ECQF: Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs (Series Tied 3-3)

[Summer Rose]

Agree with those who say you can't blame Samsonov for this series being 3-1 for the Bruins. Ideally you'd like him to make a big save here and there but he's far from the biggest problem for the Leafs.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Came here to dunk on Leafs fans, but I actually feel bad for them. The joke is getting old

Must continue dunking

 

[goldenblack]

Monty vs Keefe is the mismatch nobody is talking about. Dangle mentioned it.

It's not cloooooose

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Monty vs Keefe is the mismatch nobody is talking about. Dangle mentioned it.

It's not cloooooose

Ya I’d be shocked if he is coaching in Toronto next year…. Not sure who they’d target but keefe is a dud…. He enables his stars to play like shit and defends it

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

Monty vs Keefe is the mismatch nobody is talking about. Dangle mentioned it.

It's not cloooooose

Omg THE Steve Dangle mentioned it?


Yes Keefe is getting out coached badly.

Yes Steve Dangle is an extremely annoying male version of a Karen.

 

[Playoffsareoverrated]

69 goals lads.

 

[The Macho King]

If Toronto doesn't turn it around they're risking a distinct lack of respect in the handshake line.

 

[TMLegend]

Agree with those who say you can't blame Samsonov for this series being 3-1 for the Bruins. Ideally you'd like him to make a big save here and there but he's far from the biggest problem for the Leafs.

He's not the biggest problem but he's been a big issue regardless. There's been several instances of him letting in a bad goal or contributing to one against.

The Frederic goal of game 3 was shocking, like indefensible. If that doesn't go in they go into the third with a 1-0 lead and who knows what happens. And again what was he doing on the JVR goal last night? It's a bit of a broken play but my god, he couldn't have played that worse if he tried.

 

[thegazelle]

He was bad on goal 2, but that one-timer would be a high-danger chance and difficult to save even for a goalie who had moved properly, and JVR could freely screen.

On goal 3, it's a 2-on-0 with Bruins' two best offensive players, and his attempt was pretty good, I thought.

On goal 1, he wasn't great, but JVR is a specialist in tight like that, and had all the time in the world right in front of the net.


I'd say that blaming the goalie is not accurate. From watching most of the game, I'd say that the biggest issue is that the Leafs skaters were lacking a pulse. Compare the two captains, for example. Is Tavares a wax statue? You might not like Marchand but at least he has agency.

Agree. I don't really blame Samsonov for the loss. His team did him no favors by losing the small but significant puck battles in both ends of the ice. It was really amazing how Boston would especially win many of these in the Leafs zone and prevent the puck from being cleared. Boston just was hungrier for this win and it showed in how they were willing to get down and dirty in the corners

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Injuries happen.... Toronto isnt down because of injuries, they are down because they have too many overpaid forwards that dont show up in playoffs

its been the same thing for what 6 years now?

Not like toronto didnt benefit from injuries last year.

prob longer

 

[Divine]

He's not the biggest problem but he's been a big issue regardless. There's been several instances of him letting in a bad goal or contributing to one against.

The Frederic goal of game 3 was shocking, like indefensible. If that doesn't go in they go into the third with a 1-0 lead and who knows what happens. And again what was he doing on the JVR goal last night? It's a bit of a broken play but my god, he couldn't have played that worse if he tried.

Even the Marchand goal. Samsonov tries to guess who’s going to shoot instead of waiting for the actual shot.

It seems every Boston power play goal is an open net because he incorrectly comes 5 feet out of his next and they just pass it to another player for an open net.

Before the series I said Samsonov is my biggest worry because of how he played in the regular season and so far he’s been even worse in the playoffs. Put Woll in next game. He faced 5 shots and a Boston PP and didn’t panic on one of them. I don’t think Samsonov has done that all series.

 

[Peasy]

Monty vs Keefe is the mismatch nobody is talking about. Dangle mentioned it.

It's not cloooooose

Keefe got out coached by dominique ducharme. I dont think anyone with a brain expected anything less.

 

[hockey20000]

marner is as good as gone in the off season if they lose game 5 I would say.. keefe also. and if there smart dont resign tarvaras even if he offers to stay for 3-4million the guy is finished as someone who can help a contending team god hes awful

 

[GQS]

He was bad on goal 2, but that one-timer would be a high-danger chance and difficult to save even for a goalie who had moved properly, and JVR could freely screen.

On goal 3, it's a 2-on-0 with Bruins' two best offensive players, and his attempt was pretty good, I thought.

On goal 1, he wasn't great, but JVR is a specialist in tight like that, and had all the time in the world right in front of the net.


I'd say that blaming the goalie is not accurate. From watching most of the game, I'd say that the biggest issue is that the Leafs skaters were lacking a pulse. Compare the two captains, for example. Is Tavares a wax statue? You might not like Marchand but at least he has agency.

While Samsonov isn't entirely at fault for the Leafs being down 3-1 in the series, he's certainly a decent part of it. He's given up several back breaking goals in this series and while he's played decent in most games he hasn't been able to steal any games for the Leafs. Having him in net doesn't really seem to inspire confidence in his teammates and it certainly doesn't for the fans.

