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

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

He wasn't having the best season but Robertson being injured and out also hurts, as does Amirov's cancer diagnosis, not that hockey is the main thing to care about for Rodion as he goes through it. The Leafs had truly rotten luck when it comes to recently highly drafted forwards. By all rights all three should've been knocking on the door by now if not outright on the roster, but fate has screwed us.

True but it's also not just fate. They could have used Boston's 1st round pick to get another forward. Perhaps someone like Bertuzzi, who had 10 points in 7 games against Florida

 

[ShaneFalco]

Have to create your own luck like they did in Tampa series. Drive the net. Get bodies in front of Bob. Hard to deflect one in when no one is there. Take a beating to score a goal.

There's maybe 2 players willing to do that

 

[Mess]

Or the fact that the 40mil 4 forwards are not carrying their weight. How many goals had they scored in the past three games Vs the number of goals they scored between Game 4-6?

Leafs have played 9 playoff games total.

Matthews hasn't scored in 3 games.
Marner has 0 goals in his last 7 games.
Nylander has 0 goals in his last 7 games.
Tavares has 1 goal in his last 7 games (that lone goal just happen to be the series winner in round #1).

If you consider game #1 the Leafs got clobbered 7-3, there are not a lot of games where the Core 4 has contributed other than Matthews who had 5 goals in series #1 and JT had a hattrick in game #2 to help Leafs win games.

Leafs only have 1 regulation win in this years playoffs and only scored 2 goals for the past 5 games. while surrendering on average 3.5 GA/g during that time.

 

[ACC1224]

So tomorrow at about 10:30pm.

Possibly if they lose in OT.

 

[ShaneFalco]

He's keeping Matthews and Marner together after the disaster show they put on in Game 3. Ok Sheldon, it's your funeral.

And his go-to secret weapon - Justin Holl

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Woll has a much better chance of doing this than Murray though.

I agree. You start Murray and you’ll end up with Woll in eventually anyways.

 

[Skullz]

best coach in the nhl right here

FFS

That second line has been dogsh*t for two years now.

34 and 16 should be split apart too.

Fire Keefe into the sun.

And promoting Holl after his garbage playoffs, and atrocious game 3? What are we even doing here.

 

[BTP]

You don’t split up marner and Matthews.

They have been called out by the media, and called bad players by the fans. If they have any pulse or dignity, they will show up big tomorrow. If there’s ever going to be a response, it’s tomorrow. If there is t, then we lose regardless.

It’s do or die. We either die with them or they carry us on a ride.

Play them together again and let’s see what they got. Could be the last time we ever see them play together.

Bring it

 

[Superstar]

FFS

That second line has been dogsh*t for two years now.

34 and 16 should be split apart too.

Fire Keefe into the sun.

And promoting Holl after his garbage playoffs, and atrocious game 3? What are we even doing here.

Instead of making a miracle, Keefe is waiting for a miracle.

 

[MapleLeafs77]

SPLIT UP MATTHEWS AND MARNER!

Its so obvious. Matthews just defers to marner constantly when together instead of dominating the game himself. Marner can play with tavares which makes both of them better to be honest. Nylander and tavares are awful together.

Plus then you have 2 good lines instead of what you have now

 

[Buds17]

No Giordano? 7D? 7D w/o Giordano?

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

I've never seen a coach so unwilling to change things up, keefe is a terrible coach.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

This better not be like last game

I was actively waiting for kampf and Lafferty to get out there. It actually looked like they could do something

Also LOL at those lines

 

[AvroArrow]

All of Leafs nation before game 4

 

[leafsfan5]

Matthews/Marner still together is disappointing, but Tavares/Nylander is the real indictment on Keefe

Those 2 don't work, they haven't worked all season. Why the f*** do you keep trying it when we have a PPG center on line 3 who worked reasonably well with Nylander to end the season

 

[1specter]

best coach in the nhl right here

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.

 

[egd27]

Weird that this is almost an even poll. What has this team shown you that makes you think they can accomplish a comeback? If you can stomach it, go back and look at Reinhart's OT goal. 4 guys could have stopped him. All they did was wave sticks at him and let him dance around the net for the wraparound. If they can't bring their A game to that situation, what exactly do you see changing for the next 3? Gimme a break. This is over. Sorry.

There's still a contingent of posters here that believe "talent" can triumph over structure, discipline, and effort,

 

[leafsfan5]

not gonna lie, my favourite part is Nylander being the most dangerous forward in terms of setting up chances and we've given him Alex Kerfoot and John Tavares

Lmfao

 

[Gabriel426]

How can a coach be this arrogant to not realize Panthers and even TB are neutralizing AM and MM.
I would put Willie-AM-MM together on a line then have Bunting-JT-Calle on the other.
Just to overload the first line and see if that can get those three going.

 

[Mess]

Woll has a much better chance of doing this than Murray though.

If it wasn't for the fact I want my Leafs to have a chance to win I would love it IF Dubas was forced to play his prized off-season #1G Matt Murray, and then go down in flames if that fails.

Shows how bad that move was that even with the season on the line, the more obvious choice is to go with the youngster in net with very limited playoff experience to save the Leafs season, rather then the vet with Stanley Cup experience.

It's kind of ironic that managements jobs may lie in the balance and Dubas goalies Sammy, Murray and Kallgren are on the sidelines, while the organization turns to Lou Lamoriello drafted Joseph Woll to save the Leafs season and potentially managements job.

Lets go Joey !!!

 

[1specter]

not gonna lie, my favourite part is Nylander being the most dangerous forward in terms of setting up chances and we've given him Alex Kerfoot and John Tavares

Lmfao

Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander will be engraved on Sheldon Keefe's tombstone.

 

[IPS]

best coach in the nhl right here

Accountiblity just isn't a thing in this organization. How does this even become a thing?

 

[robertmac43]

I get you may not want to go full blender on the lines when the season is a loss away form ending... But come on Sheldon, something more has to give with those forward lines.

 

[IPS]

True but it's also not just fate. They could have used Boston's 1st round pick to get another forward. Perhaps someone like Bertuzzi, who had 10 points in 7 games against Florida

Oh wow you mean a player who actually has a skillset that might mesh with our current top-6? Can't have that, Kerfoot is just too good to bump out of the top 6.

 

[PeE eL DuBoiS]

This team is a group of prolapsed rectums on skates. Keefe/Dubas can keep stuffing them back into their equipment and giving the thumbs up but they aren't capable of keeping it together for a useful amount of time.

I'm personally done watching a bunch of assholes.