Pre-Game Talk: Florida @ Toronto - Game 1 - Monday 8pm

[stats1]

I got Leafs in 7. I’m not sure what to think about the baby news lol. Of course it’s a blessing but I’ll never understand especially athletes who can’t plan properly… 9 month cycles. Plan for a delivery around July-September. But I digress hopefully Mitch comes out with some new dad energy.

 

[QJo]

I see them splitting in TO, taking game 3 and the series in 6. Why do I think that? No idea. I. Just fixating and had too much time between series so I've been envisioning scenarios instead of enjoying hockey.

 

[stats1]

I see them splitting in TO, taking game 3 and the series in 6. Why do I think that? No idea. I. Just fixating and had too much time between series so I've been envisioning scenarios instead of enjoying hockey.

I think they do exactly what they did in Ottawa in games 1-2. They take both here, one in OT. They shit the bed in game 3, game 4 they come out better and win, they blow game 5 and 6 and win in game 7

 

[crump]

I agree. It’s more lower risk with Berube. I remember the one year under Keefe I think the leafs were top 5 in GA, so they did learn the defensive game. The difference is, if you think back to goals which killed us in playoffs, it was the passes that were picked off, or thrown up the middle, or not just chipped out instead of trying to have a fancy breakout.

It’s nuisances, but watching other series you start to see the plays the Leafs just don’t do any more and after a season of watching it you start to recognize the plays that are going to end badly for other teams . Like Keanu Reeves watching penguins.

 

[Contenderorpretender]

I got Leafs in 7. I’m not sure what to think about the baby news lol. Of course it’s a blessing but I’ll never understand especially athletes who can’t plan properly… 9 month cycles. Plan for a delivery around July-September. But I digress hopefully Mitch comes out with some new dad energy.

He could have planned to have a baby during the regular season too. It does seem like mitch only cares about mitch. Ohhh well. Hopefully he shows up in the first few non elimination games before disappearing when it matters

 

[crump]

Of course he will, It's playoff time players play through injury this time of year.

I don't think Barkov is 100% right either if he were Florida wouldn't be 49% in the faceoff circle

Leafs better exploit this. I expect them to hit those guys haaaard. As far as faceoffs, the Leafs have a team 56% FOW, Matthews is around 60% himself. Domi is doing well too. One of the top % in the playoffs so far. Also we block more shots and have a better takeaway/Givaway ratio than a lot of teams in these series. We’re are up there in hits per game too. Our PP was awesome to start the last series. These are the things that make us more of challenge for the Panthers. Panthers are a great playoff team but if Leafs keep doing want they did in 5 of the games last series, we have a chance. Let’s hope game 5 was the worst of the playoffs and its out of their system.

 

[Nineteen67]

If Matthews is still injured and can’t skate or shoot I think Maurice will eventually move Barkov away from him to play against Tavares.

 

[banks]

Unfortunately, the Lightning were supposed to put up a better fight but that didn't happen. Now the Panthers aren't as battered and tired as I had hoped.

I still say the Leafs take this series. The FLA defense isn't that great, and Seth Jones got way overplayed in the last series. He'll be the weakness for them.

 

[Jojalu]

Wow.

Leafs biggest underdog of any series on betting sites. Maybe time for me to put a small wager in.

 

[The Shadow]

 

[Leaf Fans]

You've said dump and chase and off the glass and out as the systems they are running, and you think you are educating anyone?



I give up...

2 forwards go deep to cause ruckus and hopefully a turnover. one hangs back to intercept passes by the opponent and join if they get the puck increasing the numbers. 2 d stand ready to pinch incase the forward create a turnover.

 

[yubbers]

The tipped block attempt to make it 3-2....
The whiff that comes back to the dman to make the cross ice pass to tie it.....

It's crazy how much puck luck can come into play.

 

[stats1]

Gotta pound the shit out of Jones. Force him to turn the puck over. No way all that bad in Chicago is out of his system just yet.

 

[BraveCanadian]

He could have planned to have a baby during the regular season too. It does seem like mitch only cares about mitch. Ohhh well. Hopefully he shows up in the first few non elimination games before disappearing when it matters

Seriously? This fan base man...

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Go Leafs go! Try not to get sucked into Florida's garbage. It didn't work when Ottawa tried it.

Last time we played Florida, we got dusted but honestly we could've easily won the first few games if Samsonov wasn't Swiss cheese letting in a soft goal every game. It'll be closer to a coin flip with good goaltending.

Florida is a little banged up, Tkachuk is definitely not 100%

 

[BraveCanadian]

Go Leafs go! Try not to get sucked into Florida's garbage. It didn't work when Ottawa tried it.

Last time we played Florida, we got dusted but honestly we could've easily won the first few games if Samsonov wasn't Swiss cheese letting in a soft goal every game. It'll be closer to a coin flip with good goaltending.

Florida is a little banged up, Tkachuk is definitely not 100%

Let's hope the Leafs step up physically and keep it that way.

The Leafs can win for sure if they play up to potential - the question, as always, is will they?

 

[Jojalu]

Let's hope the Leafs step up physically and keep it that way.

The Leafs can win for sure if they play up to potential - the question, as always, is will they?

Be physical, but don't get caught up in the stupid antics of Bennett, Marchand and Tkachuk.

Hit them hard in game. Let them chirp after the whistle. Don't take stupid penalties. If a game gets out of hand in the series, use that time to punch someone in the face

 

[ZEBROA]

Anything else then panthers in 5-7 will surprise me. I will watch and hope for a win, but underdogs are underdogs for a reason. I hope we show up as a pit bull and not a Beagle.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Who is making our GDT? Before the mains take the Panthers one for our home game

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Seriously? This fan base man...

We don't know their family planning and whether they had trouble conceiving and had to do what they had to do, who knows? But to be honest, it was the first thought that entered my head as well (why not plan for this over the summer?). Anyone that's had a baby knows how exhausting the first few months are. I don't care if they do get a nanny, a nanny ain't gonna sleep for Mitch.

 

[1specter]

These stat counters are out to lunch. Apparently Carlo recorded only one hit in round 1 and Rielly zero, but I recall both guys having a few big hits. Rielly destroyed Chabot from behind and took a penalty for it.

 

[dangomon]

I got Leafs in 7. I’m not sure what to think about the baby news lol. Of course it’s a blessing but I’ll never understand especially athletes who can’t plan properly… 9 month cycles. Plan for a delivery around July-September. But I digress hopefully Mitch comes out with some new dad energy.

Childbirth and conception work on no one's schedule! I'm sure he's on top of the world with his new little man there at such an important time in his life

 

[Suntouchable13]

These stat counters are out to lunch. Apparently Carlo recorded only one hit in round 1 and Rielly zero, but I recall both guys having a few big hits. Rielly destroyed Chabot from behind and took a penalty for it.

This got me thinking, do they count technically illegal hits as official hits in the stat sheet?

 

[1specter]

I got Leafs in 7. I’m not sure what to think about the baby news lol. Of course it’s a blessing but I’ll never understand especially athletes who can’t plan properly… 9 month cycles. Plan for a delivery around July-September. But I digress hopefully Mitch comes out with some new dad energy.

There can often be complications or other things at play and it doesn't always happen quickly or when people 'plan' on it. Also quite possible it wasn't planned either. We don't really know and it's best to not speculate or criticize it, it is the man's family and offspring after all.

 

[meefer]

I’m thinking the Laughton line is going to be surprisingly effective.