Pre-Game Talk: Game 4 -> SWEEP or Comeback to win it in 7?

[disgruntleddave]

The thing about nylander tavares is that they can work, but only when nylander decides that he wants to be a good player and controls play. When he decided to start playing with the puck and tavares went to the front of the net we had a couple grade-a chances missed off of tavares' stick within 3 feet of the goal.

If tavares tries to drive play it fails. He has no legs for it. On the boards and in front of the net are the only places he's looked passable.

It's sad if nylander has to be the one to drive when tavares is making 11m, but this is where we're at. If nylanders decides he wants to engage, the line is fine.

Matthews and marner? Neither is able to drive play in the playoffs. Jarnkrok has turned into a nothingburger too.

Predictions: lines 3 and 4 are our best followed by a handful of shifts where willy drives play and tavares gets some chances. 1st line no show.

 

[PromisedLand]

In your opinions…

Short of winning the series, is there anything the Leafs could do that would redeem them in your eyes?

Even if they pushed it but lost in game 7, I’m not sure I’d feel differently than I do now. It’s not the record that bothers me as much how often they squander opportunity.

nope nothing they can do short of winning the series that would redeem them in my own eyes. They lucked out IMO Vs depleted tampa roster and have been really below average against panthers so far.

Keefe's reluctance to break matthews-marner when together they have been sucking; keefe's insistance on playing holl who was napping on a breakaway goal on a new tender, keefe's inability to motivate/adjust/run bench effectively and efficiently has been too much for me to handle.

Someone should send keefe a memo that his future in the NHL depends on him making competent decisions and showing a f***ing backbone and not bending over matthews-marner if they are insisting on playing together. because they f***ing suck ass together

 

[Suntouchable13]

nope nothing they can do short of winning the series that would redeem them in my own eyes. They lucked out IMO Vs depleted tampa roster and have been really below average against panthers so far.

Keefe's reluctance to break matthews-marner when together they have been sucking; keefe's insistance on playing holl who was napping on a breakaway goal on a new tender, keefe's inability to motivate/adjust/run bench effectively and efficiently has been too much for me to handle.

Someone should send keefe a memo that his future in the NHL depends on him making competent decisions and showing a f***ing backbone and not bending over matthews-marner if they are insisting on playing together. because they f***ing suck ass together

Honestly, man, I see a path to 4 straight wins here but Keefe will never be able to outcoach the other coach to save his life. Even if they win the game tomorrow, Maurice will just put the clamp down for the next game and Keefe will be powerless. This is bullshit.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

If they lose tomorrow night I predict a broken internet around 10:30 PM EST.

 

[fahad203]

Samsonov looks like not on ice. Just run with Woll. He has earned a chance

 

[6ix]

Lol at these lines…sweep is imminent.. keefe going down swinging with Kerfoot and Holl

 

[Atomos2]

Let’s just get this over with.

 

[QJo]

best coach in the nhl right here

I don't mind it. There are some question marks for sure. Brodie Holl is odd. Do you give them trusted matchups or sheltered minutes. It's a confused pairing. Hopefully it pans out. They just need to break through.

 

[definedMF]

When a coach has to come out and apologize to the core players for being harsh, then you know the make up of this team is just a bunch babies.

Grow a pair Keefe and send a message with your lines or prepare to die on thia hill.

 

[Clark4Ever]

I don't mind the lines and pairings. Gio has needed a break for a while and the options are limited.

Matthews and Marner created tons of chances in games 1-2, so let them start the game together to redeem themselves. If they falter, hopefully Keefe will adjust quickly this time.

Hopefully Woll will continue his undefeated streak as a starter.

 

[PromisedLand]

Honestly, man, I see a path to 4 straight wins here but Keefe will never be able to outcoach the other coach to save his life. Even if they win the game tomorrow, Maurice will just put the clamp down for the next game and Keefe will be powerless. This is bullshit.

yup. this is so true!

My biggest problem is Keefe. Dude is so clueless its amazing. At home he couldn't use last change to his advantage; when away he had a chance to let Maurice choose who he puts Barkov against whther Matthews or Marner but he made Maurice's life easy in both away games.

On top of that he played Holl like WTF man and kept giving Tavares minutes when he just doesn't deserve top6 minutes IMO.

The worst thing they did was take Nylander off of #1PP which would have been handy in Game1 and Game2 where we had PP advantage but just couldn't make them count much.

