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

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

The whole point with having Babcock is so he can do a good coaching job. Not make snap judgments on offside calls.

well tonight he didn't do either

 

[Martin Skoula]

This one is on Babcock.

3 PP opportunities with Komarov on each one?

Not challenging that offside??

Having Plekanec close out the period against Marchand/Bergeron???

This isn't nitpicking roster decisions anymore, or nitpicking PP time distribution. This is a string of decisions that directly led to 2 goals against and no PP goals for. Could have easily been 2-1 or 3-1 for us going into the third.

I hope you guys are ready for Marleau-Plekanec-Marner as your 2nd line if Kadri is suspended. Gonna guess Nylander is going to be centering the 4th line while Brown gets bumped up.

 

[Leaf of the Mind]

We had enough chances to make a game of it, couldn't get any finish. Willy and AM were disappointing. Andy could have done better on a couple. It drives the gudpro complainers crazy but Hyman was one of the few bright spots, despite his limited skillset. Nobody's asking that each of the role players has to punch above their weight like that, it's not going to happen. But you get several more guys playing that hard and it would have made a difference. If one or two of those guys happen to be a guy in the big three they can flat out take over the game. Can only move on and come out better on Saturday.

 

[Stephen]

I always preferred the Detroit Red Wings style of play in the 90s and 2000s as a stylistic template. But those guys always had a Maltby, McCarty, Draper in the lineup too.

 

[Legendary]

Babcock was an embarrassment tonight

 

[Legendary]

I hope Andersen bounces back in game 2 otherwise if it’s another blowout I 100% expect McElhinney to start game 3

That's most likely what will happen

 

[Stephen]

The Bruins looked angry, like they were offended that we dare play hockey against them lol

They played angry all game

I didn't really like the Pat Quinn teams all that much, but one thing I miss about them in the playoffs is they'd have the ability to keep the opposition honest. Like a Gary Roberts fore arm shiv on someone or a Shayne Corson shadow on Patrice Bergeron? That'd be nice.

 

[hockeyes]

You guys really think Kadri gets 2 playoff games for that? I'll be shocked if he gets a phone call, all depends on how hard the Bruins cry about it though.

 

[A1LeafNation]

What Babcock thinks of the officiating....

Doesn’t matter what he thinks about them, they had no game plan tonight. If that was the game plan, this will be a short series.

 

[TIGERCOOL]

I could see benefits of Martin or Johnsson in. Or both. Plekanec is godawful and doesn't play any role well. He's like medium speed mediocrity on skates. With Johnsson, you get another Kapanen. With Martin, you get someone to soften up the Bruins a little.

I don't think we're going to beat the bruins on those terms. We need to maximize our edge, which is speed and skill. Johnnson needs to be in this lineup yesterday.

 

[6ix]

Leafs PP was league tops with Komarov on it. Just think of him as a lucky horseshoe or whatever, it's ridiculous to bring THAT up as something that should be addressed. How about looking at rate we draw penalties, our faltering PK, the amount of time Hainsey plays, etc.


THIS

As for tonight's game, I thought Zaitsev had a really good game tonight and Dermott didn't look too bad either. Same with Polak. Rielly, Gardiner and Hainsey could have been better but this was just one game.
As for the forwards, the big-3, just did not do enough tonight. Kadri's outburst was dangerous and should keep him suspended for a game or two but it's really pathetic how he's been the only physical player on the team. I'd like to think that his performance lit a spark in our flaccid veterans tonight. I'm really interested in how Babcock's going to match lines from this point forward--I read a post of Twitter that showed that the Leafs' possession numbers drop at home (when Babcock has last change) as opposed to on the road...which was kind of interesting. With all the talk about our lack of physicality, I'm ironically pining for Johnsson and Leivo more than Martin.

At the end of the day, you need your best players on a stacked PP when it’s playoff time. Special teams is huge. Look at Pittsburgh with Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Hornqvist, Letang. Why can’t we stack Marner Matthews nylander Gardiner with marleau or JVR as a net presence?

