GDT: ECQF Game 6 | Breaking the Curse | Leafs @ Lightning - 7pm ET | CBC, SN, TBS, TVAS, & BSSUN

[HamiltonNHL]

Is there a confirmed lineup ?

 

[Primary Assist]

Would like to see Willy back on first PP unit. He's the best bet for a controlled zone entry. Too many PPs where the first unit hasn't been able to get set up in the O zone.

100%. For O Zone faceoffs on the PP leave PP1 as is. For any other PP faceoff, swap Tavares for Willy on PP1 so we can actually gain the zone and set up. O'Rielly can play bumper and Willy can swing down low. And then if there's another faceoff put Tavares back on since he is actually a legit goal scorer on the PP

 

[MapleLeafs94]

Can Samsonov actually play well tonight?

Can we have a game where he doesn't give up 3+ goals?

What other option do we really have though? I think Woll is decent but I don't feel confident he wouldn't surrender the same. The big boys just have to step up and secure 4+ for us if it goes that way, which they're capable of doing.

 

[7even]

If we blow another 3-1 series lead...at what point do we kinda just realize it's never meant to be and quit? Because at that point there's gotta be a higher power at work somehow lmao.

Like how much more can we take? Statistically doesn't even make any sense. Even the cubs ended their drought a while back.

Please just somehow win tomorrow. I don't care if you get swept in the 2nd rd, I just want this godforsaken 1st rd curse to end

It's funny because losing 11 straight close out games is statistically actually the more impressive feat compared to a 50+ year championship drought. That's in, like, Hand of God territory.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

This is easy to say in hindsight, but 100% the riskier move.

Not hindsight.

Many people suggested it well before.

 

[Confucius]

I will be at my father in law's 75th birthday bash at a restaurant tonight so I'll be checking in on the game from time to time on my Rogers Ignite TV app on my phone. It might be a good omen though. I've been at various family functions over the years for the following memorable Toronto sports moments:

1992 - Alomar hits a game winning home run against Oakland in game 4 to spur the Jays onto a series victory and their first ever World Series victory
1993 - Borschevsky's OT winner vs Detroit in game 7
2001 - Raptors beat Knicks in game 5 to clinch their first ever playoff series victory
2009 - Toronto FC pull off a miraculous 6-1 victory in Montreal to clinch their first ever trophy in the Canadian Championship based on goal differential
2019 - Raptors beat the Sixers in OT game 7 to clinch the series en route to their first ever NBA championship

Here's hoping history repeats itself tonight!

Yeah sure, like that ever happened

 

[PromisedLand]

I'd definitely like to see some more pressure on Hedman atleast. Only good hit I can remember landed on him was by Acciari. Guy is a gigantic however obviously, and going into a corner with him can be intimidating I'd imagine, despite what us keyboard warriors have to say lol.

that was ZAR with the hit after which hedman went to the bench and manhandled thet support staff for a massage

 

[HamiltonNHL]

It's funny because losing 11 straight close out games is statistically

Assuming a 50% of winning …

That’s a one in 2048 chance !

That’s a one in 2048 chance !

That’s a good luck number

 

[PromisedLand]

Weird how stuff like this is written almost as if the head to head record is 15-0 Cooper?? Why did he wait until game 5 today make adjustments, after losing 3 straight including 2 at home?

It's literally 6-6 or 1-0 Cooper (series record).

The hot takes are odd imo.

the difference is that cooper has taken his team to 3 straight cup finals while winning 2 of them. You can't take that away from Cooper; while Keefe has found a way to lose seriers after series CBJ, Habs, Bolts and you can't take that away from Keefe

 

[SoftDumpNtheCorner88]

Not hindsight.

Many people suggested it well before.

Did you read the rest of my post?


If we had still lost, you guys would of been blaming him for changing a winning line up. The fact that we we're up 3-1 gave us the breathing room to keep the line up as is for a game and then make the changes necessary.

I've been a leaf fan all my life I know how this fanbase works.. sitting bunting was the right move, 3 playoff wins in a row (2 gutsy comeback wins) as a coach you reward your line up for that. Which he did, and now that they lost the players that are sitting in game 6 can only blame themselves.

Only player that should of been sitting after game 3 was Holl. And now he's sitting game 6.

 

[mikeyz]

Anybody tweet what the lines will be tonight?

I would love to see

Bunting Matthews Nylander
Jarnkrok Tavares Marner
Knies ROR Acciari
ZAR Kampf Kerfoot

 

[MapleLeafs94]

It's funny because losing 11 straight close out games is statistically actually the more impressive feat compared to a 50+ year championship drought. That's in, like, Hand of God territory.