So while the Leafs offensive is the biggest problem, in the playoffs you also need a good goalie that you can rely on to make timely saves to keep your team in the game and perhaps sometimes even steal a game or two for you. Samsonov hasn't shown himself to be able to do that this playoffs so far and it would be a huge surprise to still see him on this team for next season.

 

[Divine]

marner is as good as gone in the off season if they lose game 5 I would say.. keefe also. and if there smart dont resign tarvaras even if he offers to stay for 3-4million the guy is finished as someone who can help a contending team god hes awful

You’d be crazy not to sign a 65 point centre for 3-4M. At third line money of course you re-sign him unless he becomes a 20 point guy next season.

Keefe should have been gone 2 seasons ago. He’s one of the longest tenured coaches in the NHL. Edmonton is on their third coach since Keefe got hired but the Leafs have some loyalty to Keefe for some reason.

 

[TMLegend]

marner is as good as gone in the off season if they lose game 5 I would say.. keefe also. and if there smart dont resign tarvaras even if he offers to stay for 3-4million the guy is finished as someone who can help a contending team god hes awful

I think you'll see them clean house this summer. Keefe, Shanahan, Marner, Boucher and his god awful PP, Van Ryn. I don't think anybody of note will be spared except for Treliving as far as coaching and management goes.

 

[hockey20000]

You’d be crazy not to sign a 65 point centre for 3-4M. At third line money of course you re-sign him unless he becomes a 20 point guy next season.

Keefe should have been gone 2 seasons ago. He’s one of the longest tenured coaches in the NHL. Edmonton is on their third coach since Keefe got hired but the Leafs have some loyalty to Keefe for some reason.

lol okay go resign him then hes slow af and useless for playoff hockey. idc if he gets 65 points hes not the type of player u win with

 

[GQS]

marner is as good as gone in the off season if they lose game 5 I would say.. keefe also. and if there smart dont resign tarvaras even if he offers to stay for 3-4million the guy is finished as someone who can help a contending team god hes awful

Well considering Marner has a NMC, unless you can convince him to go he'll probably be back next season to start at least. It would be interesting to see what the Leafs could get for him especially if they were willing to retain 50% of his contract.

As for Tavares sure he's not the same as he was a few years ago, but he's still not bad and is putting up decent numbers when some people thought he'd be near done by now. If he were willing to come back for dirt cheap I would definitely consider it.

 

[Divine]

lol okay go resign him then hes slow af and useless for playoff hockey. idc if he gets 65 points hes not the type of player u win with

He doesn’t have to play on their first or second line. What better centre are you getting for 3-4M?

 

[wintersej]

Even the Marchand goal. Samsonov tries to guess who’s going to shoot instead of waiting for the actual shot.

It seems every Boston power play goal is an open net because he incorrectly comes 5 feet out of his next and they just pass it to another player for an open net.

Before the series I said Samsonov is my biggest worry because of how he played in the regular season and so far he’s been even worse in the playoffs. Put Woll in next game. He faced 5 shots and a Boston PP and didn’t panic on one of them. I don’t think Samsonov has done that all series.

Leafs team D is terrible at giving the goalie one thing to worry about. All teams D eventually breaks down, but it seems like the Leafs start breaking down almost right away. Samsonov hasn’t been good. And the Frederic goal was bad. But I don’t see Woll faring much better.

 

[Dicky113]

I guess William Wallace Nylander wasn’t the answer after all, who’d have predicted that!?
“They can take our lives, but they’ll never take…. Our MONEY!”

 

[D Wakaluk]

Seems like Matthews ate his own hype after game2 and got a wicked food poisoning. If you've seen the takes here you know thats a mean turd to swallow.

Nylander, the guy who never gets injured ... get's ... migraine for trying to reach 100p in the regular season..? Looked a little wobbly coming back, but still had looked to have more impact than the rest of the core gang.

Marner is a 12y old trapped in a 14y old body. Can't play consistent effective hockey in the playoffs. Can, not.

Tavares - doesn't get better with age.

Samsonov. There's a reason why Caps didn't want this guy. Got way too much leeway after the series win last year. Not mentally built for a #1 goalie.

Like I said before the series. Leafs have nothing going for them. That temper tantrum gif is the perfect way to sum this era for them. They never had it. They can't - and they won't.

 

[Divine]

Leafs team D is terrible at giving the goalie one thing to worry about. All teams D eventually breaks down, but it seems like the Leafs start breaking down almost right away. Samsonov hasn’t been good. And the Frederic goal was bad. But I don’t see Woll faring much better.

It doesn’t hurt to try. This series has taught us Samsonov will not give the Leafs a save when they need it. Keefe loves Samsonov though, there was absolutely no reason not to play Woll in the third period of Game 1 to see how he does.

I’d be pretty surprised if Samsonov is re-signed after this season so I really don’t understand the loyalty to him. At least get your future goalie some experience to see if he’s good enough.

 

[NyQuil]

I guess William Wallace Nylander wasn’t the answer after all, who’d have predicted that!?

 

[Number8]

Matthews post game 4 interview…

View attachment 861012

Ok, thats funny. I hope we can all agree on this at least.