the leafs D will be able to handle to bruins forecheck...

Which is precisely why, over the longrun, I don't think the Leafs beat the Bruins in a 7 game series.

Might win a few games, but I fully expect, much like last season's series against the Capitals, for the forecheck to eventually wear down the Toronto blueline.

 

[Tak7]

Let's. Do. This!

 

[Martin Skoula]

Forget Matthews, forget Andersen...

The real X factor here is playoff Polak.

 

[Suntouchable13]

The one big issue for Boston is they can shut down Matthews and still lose. Bergeron can't stop 4 lines.

We have 3 lines. The 4th line is a non factor offensively with Komarov and Plekanec on it.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[saltming]

we shall see, but i mean all you can really do is punish them for it by winning. he's one of the players that will get less rope with player safety and if he does something dumb could realistically be suspended

This is why we have been working on developing a lethal pp. Teams are going to be coached to stay out of the penalty box.
Our pp is a deterrent in its own right. Yes there will still be cheap shots but if we consistently punish them on the score sheet that will stop

 

[djdev]

This is why we have been working on developing a lethal pp. Teams are going to be coached to stay out of the penalty box.
Our pp is a deterrent in its own right. Yes there will still be cheap shots but if we consistently punish them on the score sheet that will stop

thats the plan, our pp should be feared...could be the difference. the past month its been absolutely lethal

 

[DarkKnight]

Let's not kid ourselves, this narrative that has started today that Boston is a one line team is pure bs, they are deep.

 

[96]

I’m not scared of Boston. No one should be.

 

[AvroArrow]

A healthy Marner this post-season, remember he had mono last year around this time and we still had one hell of a series against the caps. He's been pretty dominant against Boston in his first 2 years, he will be the mvp for us in the first round (just my prediction)

 

[Cotton]

This is why we have been working on developing a lethal pp. Teams are going to be coached to stay out of the penalty box.
Our pp is a deterrent in its own right. Yes there will still be cheap shots but if we consistently punish them on the score sheet that will stop

Whistle tend to get put away in the post season, more so the bigger the games get (JVR taking elbow to face from Kelly in game 7 the last time around with the Bs). I foresee much dirty play going uncalled, though for some reason Bruins fans on their board seem convinced Leafs will be getting 4-5 PP’s a game and that they’ll be fighting both the Leafs and refs.

 

[stuart5035]

Here comes the Roman Colosseum, I mean Boston Gardens at playoff time. These fans are bloodthirsty, the noise will be overwhelming, many of the Leafs will experience body work like they’ve never imagined. Did you see how Chara walloped a Florida Panther last night? Imagine you’re poor 175 pound Mitch Marner looking at that giant? (And on a side note, I believe that Chara’s incredible size and wingspan has a huge effect-he might be 41 and slower, but he’d be the one guy I’d love to see miss the series).

If we can survive game 1 then I think we have a great chance, I’ll be holding my breath. Let’s not kid ourselves, this series will be ncredibly taxing (just finished looking at the predictions of he 14 writers at nhl.com and they have it 10-4 in favour of the Bruins).

Since we are abandoning our true identity as a run and gun offensive dynamo by playing Komarov and not Johnsson (Komarov really slows things down), wouldn’t it be nice to go one step further and put Matt Martin against Marchand every shift and pummel him at every chance? I know it’s wishful thinking, and they are both left wingers but.......

And we finally have a healthy Austin Matthews! Anyone who has watched most of the Leafs regular season games knows that while he’s missed 25 games to injury, he hasn’t been at his best in another 20 or so. Don’t think those nhl.com writers are that on top of subtleties like that, he can be the difference.

Despite the disappointing loss to New Jersey, I was relieved to see the old sharp Fred Anderson back, that to me was the key to that game.

All of this and probably most importantly-will the refs call it the same as in the regular season-this is what I’ll be watching for