Pre-Game Talk: Game 3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning series

[makbeer]

8 goals against Vasi in 2 games is a good sign.

Need one of the two in TB and then take care of business at home.

Let's get tomorrow and give themselves a chance to get both.

GLG!

This is good but it also scares me. Vasi most likely isn't gonna stay at .879.

 

[Buzzman17]

Smother them with who?

Not sure breaking up the only two guys putting up points is the answer.

I guess my response to that would be if Matthews and Marner can’t dominate on separate lines, let’s blow up core

 

[HamiltonNHL]

It's our turn to blow out them.

 

[Torontonian]

Play 5 on 5 and stay out of the box and we will be alright.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Thankfully we don't have that same officiating crew as gm2.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Smother them with who?

Not sure breaking up the only two guys putting up points is the answer.

Ya I haven't really seen anyone smother them yet, beyond our own guys taking penalties and keeping Matthews off the ice.

Play disciplined, let our best guys skate 5v5, backcheck like demons, win puck battles.

BURN THE BOATS!

 

[ShaneFalco]

 

[Burnie97]

I think we all know the answer to that one....

 

[The Management]

It pains me to say that I'm going to miss the game tonight. But I'm with the Buds in thought.

Don't freak out if we go down a goal.

And give those plugs on the main boards all the sass you can spare.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Bunting --- Matthews --- Marner
Mikheyev --- Tavares --- Engvall
Nylander --- Kerfoot --- Kase
Blackwell --- Kampf --- Spezza

Yes please to this lineup in some form. If Cooper has last change against a line with Simmonds and/or Clifford they are going to get destroyed in their own end against Point/Kucherov etc. At least this 4th line can skate.

 

[Vaive50]

It's our turn to blow out them.

Ha ha, you say that like they actually blew us out. That was such a lucky win. If not for the fluky bounces on that first goal, we could have killed that extra 1.4 seconds and then who knows how the game would have turned out. But yeah, it's definitely our turn to win (get lucky). The Bolts brag about how good they are with not losing 2 straight games in the playoffs, we had a better season than them at barely ever losing 2 straight in regulation.

 

[zeke]

the only two guys putting up points

 

[ACC1224]

I guess my response to that would be if Matthews and Marner can’t dominate on separate lines, let’s blow up core

That seems to have been the popular response for a few seasons now.
I don’t doubt either of their abilities but if others drag them down it’s going to be a short post season.
Not saying it couldn’t work, would certainly be a gutsy move by Keefe.

 

[The Blueprint]

Our top 9 forward group is still just so soft.

I look at Tampa and when they have big guys like Killorn/Palat/Hagel/Paul/Cirelli all finishing checks and creating havoc to go along with their skill....I'm envious.

Not sure if serious? I saw lil Mitchy lay out Killorn last game

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Simmonds needs to get Perry out of his head.

Simmonds needs to sit in the press box

 

[mapleleafs34]

Ha ha, you say that like they actually blew us out. That was such a lucky win. If not for the fluky bounces on that first goal, we could have killed that extra 1.4 seconds and then who knows how the game would have turned out. But yeah, it's definitely our turn to win (get lucky). The Bolts brag about how good they are with not losing 2 straight games in the playoffs, we had a better season than them at barely ever losing 2 straight in regulation.

Not to mention Kampf passing to a stickless Brodie on the PK instead of icing the puck when it was 2-1. Immediately led to the 3-1 goal

 

[HamiltonNHL]

If not for the fluky bounces on that first goal,

That was painful.

Not to mention Kampf passing to a stickless Brodie on the PK instead of icing the puck when it was 2-1. Immediately led to the 3-1 goal

Wasn't immediate.
Brodie needs to hold onto his own stick.
Our PK had a full re-group before the goal.

This whole it's Kampf's fault Brodie was playing stickless is flawed.

Simmonds needs to sit in the press box

He needs at least a 2 game break.
Keefe sucks massively if he's out there.
Babcock would have him playing on Line 1 with his usual "gud pro" 5 star rating.

 

[danron1376]

I don't think it has to do with Mikheyev more than how they deploy Tavares. They need to get Tavares more involved. He does all of the hard work on that line but as soon as he gets to the offensive end, he doesn't move from the front of the net where there are usually two Bolts players covering him. I guess he does a good job opening up space and taking attention away from his linemates, but it doesn't really help him get involved otherwise.

I would prefer Mikheyev in front of the net and let Tavares get the puck on his stick and in space a little bit more. Rotate the two based on the situation. That is how they used to do it when he played with Johnsson or Hyman, and there is no reason why Mikheyev can't fill that role on the cycle.

when i see Mikheyev I see a fast player that is good on the rush but very bad at keeping the puck. putting him in front of the net would be interesting but would he be willing to do it? i don't know if he is willing to accept the dangers and punishment for being in that area.

 

[mapleleafs34]

That was painful.


Wasn't immediate.
Brodie needs to hold onto his own stick.
Our PK had a full re-group before the goal.

This whole it's Kampf's fault Brodie was playing stickless is flawed.



He needs at least a 2 game break.
Keefe sucks massively if he's out there.
Babcock would have him playing on Line 1 with his usual "gud pro" 5 star rating.

Never said that. It just hurt to watch when we didn't get the puck out. We get that puck out and maybe they don't score the 3-1 goal. We had all the momentum before that goal.

 

[tom leafers]

It pains me to say that I'm going to miss the game tonight. But I'm with the Buds in thought.

Don't freak out if we go down a goal.

And give those plugs on the main boards all the sass you can spare.

not sure if this helps you but CBC live streams the game for free and can watch it on your phone

 

[The Management]

not sure if this helps you but CBC live streams the game for free and can watch it on your phone

Thanks man. I'm traveling actually and need to wake up at 2:30 AM to catch a flight. Here on the east coast the game will start around 9PM. I'm actually debating watching the game and just not going to bed, lol.

 

[Mess]

If the Leafs want to win this series than this game #3 is almost a must win tonight, will require a bounce back performance and reestablish home ice in the series.

The loser of this game will be forced into a must win 3 of the remaining 4 games with home ice split at 2 games each to advance and odds following below 30% based on the results of past historical playoff series.

The winner of game #3 likely wins this series with a near 70% record of past success to do so.

 

[TheGreatOne11]

Hopefully they stay out of the box and they let them play, if we can play our game I have total confidence we can beat Tampa.

I don't think we need both Clifford and Simmonds for the long change game, either or is fine, we need to have some speed on the 4th tonight.

This is probably the most important game tonight, you take the lead in the series and only need 2 more wins instead of winning 3 out of 4 like Mess said.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

It is gonna be more difficult with Cooper with last change .. expect Point to match up against JT, Paul on Matty and Stammer on Blackwell .. it is gonna need a great defensive performance from Gio Lily and Muzy and Brodie and of course Soup needs to play a huge game .. Rielly and Lub need to be highly managed on 5on5 ice .. best if thy hit ice on 3rd and 4th line shifts only

 

[Nineteen67]

Cooper will have his team fired up and ready to pounce, and pound. Will Keefe‘s guys be willing to instigate a little borderline violence?