GDT: ECQF: Game 2 - Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators, 7:30 p.m. EST | Back to the Future Edition

[jbeck5]

Nylander's penalty was the softest of the night (and, for the record, yes, it was a penalty).

Your cross check a guy in the face, or high stick another guy in the face, or cross check another guy in the back, you're getting called. Why did the Sens get more penalties? They were undisciplined and, one could argue, dirty.

They'll learn. And they'll be better. If they're not, it will be a short series.

Oh, and "neutral fans", my ass.

I agree the Nylander penalty was very soft. I was happy when they called it though because Ottawa had gotten a few soft calls, so I was like "I'll take it" lol thought they might make another soft call on Toronto to even up the soft calls, but nope lol.

You've never heard of fans calling things neutral? Plenty of neutral takes on this board...

 

[Relapsing]

Those aren't fans.

There are already a lot of bad takes in this thread from fans of both teams, but this one takes the f***ing cake

 

[Summer Rose]

Thanks to the NHL's scheduling this round, I will not be able to watch this game. Thanks NHL.

 

[93gilmour93]

Thanks to the NHL's scheduling this round, I will not be able to watch this game. Thanks NHL.

NHL scheduling is a mess

 

[jbeck5]

Can you tell me what you think Ottawa is better at?

Leafs have better forwards, defence, goaltending, game breaking talent, coaching, and they are much more experienced. What area do you disagree with there? Is Ottawa tougher? Maybe a bit but this ain’t the leafs of the past either.

Obviously anything can happen in hockey but it’s not biased to think that if both teams play to their best, Toronto should easily win the series.

The leafs are better in their top 6 forwards. The Leafs have the goalie that is playing better this year. The leafs have more experience. The leafs are tougher on the d side of things.

Ottawa has tougher forwards, and I would say their 3rd line is better...maybe their 4th, but not the way it's being dressed.

I would say where Ottawa's biggest advantage would be, other than the Leafs having more pressure on them, would be that I think Ottawas top players are better skaters. If they're to have a chance, they need to skate faster than the Leafs and get on pucks first.

For example, I see sanderson and Chabot as better skaters for D.

I see Marner as the best passer, but he's not as good a skater as stutzle.

I see Matthews as the best shooter, but he's not as good a skater as batherson both being 6'3 guys.

These are just random examples(I picked the top 2 scorers for both teams), as I know Ottawa also has slow skaters like Giroux and Perron, etc.

I just think when Ottawa is playing their best, they do it by their best players constantly moving their feet which creates lots of chances and also prevents chances because they're on-top of the back check no problem.

In game 1, those guys weren't skating that well...maybe aside from batherson.

The best skater of them all, Sanderson, didn't really have any memorable rushes...usually he's good for many a game creating odd man rushes.

I think Torontos strategy is to be patient and wait for Ottawa to make mistakes...

I think Ottawas strategy needs to be to outskate Toronto and beat them to pucks to sustain pressure and use their speed to beat guys in the neutral zone, either to try to create an odd man rush or to prevent one against. When they're at their best, they are good at turning over pucks in the neutral zone and using speed to beat their player to create an odd man rush.

I guess the goal would be, if the Leafs step up to own the neutral zone, try to use speed to create an odd man rush...whereas if the Leafs sit back to play defensive...maybe hope you can gain the zone easily? I dunno...

 

[PromisedLand]

It's easy to "hate" Brady because he plays for a loathed provincial rival, but he's the straw that stirs that team's drink and is an impact player in so many ways. He's obviously not 100%.

I think the whole "he's a tank and is going to run through the Leafs" things is so overblown, but let's not kid ourselves. Leaf fans would love this guy in blue and white.

Then again, f*** him. f*** Ridly Greig. f*** Chris Neil. f*** Daniel Alfredsson.

Last year Matthews and Nylander missed playoff games due to varying degree of health reasons but of course same benefit of the doubt wasn't afforded to them because they play for the Leafs.......

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Typically the sens draw more penalties than the Leafs.

Game 1 was one sided officiating in favour of the Leafs.

If the officiating goes back to normal/average, the sens should get more powerplays than the Leafs.

Sens drew 349 penalties and took 308 penalties...+41 for the year.

Leafs drew 268 penalties and took 285 penalties... -17 for the year.

So every 2 games, Ottawa goes up +1...and every 4 games Leafs go -1.

So over 7 games, Ottawa should be up 3.5PPs and Toronto should be down almost -2 PPS.


So if the series averages out, Ottawa already being down -4 means Ottawa should have atleast 8-9 more powerplays than Toronto the rest of the way...

Unless of course officiating favours the Leafs again.

Considering Ottawa had more chances and more high danger chances 5 on 5, if Ottawa gets most of the powerplays going forward, it could be difficult for Toronto.