Keefe is such a frustrating coach and he absolutely pisses me off.

 

[The Masters]

This is why I have ZERO faith in a comeback. After all the acquisitions and time to experiment, somehow Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander is still our second line, Matthews-Marner are STILL glued at the hip despite being the most dogshit players in game 3, and Justin Holl has received a PROMOTION after being the worst d-man in the league in the playoffs. I can't stand this f***ing jackass of a coach.

Overcoming heartless players AND a dumb f*** for a coach is far too much.

Keefe wants to get fired and has given up or he's just too stupid to understand what's going on. Based on his performance in the playoffs of always being outcoached, I'd guess its the latter

 

[1specter]

The virgin Marner vs the chad Nylander.

 

[PromisedLand]

40 million in four forwards sounds bad, but it’s negated by Dubas’ ability to insulate the roster with players that can play well all throughout the line-up.

I’m not making an excuse, it doesn’t help that they have that much tied up into four players, and sure- you wish that wasn’t a fact, however given the circumstances the team is built well throughout the roster.

I’m sort of hoping MLSE let’s Dubas walk so Ottawa can maybe pick him up.

Dubas is a f***ing moron and his hubris is going to be his downfall. The issue is that one man's mistake is impacting a huge amount of fandom; and its not that it is just one mistake it is a mistake that is repeated, defended and even justified/glorified by some of the dubas supporters that really irks genuine LEAFS Fans

 

[The Masters]

The virgin Marner vs the chad Nylander.

Lol
Yeah let's wake up now in the 2nd round down 0-3.

These guys all talking like it's January. Even Matthews comments post game.

pathetic.

 

[tmlfan98]

best coach in the nhl right here

These lines will almost certainly get picked apart by the Panthers, likely much easier than the lines from the previous games in this series.

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

Rielly-Brodie
McCabe-Holl
Gustafsson-Schenn
Liljegren

Is what I would had hoped Keefe would have tried out at some point earlier in the series, ideally long before the team put themselves in a 0-3 hole.

 

[The Masters]

 

[Chief Leaf]

Yes we may believe, but really it is up to OUR team to believe and show up for work to WORK!

WORK THIS OUT TEAM! OUTWORK THE CATS! CLAIM YOUR FAME and FATE by going through them,...not to them!!

GLG

 

[LeafalCrusader]

The virgin Marner vs the chad Nylander.

Bitch Mitch is back!

 

[PromisedLand]

best coach in the nhl right here

f*** Keefe I hope he gets fired.

Tavares-Nylander and Matthews-Marner together is a f***ing CRIME

Tavares doesn't deserve top6 minutes and Matthews-Marner together is an easy night for Florida Panthers/Maurice/Barkov

Keefe is a certified moron as far as i am concerned

 

[Cleetus]

f*** Keefe I hope he gets fired.

Tavares-Nylander and Matthews-Marner together is a f***ing CRIME

Tavares doesn't deserve top6 minutes and Matthews-Marner together is an easy night for Florida Panthers/Maurice/Barkov

Keefe is a certified moron as far as i am concerned

I remember when Babcock was coach everyone said he is so stubborn wont change anything, than Keefe comes in and says hold my beer lol

 

[PromisedLand]

I remember when Babcock was coach everyone said he is so stubborn wont change anything, than Keefe comes in and says hold my beer lol

i really do wonder how much of this is actually "keefe" and how much of it is bitching by matthews/marner and dubas.

matthews-marner together have FAILED CONSISTENTLY against CBJ, Habs and Now Panthers.

The wins Keefe got was when he split these two jackasses against the bolts to create match up problems for Cooper and did not give Tavares much ice time 5on5 because he was sucking (Game 6 OT winner excluded).

and f***ing holl is also in like WTF is that all about

Seriously this pisses me the F-OFF!!!

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

Brodie has been worse than usual every time he's been forced to play LD and pairing him with Holl is a hilarious way to try to get him out of his funk (which is half caused by McCabe being braindead).

 

[ShaneFalco]

When a coach has to come out and apologize to the core players for being harsh, then you know the make up of this team is just a bunch babies.

Grow a pair Keefe and send a message with your lines or prepare to die on thia hill.

I think it comes from Dubas wanting to make everyone happy and comfy

 

[CelticDruid]

Holl and Brodie together will be interesting.

Tavares and Willy = The Odd Couple.