Pre-Game Talk: Game 2 - Panthers @ Toronto

[Commander Clueless]

I hope we win Game 2.

If we lose, Joey Woll will take the flak... Deserved or not.

 

[IPS]

How terrible, he has only helped by being on the ice for 3 goals for and 0 against.

He made the 3rd line playable... they have the best xGF and haven't been scored against yet.

I don't understand the hate for someone doing what they are supposed to do.

I didn't mean he was bad overall, he's motoring all over the ice this postseason. I just meant in the comparison to Knies.

suppose more of a compliment to the monster on skates that has been Matthew Knies.

 

[Dayjobdave]

So you'd rather have Hildeby with his 3-3 record, 3.33 GAA and .872 SV% in his NHL career? In his latest game in January he had a .778 SV% and we're going to trust him to go up against the Stanley Cup Champions? I'd rather go with Murray as a backup who has a career .910 SV% and has won a few Stanley Cups.

Comparing their AHL stats this season:

Hildeby 16-9-4, 2 S0, GAA 2.55, SV% .908
Murray 10-5-4, 3 SO, GAA 1.72, SV% .934

You might want to rethink your position.

I think having Hildeby onhand to watch as the theoretical third goalie has been good for him, but if Stolarz is not able to play or back up tomorrow night i wouldn't be at all surprised if we had Matt Murray backing up.

 

[Gallagbi]

They are 3rd for GA/GP for Leafs teams in the last 5 years.

They are tied for 1st for GF/GP over the same time.

Keefe's teams generally did well defensively and horribly offensively.

No?

 

[QJo]

The Leafs lead for 59 minutes in game 1. I'm hoping for more of the same in game 2. Early lead, then bend but don't break.

I have just as much confidence in Woll as Stolarz. Get will soon Stollie. Going to enjoy the performance of our other starter, Brick Woll, while he's needed.

I'd love to see some more from Domi and McMann. And I hope Marner can give his son a good first hockey watching memory. But overall the team was great.

I might be jaded by the information age but when I read that 59 min stat I immediately imagine the Leafs losing in 5 and someone spinning it "pretty even series despite the outcome, each team held the lead for roughly 1h of game time in the whole series."

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

If woll gets hurt somehow by any play involving a panther…

f*** the game at that point. Benoit’s job is to line up every single player no matter what. If the puck went by them he still crushes them

Patches and Lorentz need to be falling on Bob, and at that point I don’t care if it’s looking accidental or not.

And if another of our goalies get hurt and the league does nothing about it, then idk how you can look at this DOPS with any sort of legitimacy or credibility

"And if another of our goalies get hurt and the league does nothing about it, then idk how you can look at this DOPS with any sort of legitimacy or credibility"

Wait, people look at the DoPs with legitimacy or credibility?

 

[ashs]

Hoping our pp gets back in track. Gotta focus, and not let Florida drag us in the mud. Gotta use our heads.

 

[Evilhomer]

I hope we win Game 2.

If we lose, Joey Woll will take the flak... Deserved or not.

Take a deep breath. The Leafs will win game 2. They will also win game 3, but we'll get to that later.

 

[Stephen]

The more Paul Maurice whines about Toronto and the media lighting its hair on fire over the Bennett bullshit the more small time he looks for coming into town and blaming the media. And he’s a balding narcissistic prick!

 

[al secord]

The more Paul Maurice whines about Toronto and the media lighting its hair on fire over the Bennett bullshit the more small time he looks for coming into town and blaming the media. And he’s a balding narcissistic prick!

As long as HE'S the focus, he's doing his job.

 

[Aashir]

"And if another of our goalies get hurt and the league does nothing about it, then idk how you can look at this DOPS with any sort of legitimacy or credibility"

Wait, people look at the DoPs with legitimacy or credibility?

LOL

Yea idk, I just don’t know how else to describe that scenario, I already don’t believe in them, but like what else needs to happen before they…do their actual job

Hopefully it doesn’t come to that though.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Woll has great playoff numbers. Assuming last nights into the fire situation was enough to shake the rust off I’m not worried about his play. I am worried that the Panthers are going to try and go 2/2 on injuring our goalies.

Nylander and Knies continue to be killers and Mo continues to show up on the scoresheet, but we definitely need Matthews, Tavares, and Marner to start potting goals against Florida. The former two especially considering they put up donuts against Florida in 2023.

Laughton line can and will be better. Would be nice if McMann could start scoring. I think that line of him with Domi and Holmberg is a good combination. Holmberg’s defensive impact has been a boon and it helps Domi a lot considering his defensive shortcomings. If that line can show up on the scoresheet that’d be swell.

 

[leafsrdue]

I think having Hildeby onhand to watch as the theoretical third goalie has been good for him, but if Stolarz is not able to play or back up tomorrow night i wouldn't be at all surprised if we had Matt Murray backing up.

Matt Murray has solid numbers with the Marlies and a lot of playoff experience. Seems like a no brainer.

 

[kevsh]

Last year I believe the Panthers had a bit of a layoff after the 1st round, then came out flat against Boston in the first game of round two and got smoked. Next game they were back to their usual selves and took over the series.