So if the Leafs draw more PP chances that means the refs are favouring Toronto?

Why can't it just mean that Ottawa was playing undisciplined?

They don't have the experience to know what is and isn't a penalty in the playoffs, and after game 3 the standard will change again.

 

[AvroArrow]

Last year Matthews and Nylander missed playoff games due to varying degree of health reasons but of course same benefit of the doubt wasn't afforded to them because they play for the Leafs.......

IIRC Nylander had the head/eye issue where he couldn't see and missed like 3 games, Matthews was playing hurt, there was a year where he played with pretty much a broken wrist

 

[PromisedLand]

Because plenty of neutral fans also saw it one sided. To blame sens fans for seeing it that way is crazy. Talk to the neutral fans.

And I'm not saying they weren't penalties...they were soft penalties...but penalties nonetheless.

The issue comes with the fact the Leafs also had soft penalties, but they weren't called.

ummm... neutrality or unbiased/fair discussion when it comes to Leafs on the mainboards is not a thing. its fairytale

 

[jbeck5]

So if the Leafs draw more PP chances that means the refs are favouring Toronto?

Why can't it just mean that Ottawa was playing undisciplined?

They don't have the experience to know what is and isn't a penalty in the playoffs, and after game 3 the standard will change again.

Maybe it's just been so long since Ottawa made the playoffs and the game has gotten softer in that time...

But watching Florida go on runs...they always did what Ottawa did and didn't get called.

Had Florida fans coming in to tell us that it's BS that we got so many penalties...

 

[HockeyVirus]

Ottawa has tougher forwards, and I would say their 3rd line is better...maybe their 4th, but not the way it's being dressed.

I don't see how this is true. People just think Marner, Tavares, Nylander, and Matthews aren't fighting anyone so their forwards aren't tough. I don't think there is another roster forward who won't hit or fight (maybe Nick Robertson?). They all finish their checks, even the core 4 do. They just won't fight.

I would say where Ottawa's biggest advantage would be, other than the Leafs having more pressure on them, would be that I think Ottawas top players are better skaters. If they're to have a chance, they need to skate faster than the Leafs and get on pucks first.

For example, I see sanderson and Chabot as better skaters for D.

Our best skating dman is... Rielly I guess? I mean sure we don't have any poor skaters on D but certainly no elite skating dmen. Doesn't mean a lot that you can skate well if you are stood up at each blue line by bigger and stronger players though.

I see Marner as the best passer, but he's not as good a skater as stutzle.

I see Matthews as the best shooter, but he's not as good a skater as batherson both being 6'3 guys.

These are just random examples, as I know Ottawa also has slow skaters like Giroux and Perron, etc.

Ehhh IDK about that. Best skaters in what way? Straight line speed? Leafs system doesn't promote straight line speed anymore but when it did those guys would fly. Edges and stuff I don't see any gap worth debating about.

If the Leafs look slow it is because they are playing a different system. Under Babcock and some Keefe teams, the orders were to fly the zone as soon as D looked like they had possession, which is similar to how Ottawa plays so it looks like they are faster because they are full speed in the neutral zone against players mostly floating around their assigned position.

I just think when Ottawa is playing their best, they do it by their best players constantly moving their feet which creates lots of chances and also prevents chances because they're on-top of the back check no problem.

In game 1, those guys weren't skating that well...maybe aside from batherson.

The best skater of them all, Sanderson, didn't really have any memorable rushes...usually he's good for many a game creating odd man rushes.

This is where the playoffs are a different game. Leafs played this way for years as well and every year they ran into a bigger, more experienced team who would stack blue lines and choke out the neutral zone and we could never get things going ever outside of the odd rush chance / breakaway. If you don't convert on those chances you are cooked.

Main difference under Berube is we play that style of game and have the players to do it now. Stay relaxed, trap the neutral zone, stand up at the blue line and force dump ins. Wait for the Sens D to get impatient and force a pinch and then counter attack

 

[MiscBrah]

Maybe it's just been so long since Ottawa made the playoffs and the game has gotten softer in that time...

But watching Florida go on runs...they always did what Ottawa did and didn't get called.

Had Florida fans coming in to tell us that it's BS that we got so many penalties...

I think the whole Battle of Ontario thing played into it. Refs were probably told not to let things get out of hand in game 1. Then that leads to the refs being twitchy and quick on the whistle. Even the whole thing with calling the minor a major and then letting the league review was weird.

 

[AvroArrow]

Maybe it's just been so long since Ottawa made the playoffs and the game has gotten softer in that time...

But watching Florida go on runs...they always did what Ottawa did and didn't get called.

Had Florida fans coming in to tell us that it's BS that we got so many penalties...

