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

[Future]

Terrible lineup decisions. Liljegren is an inch away from 2 goals in 2 games while playing a solid all around game.

Holl is going to look embarrassing tonight like he always does.

 

[tom leafers]

also people complaining about lines, remember we dont have last change.

could you imagine Clifford-Blackwell-Simmonds out against point-kuch?

 

[PromisedLand]

what's hilarious of course is that Keefe knows Boosh stinks.

TOI

Brodie 43:13
Rielly 41:02
Muzzin 40:29
Giordano 39:34
Liljegren 38:56
Lyubushkin 23:43

Although I'd prefer Lily playing of course....

I think Lily is sitting because:

 

[mapleleafs34]

also people complaining about lines, remember we dont have last change.

could you imagine Clifford-Blackwell-Simmonds out against point-kuch?

Thank you. Glad someone finally said it

 

[SoftDumpNtheCorner88]

The f***?...

Boosh is our main crease clearer. He's making it easier for Campbell where in the playoffs everyone's trying to screen the goalie... Why do you think Tampa's pissed at him? He's making it hard for them to get position.

Never take out boosh

 

[LeafSteel]

Based on this lineup, I think Perry and Maroon are going to have a field day running people.

Completely disagree with sitting Liljegren. I think Holl is going to get absolutely walked this game.

I see a loss tonight, and I see it being one where we look awful in the process.

Would love to be wrong, and will happily eat double spoons of crow if I am.......

 

[notbias]

People complaining about line matching and then complaining about Engvall being on the 4th line make no sense.

Every line is defensively responsible and has the offensive ability too, even if it is just a really fast skater that can exploit Tampa's mistakes.

I wanted to beat up on Tampa so wanted both Simmonds and Clifford in, but if the game is being called the same way as the first two games, leaving them out is fine.

Don't think Spezza brings much to the table anymore, but him being a passenger with two players who can cover for him defensively and drive play more, it's fine.

Also, Perry won't fight anyone, Maroon might sit on someone, these aren't real tough guys, not too worried about them being effective, they are much, much slower than any line we have.

 

[Mugzy97]

Although I'd prefer Lily playing of course....

I think Lily is sitting because:

Doubt it, there's 4 plays that lead to that goal:
-Matthews didn't get puck in deep.
-Giordano pinched (probably assuming Matthews wouldn't turn it over)
-Willy took his man then switched guys
-Lilly took his man assuming Willy had the guy in front.

Hardly his fault

 

[keonsbitterness]

I can’t imagine the back lash Holl will get today from some if he plays bad. I’m sure everyone is going to be keeping a close eye on him tonight.

Not nearly as much backlash as Keefe would get.

He better be right.

what's hilarious of course is that Keefe knows Boosh stinks.

TOI

Brodie 43:13
Rielly 41:02
Muzzin 40:29
Giordano 39:34
Liljegren 38:56
Lyubushkin 23:43

If he really thought that, he shouldn't play him at all.

DH = Designated Hitter??

Softball doubleheader???

 

[IPS]

I mean, if we want to talk about who got caved in, Jake Muzzin and TJ Brodie got much more caved in than Liljegren.

So should we take them out?

You have this wrong, Muzzin-Brodie have actually been spectacular through 2 games with their incredibly tough assignments.

Gio-Lilly is the one that's gotten caved with Liljegren making a bad defensive error in game 2 but the answer is NOT to take him out. Let the kid learn from his mistakes and allow him to keep playing his game. No clue why this coaching is so f***ing obssessed with getting Holl in there when our D has looked its absolute best without him.

 

[zeke]

Although I'd prefer Lily playing of course....

I think Lily is sitting because:

i have a really hard time blaming lilly there. he didn't want to sag away from Kuch - which imo is the smart play. and then he was a step behind catching up to hagel. his "D partner" there was Willy. not his fault imo.

that being said, he did have issues last game. but no more than Boosh did tbh..

 

[Menzinger]

I expect we will see Lily back in the lineup sooner than later. But don't think it's worth getting bent out of shape over Holl - he looked better over the part of the season

 

[CabanaBoy5]

I wouldn’t have taken out Lily but I understand their thinking. I like reuniting Tavares and Nylander because Tavares line was a black hole offensively to this point. I would have the Engvall/Kampf/Miky third line.

But, I totally agree not putting Simmonds and Clifford out there again. If they would have brought what they can without the brainless penalties, fine, but they no longer can be trusted out there. The4th line was negating all the good that Matthews and Marner were doing. Matthews doesn’t penalty kill so 14 minutes short handed was deleterious in more than one way.

 

[supermann_98]

Hopefully the reffing stays consistent (by calling everything) and we get more PPs than they do.




I thought he's been excellent for a 4th line C. High energy, pressure on the forecheck and backcheck, blocking shots and getting in shot lanes. What more can you ask?


I don't think changing our PP would be a good idea after having the best PP in the league all season.

Zero chance

 

[TorMapleJays]

Correy Parry is a bum!

 

[Nylanderthal]

The pk cost them game 2, Holl’s the #1 PK D on the team, as much as I love Lilly…. This is the correct move

 

[DarkKnight]

Holl in for Lil??? Is Keefe crazy.

Tampa gets last change tonight

At least that means we will just start the top line every period.

 

[TorMapleJays]

Let’s hope the referees call the same level of standard in Tampa tonight.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

i expect Keefe won't hesitate to bump kerf up to the tavares line and engvall up to the kampf line if things aren't working.

That is what I am betting on too.

Or if they like how Blackwell is playing, they will double shift one of the guys from the 3rd line (probably Mikheyev) on the 4th line to effectively create 2 shutdown lines.

Although I think the issue has less to do with the combinations and more to do with Tavares' usage. He just goes to the net and it feels like his job is to just create space for his linemates. Maybe that is how it goes again today, and this time he is creating space for a pair of shooters in Kase and Nylander (who will need to score with it), but if that is not working, then they need to get Tavares into space on the cycle and let him be more involved in the actual shooting aspect of the line.

 

[danron1376]

I sometimes forget how beastly Spezza was last year (because i try not to remember last year at all). 3gls and 5pts in 7gms on the 4th line - and only 1 assist there came on the PP. And iirc those were some clutch important goals too.

keefe also forgot about his

 

[TorMapleJays]

Lil handled a few grenades last game.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Please let both teams play with the same set of rules

 

[Jojalu]

DH = Designated Hitter??

Double Header. Now I will be a piss poor coach as I spend more time refreshing my phone for Leaf updates

 

[IPS]

Let’s hope the referees call the same level of standard in Tampa tonight.

Yeahhh no. Somehow the Leafs lead the playoffs in penalties taken somehow despite being one of the most disciplined teams in the playoffs.

The reffing is going to get extra ridiculous now that we're off home ice.

 

[danron1376]

Nope sorry. The leafs got 8 past him in the first 2. That’s like a series for him.

Vasi will definitely get a shutout.

Gauranteed. Shutout

Shutout.

i see what you're doing lol. shutout for vasi tonight!