 

[Zybalto]

Zaitsev was a beast for us as him and Gards continue to play well together.

Zaitsev led all players in minutes and 5v5 minutes, had a respectable CF% of 50% and, considering the final tally, a SCF% of 61.5 which is amazing.

The Bruins beat us in scoring chances 23-12 and Zaitsev had a positive 8-5.

 

[LeafsNation75]

You guys really think Kadri gets 2 playoff games for that? I'll be shocked if he gets a phone call, all depends on how hard the Bruins cry about it though.

At the most if he gets anything it should be a fine. The refs look stupid for not calling Wingels for his head it seconds earlier on Marner.

 

[Warden of the North]

That or the potential goalie interference on the 4th goal. Especially the fourth goal, what’s he have to lose at that point. Even if he fails the game is as good as done anyway if it counts, and it was.

There was no interference on the 4th goal whatsoever.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Kadri is definitely getting suspended. This series just got a lot tougher.

 

[RomanianLeafs]

i love our management but this was an awful trade deadline..if we are not a title contender why GIVE UP ASSETS FOR A WASHED UP 4 LINE CENTER 2 YEARS IN A ROW and why keep Bozak who is done as a player in the nhl..they did not want to give up assets for DEFENSE who is not a playoffs defense let.s be honest..

 

[Nithoniniel]

3 PP opportunities with Komarov on each one?

That unit has been red hot with Komarov on it. He didn't lose us the game by keeping a red hot unit together. That's absurd. And I'm someone who has argued against Komarov all season.

Not challenging that offside??

I saw 3-4 angles of that offside right away, and none of them looked like offside. If he saw the same, I understand why he didn't challenge and potentially give a unit that just scored another chance.

Having Plekanec close out the period against Marchand/Bergeron???

Yeah. He showed way too much trust in that fourth line, and it cost us. Plekanec in particular was absolutely brutal. Defensive specialist who had the positioning of a rookie.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Martin would be better than plekanec what a waste of a second rounder

 

[Bloomberg]

If Kadri is suspended....

Marleau - Plekanec - Marner
Johnsson - Komarov - Kapenen

 

[cookie]

At the end of the day, you need your best players on a stacked PP when it’s playoff time. Special teams is huge. Look at Pittsburgh with Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Hornqvist, Letang. Why can’t we stack Marner Matthews nylander Gardiner with marleau or JVR as a net presence?

But here's the thing--the Penguins' guys play twice as much on the PP as the Leafs' big guys do BUT both PP units were effective this season. At the end of the day, this means that our big guys are that much fresher during their 5v5 shifts and thus more competitive and less prone to injury.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Now if Kadri is suspended and let's remember he is no longer considered a repeat offender, what's going to happen when Brad Marchand does a suspension worthy hit?

 

[Stephen]

I haven't enjoyed Zaitsev's game but he was pretty good all things considered. Just saw a lot of Hainsey and Polak breaking down out there.

 

[cookie]

The Bruins beat us in scoring chances 23-12 and Zaitsev had a positive 8-5.

Our team relies on getting more scoring chances than the opposition and, with how lopsided the chances were this game, it is more than likely we're getting a better performance game 2. (that, and the difference in PP minutes)

 

[Le Cobra]

The Leafs played tonight the way most people expected them to for game 1 vs Washington.

Since they have a historically poor record for winning game 1, I am keeping my expectations in check and await game 2 with greater anticipation.

It takes time to build a juggernaut like the Pens. We will get there in due time. Patience lads!

GO LEAFS GO!!!

 

[Stephen]

Now if Kadri is suspended and let's remember he is no longer considered a repeat offender, what's going to happen when Brad Marchand does a suspension worthy hit?

If Marchand pulled a suspension worthy hit, I'd gladly trade a Martin suspension for him taking revenge on any Bruin of his choosing.

People are focusing a lot on Kadri's hit and the five minute PK where they were destroyed, but I'm pretty sure the guys in that room are bonding over the fact that Kadri took out Tommy f***ing Wingels for trying to lay some accidental on purpose garbage on one of our best kids.