Florida gets away with the most penalties, their fans think it's normal to cross check people in the head or slam guys heads into the ice. They've been celebrating Sam Bennett giving Knies a concussion by slamming his head into the ice for like 2 years now

Using them as an example doesn't really help your case lol

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Maybe it's just been so long since Ottawa made the playoffs and the game has gotten softer in that time...

But watching Florida go on runs...they always did what Ottawa did and didn't get called.

Had Florida fans coming in to tell us that it's BS that we got so many penalties...

A lot of teams in the past have counted on game management being a thing...mainly the key pattern that in the end penalties end up pretty damn well close to even in a series. So teams with great special teams will toe over the line, trust their PK to go to work for what they do get called and then get more PP's on the other end. Also they are Florida teams that helps too.

 

[cyris]

Thanks to the NHL's scheduling this round, I will not be able to watch this game. Thanks NHL.

Yeah I’d love to watch some of the thundercats series it has potential to be a bloodbath with high level skill in between.
But the NHL in all their wisdom has decided these 4 fan bases would never want to see the teams the winners of each series will face in the next round.

 

[Joe n]

If you mean bias as in your lifestyle and experiences shapes your opinion...yes, everyone has bias...but that's not the definition being used here...or at least I would think.

There's that bias, and then there's bias of always being pro A or always being negative to B. Not everyone has those biases.

Unconscious bias. Whether or not you think you are being unbiased it's not the case. Why are fans of teams so rabid and blaming everyone else. They probably don't even realise what they are doing. Fans and refs alike have them and that causes lots of dispute when people see the same thing in a different light.

 

[johnnyonthspot]

5-2 Toronto with the empty net goal

Leafs go up 2-0

View attachment 1019908

If they score less than 6. I will be shocked.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

You think Florida and Ottawa are the same calibre team because they had a similar amount of points in the regular season? Context my guy.

They have a sieve for a goalie and no elite talent. And don’t discount their inexperience. It’s already cost them one game and there’s no way all these young players turn it around by the time the series is over.

If this series is close, it’s because Toronto has choked and played horribly, not because Ottawa is a a real playoff threat.

I don’t think they are as strong but the pts accured are factual . Not speculative . My point is they are far from an auto out / just happy to be here level of team . Man I feel dirty ( as a Leaf Fan )

 

[PromisedLand]

Thanks to the NHL's scheduling this round, I will not be able to watch this game. Thanks NHL.

I think Tampa/Florida game starts at around 8:30 pm so you would be able to catch some of Leafs/Sens and then flip in between period break for tampa/florida unless you are going to the game to watch it live

at least thats my plan. Tampa/Florida few years ago was the best series IMO; and I expect to be right up there this year too. My most anticipated series after Leafs/Sens is Tampa/Florida

 

[Summer Rose]

I think Tampa/Florida game starts at around 8:30 pm so you would be able to catch some of Leafs/Sens and then flip in between period break for tampa/florida unless you are going to the game to watch it live

Part of it though is my own problem. I have an annual tradition where I cook a specific dish for dinner on the night of the first Bolts playoff game. That'll eat up some of my time leading up to the Bolts game at 8:30.

 

[cyris]

Maybe it's just been so long since Ottawa made the playoffs and the game has gotten softer in that time...

But watching Florida go on runs...they always did what Ottawa did and didn't get called.

Had Florida fans coming in to tell us that it's BS that we got so many penalties...

I don’t think that officiating in the playoffs has gotten softer. But you can’t compare what’s called in the playoffs as a whole to what’s called in the first games of the first round.
The refs always start by calling a tighter game and then ease of to the point where murder is legal by deciding games especially in the later rounds.

One of the NHL’s defences when criticized for letting too much go in the playoffs is to point out that overall calls are up in the playoffs vs the regular season. But if you pay attention that is only because of have the game is called early in round 1 and maybe round 2.

 

[Relapsing]

I don’t think they are as strong but the pts accured are factual . Not speculative . My point is they are far from an auto out / just happy to be here level of team . Man I feel dirty ( as a Leaf Fan )

What a refreshingly unbiased take from a Leafs fans.

Those aren't fans.

Ok, so maybe not a fan according to some of your fellow fans.

 

[mrJT]

Feel like Ottawa will be on the back foot tonight after being so undisciplined in Game 1.

Could play right into the Leafs hands if they are.

 

[ottawagm]

What's the over/under on Leaf dives tonight?

 

[The Management]

Expecting tougher battles as the series goes on, but it would be great if Toronto could get to Ullmark early. Green has probably settled the boys down, but he doesn't look like a guy who projects a lot of confidence behind the bench. Pure supposition though on my part.

Wish these games didn't have such a late start time on the (far) east coast. Not sure I'd be able to handle a marathon of overtime.