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

[Suntouchable13]

Yep, I agree 100%, actually. Was just commenting on the difficulty in shoring up goaltending.

Toronto's team is built around its offense: a highly paid forward group that produces at a significant clip... in the regular season. But in the playoffs, we consistently come up dry. One would think having a guy with almost seventy regular season goals would more than offset the differential between the pipes, but year over year, again and again, we fail to put the puck in the net.

In this series, that has been most apparent on the powerplay... woof.

You’re right, it’s going to be tough for Tre to shore up the goaltending this summer. Lots of teams looking, but not enough supply.

 

[tfwnogf]

paging mitch marner

I think they gotta track his dad down to put the fear of god in him.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Sure. McAvoy should be allowed to tackle Matthews behind the net and Marchand should get away with a blatant trip in open view of everyone.

And of course when Tavares less egregiously tackles McAvoy, it’s a penalty - obviously.

Don’t get me wrong. I have far more respect for Marchand than Bertuzzi but that was blatant.

See that’s the problem in a nutshell. As biased fans we only see the missed calls against our team. Leafs got away with a lot as well.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Blame the refs

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

paging mitch marner

I think they gotta track his dad down to put the fear of god in him.

That was Matthews worst game and he’s not been a factor in game 1 or 3.

 

[tfwnogf]

That was Matthews worst game and he’s not been a factor in game 1 or 3.

yeah but he has game 2 at least, what does mitch have other than being invisible aside from 1 assist

 

[Here I Pageau Again]

Thought it was a fun game to watch as a neutral, though both teams looked slower than I'd expected early on, despite the quick first, and the Leafs looked a bit shaky in transition at times, passes mistimed, players having to reach. etc. Great feed by Marner for the first goal.

But neither of the big 3 they had on last night seem to have even a Marchand-lite player who will push, push and push some more to make the play, as he and Pasternak and a few others seem willing to do for the Bruins.

Maybe Nylander is that guy? Haven't watched the team enough to know.

Marchand got lucky on two calls, IMO. One of which led to the ENG.

If Keefe could generate facial expressions, I'd have expected to see some combo of rage, disgust and resignation.

I feel like Nylander is one of the Leafs best playoff performers at both ends. He seems to be the one that works hard the majority of the game, if down or up.

From what I've seen over the years, Nylander being out is a pretty big set back for the Leafs.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Blame the refs

Do you think Keefe is coaching them to do this? Only exit the zone with a full clean possession break out? Or else reset even if hemmed in?

 

[TGWL]

Do you think Keefe is coaching them to do this? Only exit the zone with a full clean possession break out? Or else reset even if hemmed in?

But is he making a point to do something about it and preventing them from that mine-set? Both are to blame.

 

[ijuka]

Blame the refs

Yeah, this is the same puck possession shit we have to watch in Finnish hockey, too.

The moment the opponent aggressively forechecks, the system just stops working.

Possession is fine but there needs to be some situational awareness.

 

[NyQuil]

The voice seems like the kind of guy you'd go out for a rip with.

 

[Score08]

Still using regular season stars to justify playoff decisions, huh? That’s a bold choice.

It’s still early but the b’s are 8-0 this season vs the leafs and cats , looks like the reg season is more of predictor than people are willing to admit.

 

[Here I Pageau Again]

Yep, I agree 100%, actually. Was just commenting on the difficulty in shoring up goaltending.

Toronto's team is built around its offense: a highly paid forward group that produces at a significant clip... in the regular season. But in the playoffs, we consistently come up dry. One would think having a guy with almost seventy regular season goals would more than offset the differential between the pipes, but year over year, again and again, we fail to put the puck in the net.

In this series, that has been most apparent on the powerplay... woof.

This is why I hate paying players such ridiculous contracts without playoff performances to back it up. (Not saying this is just a Leafs problem, seems to be the way it is now). But the goal is to win in the playoffs, and the Leafs big paid forwards just fall flat every playoffs. When they are not given space, they seem to not know how to score. And they aren't really all that noticeable unless they are scoring, which is another problem.

 

[hatterson]

Do you think Keefe is coaching them to do this? Only exit the zone with a full clean possession break out? Or else reset even if hemmed in?

Given how frequently it happens I sort of hope he's coaching them to do it. Either that or he's coaching them to not do it and they're completely ignoring everything he says, which is also a reason to get rid of him since it's easier to fire a coach than an entire roster.

 

[GarlicbreadTB]

Seems it's migraine issues.

According to multiple sources, William Nylander’s absence from the Toronto lineup has to do with a migraine so severe that team doctors tested to see if he suffered a concussion. One of the reasons for the secrecy around his situation is that an actual diagnosis has been hard to come by, whether it is a migraine, a concussion or something else that could affect that area.

 

[hatterson]

Seems it's migraine issues.

Migraines are awful. There's no amount of "tough it out" that can actually get you through it.

 

[NyQuil]

Migraines are awful. There's no amount of "tough it out" that can actually get you through it.

You would think it would affect the practices too though?

 

[AvroArrow]

Do you think Keefe is coaching them to do this? Only exit the zone with a full clean possession break out? Or else reset even if hemmed in?

He's definitely not coaching them on how to support and breakout properly, guarantee you that much.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Blame the refs

Ya, that’s pretty brutal. Just kinda encapsulates what bruins are doing right and leafs.. not so much.

Also, asking because I want to confirm my preconceived notion- Marner continues to disappoint majorly, correct? Nice assist, but no shots last game- didn’t catch it, unfortunately, so I’m wondering how people view that and his first 3 games overall.

I have a bugaboo about him, because I think he’s everything Joe Thornton gets accused of. Jumbo was usually actually hurt, I think, Marner is just too soft and space-based for playoffs.

Hope Nylander is alright and can return soon, make it more interesting. Go out with a bang, not a whimper, as a proper butchering of TS Eliot would say.

 

[Strangle]

Seems it's migraine issues.

Who are the sources?

 

[goldenblack]

Seems it's migraine issues.

Woah if it's migraines we aren't likely to see him at all.

I'm glad he got paid when he did. At least his financial future is secure. That's a tough injury.

 

[PB37]

If I'm the Leafs, if Bertuzzi has another game where he's more concerned with getting into a gamesmanship duel with Marchand than actually winning the game, they should bench him before Marchand makes him his personal bitch again.

Bertuzzi had front row tickets to:

- the Frederic game tying goal when he tried to play mind games with Marchand

- the Marchand GWG goal, down on one knee and missing the blocked shot

- the Marchand empty netter to put the game away after Marchand bodied him off the puck, leaving Bertuzzi to float around after the goal barking at the ref

 

[Gravity]

Pathetic that the Leafs are so desperate they continue to try to whine their way to the next round. First it was the crosschecks by the Habs, then Keefe whining about Tampa and now Marchand. Just keep your mouth shut and win on the ice FFS. It's really not that hard of a concept.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Blame the refs

I guarantee Keefe isn't coaching them to do that. Sometimes it's the guys wearing the skates.

 

[hatterson]

You would think it would affect the practices too though?

Depending on what's triggering them.

Practice has less harsh lights and way, way less noise. Plus less physical and emotional intensity than a game which can also trigger them.

If you're feeling kinda OK and then try morning skate and by the end of it you have a migraine, you know you're not gonna be able to go for the game.