Dread it, run from it, game 7 always arrives - 7even

Hf Leafs hall of fame quote. This team never fails to disappoint as we all know. Let's break that f***ing cycle tonight though, Saturday, April 29 2023, the factory of sadness ceases operation and top of the line entertainment comes rolling out like an assembly line!

 

[Confucius]

What Boudreau said. everything to a "T"

"So shits not going well. Its not working (and hasn't worked in the past). So get your heads out of your ass and make it work. Outwork them. Nobody wants people feeling sorry for themselves. Don't think you want it; go out there and show you want it" (parapharsing ofcourse )

Will B4 Skill. Skill's are USELESS if you have no WILL to want it more. Period!

So did they win?

 

[saltming]

Let's end this please. I don't have enough alcohol for a game 7

 

[griffon1]

This is easy to say in hindsight, but 100% the riskier move.

We won 3 straight (2 in Tampa) because of the old line up, it was Keefe's best move to give them that runway to prove they deserve to stay in, they didn't and so now Keefe can make the changes necessary.

If Keefe made those changes in game 5 and messed with a winning line up and lost, you and the same people liking your post would be harpooning the guy for messing with a winning line up.

I hate the over playing and long leash of Holl too, I'm also annoyed at Keefe's stubbornness, and like that now he's changing it up, but I can't fault him for making that move.

The only move I would of liked him to make earlier is Liljegren in for Holl in game 4.

Sure we won 3 straight but were outplayed in a lot of the last 2, Holl was terrible, and Sammy was bad.

It was the only opportunity in this series to do it. Plus it would give Holl and Sammy a rest and Bunting, Lilly, and Woll a chance to shake off the rust and perhaps excel.

If he'd made those moves and lost, I would have said it was worth the risk, because I wanted them before the game, not in hindsight.

 

[PromisedLand]

Did you read the rest of my post?


If we had still lost, you guys would of been blaming him for changing a winning line up. The fact that we we're up 3-1 gave us the breathing room to keep the line up as is for a game and then make the changes necessary.

I've been a leaf fan all my life I know how this fanbase works.. sitting bunting was the right move, 3 playoff wins in a row (2 gutsy comeback wins) as a coach you reward your line up for that. Which he did, and now that they lost the players that are sitting in game 6 can only blame themselves.

Only player that should of been sitting after game 3 was Holl. And now he's sitting game 6.

I advocated for leaving Bunting out BUT at the same time I had advocated to get Holl the F outta the line up. The difference it seems at least to me was not that we left bunting out it is that we left Holl in.

 

[93gilmour93]

Holl out Lily in…. Let’s Go!!!!

 

[LeafSteel]

Looks like we won't know much until game time. Wonder what the injuries are, or if they is just Keefe being coy.

I think the biggest injury the Leafs are dealing with right now is the one between Keefe's ears.........

Stay healthy, and kick Tampa's ass!

 

[PromisedLand]

Game still 4 hours away and we are already on pg 13 in the GDT

Leafs nation out in full force today

 

[Confucius]

the difference is that cooper has taken his team to 3 straight cup finals while winning 2 of them. You can't take that away from Cooper; while Keefe has found a way to lose seriers after series CBJ, Habs, Bolts and you can't take that away from Keefe

Yep, Cooper is staying with what has worked in the past, there was some weird stat where Vas has played all the playoff games for God knows how many years.

 

[MapleLeafs94]

that was ZAR with the hit after which hedman went to the bench and manhandled thet support staff for a massage

Nah i just messed up and forgot that lol. Acciari landed a nice one a couple games ago and I drew blank. Still my point stands however. If ZAR can make him beg for mercy we have bigger boys that can inflict much worse and we should be doing that tonight.

 

[Cleetus]

Game still 4 hours away and we are already on pg 13 in the GDT

Leafs nation out in full force today

 

[AvroArrow]

Anyone else have this calm relaxed confident feeling today ? I'm normally so anxious before playoff games, especially close out games. Going back to our first playoffs with this core vs Washington. Just a weird calm feeling about todays game, good vibes all around.

 

[keonsbitterness]

glad it's a road game. less ability for keefe to galaxy brain things.

saw wayy too much kerfoot and kampf last game, and too little of our top stars.

I'm starting to get suspicious that 'galaxy brain' is actually an insult.

 

[leafsfan5]

I'm glad Holl is out but I think I would've went 11/7 and kept him in. He sucks 5v5 but has been pretty useful on the PK where we've limited Tampa since Game 1

Bunting - Matthews - Nylander
Knies - Tavares - Marner
Jarnkrok - ROR - Kerfoot
Kampf - Acciari

McCabe - Brodie
Rielly - Schenn
Giordano - Liljergen
Holl

You keep Holl for PK and Lilly for 5v5. Running 11 forwards allows us to give extra time to Matthews/Nylander/Marner/ROR, and it's not like we've been playing ZAR/Lafferty a lot anyways