For the first two periods last night they were flat again, certainly not the Florida team we all know. In the 3rd they snapped out of and gave a taste of what's to come. So I expect Wednesday they'll be 100% and then this game becomes a real test for the Leafs and whether they have a legit shot to win this series or not.

 

[Brobust]

Last year I believe the Panthers had a bit of a layoff after the 1st round, then came out flat against Boston in the first game of round two and got smoked. Next game they were back to their usual selves and took over the series.

For the first two periods last night they were flat again, certainly not the Florida team we all know. In the 3rd they snapped out of and gave a taste of what's to come. So I expect Wednesday they'll be 100% and then this game becomes a real test for the Leafs and whether they have a legit shot to win this series or not.

Let's not take credit away from our team. They played well, both teams had the same amount of rest.

It's kind of pathetic that we do this to our own team.

 

[MSZ]

Last year I believe the Panthers had a bit of a layoff after the 1st round, then came out flat against Boston in the first game of round two and got smoked. Next game they were back to their usual selves and took over the series.

For the first two periods last night they were flat again, certainly not the Florida team we all know. In the 3rd they snapped out of and gave a taste of what's to come. So I expect Wednesday they'll be 100% and then this game becomes a real test for the Leafs and whether they have a legit shot to win this series or not.

And that's the concerning part, the Cats clearly have a lot more to give, the Leafs might have been peaked already. Woll will have to steal a game or two like he did last year vs Boston.

 

[A1LeafNation]

If I'm Berube...in my Berube voice...

"You want your pound of Flesh, go out there and make it a fkn 5-0 game with 5 min left and fkn earn it..."

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

I hope we win Game 2.

If we lose, Joey Woll will take the flak... Deserved or not.

Come on, man. No more of this hope stuff. We WILL win. Woll WILL take the flak.

Wait

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Play fast and confident, and for the love of god keep your head up.
Oh and also I'd like to see Mitch, Auston, JT, stand up for themselves for once. Not acceptable having Tkachuk trying to intimidate and cheap shot you...and it'll only get worse unless you get their attention.

 

[PromisedLand]

just getting home and catching up onhockey news. no suplemental discipline.

f*** Bettman
f*** Parros
f*** DoPS
and f*** the NHL

 

[ashs]

It happened we got no justice. Let's move on. Let's focus on winning gm 2.

 

[Leafsfan74]

The Leafs PP has to bury the Panthers. Just on youtube alone, literally hundreds of videos addressing this incident. Many casual fans or just normal, honourable citizens who dont like cowards have seen these videos, making judgement of what kind of league the NHL is, what kind of team represents Florida.

Another bad look for the NHL in a long line as other leagues have grown much more over the last 25 years.

So, it's set up now as a "good vs evil" scenario. Oddly the Leafs are getting support from fans of other teams who are tired of chickenshyte hockey. Their teams also experienced the Florida circus with all the clowns and ringmaster as coach,

Reminds me of an older guy years ago telling me how much sports fans hated the Broad Street Bullies and their "BS violence which kept the NHL a parody sport". He said ALL hockey fans cheered when the Habs beat them the next year and sent them back to the swamp from which they once rose. The Panthers are the Axis powers, the Leafs are the Allies in this playoff series.

Hit them hard and often. Their forwards are smaller, some coming back from injury, so make them pay a price for their cowardice. Then bury them on the PP when they take penalties. Scoring on the PP is critical.

 

[weems]

Ottawa was seen as a easy first round opponent but I was impressed with how structured they were but most of all just how fast they were.
We played one of the fastest teams in the NHL in the first round and I think it was a good test.
Florida is a great team no doubt but that first game it was clear, they aren't as fast as Ottawa and our team pace seemed to catch them offguard early.
Sometimes you have a really great test in the first round or one that forces you to be extremely sharp and maybe Ottawa was that for us.

 

[Leafsfan74]

And that's the concerning part, the Cats clearly have a lot more to give, the Leafs might have been peaked already. Woll will have to steal a game or two like he did last year vs Boston.

Leafs peaked in the 1st Period. Panthers smelled blood in the 3rd, if one of those saves is made, they don't get the rhythm or confidence. If it were the Leafs 1st vs the Panthers 3rd, Leafs win this series fairly easily.

If Leafs played all series as they did the 1st period of last night, the Panthers will get swarmed with pressure.

The key for the Leafs is to make sure they protect Woll while also playing as they did in the 1st. Use this as anger and motivation and bring it to the Panthers.

I've said it many times, these Panthers aren't tough, not even close. They play with a strong forecheck and they get away with alot of dirty shyte.

Patches had a great game and illustrated how a man should be dealing with this team...through hitting and driving. He is going to be a horse this series. He's old school enough to really take exception to what happened to Stollie, to take it personal. This Leafs team can't back down from some cowardly punks. It's that simple.

 

[nuck]

The more Paul Maurice whines about Toronto and the media lighting its hair on fire over the Bennett bullshit the more small time he looks for coming into town and blaming the media. And he’s a balding narcissistic prick!

On behalf of all balding narcissistic pricks I resent that