GDT: Game #82 Boston at Toronto - Apr 29th 7pmEST

[Gabriel426]

Watch Kally with a shutout tomorrow and face TB.

 

[saltming]

I think being ready for game 1 is wayyy more important for this team than anything else. So I like the decision to sit key players like Matthews, Marner, Campbell. I think even JT should sit, dude needs to be sharp for Leafs to beat Tampa (most likely opponent), feel like he'll benefit from the rest. Will be interesting to see if they call up any other Marlies. I guess none of the D-men are resting? Hopefully Keefe will just manage minutes of guys like Reilly.

I'm really happy because the Bruins are dirty as f*!@ and I could see them going out of their way to tenderize our lineup

 

[TheRumble]

IMO Toronto hasn't really earned the right to pick playoff opponents anymore after the Montreal series. If they couldn't beat that bum they don't deserve to pick between Tampa or Boston. Shut up and play.

 

[danron1376]

boston definitely wants to play us in the playoffs and not carolina. carolina beat them 3-0, 7-1 and 6-0 this season. i don't think they will take the night off

 

[BertCorbeau]

Probably wants Kampf Engvall and Mikheyev as the 3rd line.

Makes sense. Take the approach that gives you a stronger team defense and hope Nylander-JT can find something to give some scoring support.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I am curious what the usage for the top players that will actually be suiting up tonight. Can't imagine someone like Rielly will be seeing a ton of minutes tonight for example.

 

[supermann_98]

Guessing Boston will sit some guys tomorrow, some on Friday.

Hopefully in order of "dirtiness" and the likelihood they intentional attempt to injure one of our guys they sit:
- The Rat
- McAvoy
- Foligno
- Coyle

Not too worried about the rest of their team

 

[supermann_98]

Square peg round hole.

Tavares plays much better with Kerfoot and Mikhayev.

Nylander plays much better with Engvall and Kampf.

After 81 games he STILL doesn't know what's working and what isn't? Holy shit, not exactly confidence inspiring I gotta say

 

[ShaneFalco]

ffs Keefe

 

[BertCorbeau]

Square peg round hole.

Tavares plays much better with Kerfoot and Mikhayev.

Nylander plays much better with Engvall and Kampf.

After 81 games he STILL doesn't know what's working and what isn't? Holy shit, not exactly confidence inspiring I gotta say

IIRC Nylander wasn’t that great with Kampf. It was Engvall-Kerfoot-Nylander that was better.

That being said Kerfoot isn’t good on the draw. I sense Keefe is looking at it from a more defensive position by going back to that strong third checking line of Mikheye-Kampf-Engvall.

I wonder if it depends on matchups though. I imagine the leash on the line up is short if they struggle.

 

[Mess]

???????

Is this really your first thought?

Have you seen the standings?

A Boston win and TB loss today makes the Bruins the Leafs 1st round opponent.

So when the Leafs intentionally rest their top players in a game, paving the road for a Bruins win, that could have them avoid TB what should one's first thought be?

Leafs aren't preparing to play the Lightning, they're hoping to draw the Bruins instead.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Have you seen the standings?

A Boston win and TB loss today makes the Bruins the Leafs 1st round opponent.

So when the Leafs intentionally rest their top players in a game, paving the road for a Bruins win, that could have them avoid TB what should ones first thought be?

That the Leafs don't care who they are facing and are avoiding injuries? Wild thought I know.

 

[Apex Predator]

Tavares and Nylander are on a short leash in the playoffs. If they don’t work he’s experimented enough to know putting Willie on the third will work.

 

[kevsh]

boston definitely wants to play us in the playoffs and not carolina. carolina beat them 3-0, 7-1 and 6-0 this season. i don't think they will take the night off

Boston also smoked them twice in the playoffs in recent years by a combined 8-1 record. You may be right that Boston doesn't want Carolina, but Carolina sure doesn't want Boston.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Bergeron, Marchand, Pastrnak, Hall, Coyle, DeBrusk, McAvoy and Swayman.

(Gone: Chara, Krug, Rask and Krejci)

Vs.

Stamkos, Kucherov, Point, Palat, Killorn, Sergachev, McDonagh, Hedman and Vasilevskiy.

Pretty easy choice here, Tampa has four players better than any on the B’s, while nobody on either team is as good as Matthews (and I’d only put Hedman and Vasi distinctly above Marner).

 

[Mugzy97]

IMO Toronto hasn't really earned the right to pick playoff opponents anymore after the Montreal series. If they couldn't beat that bum they don't deserve to pick between Tampa or Boston. Shut up and play.

A) Nobody picks playoff opponents
B) Fans are allowed to have a preference of who they'd rather see their team play
C) That Montreal team also swept Winnipeg and beat Vegas. They were not a joke.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Have you seen the standings?

A Boston win and TB loss today makes the Bruins the Leafs 1st round opponent.

So when the Leafs intentionally rest their top players in a game, paving the road for a Bruins win, that could have them avoid TB what should one's first thought be?

Leafs aren't preparing to play the Lightning, they're hoping to draw the Bruins instead.

That's a really absurd claim, and I can't even wrap my head around why your brain would go there. Leafs announced they were resting players before the outcomes last night. Every playoff team are resting players tonight.

I imagine they are more worried about their own prep then in playing these 4D chess games to try to play one good opponent over another good opponent.

It kind of feels like you are setting up some kind of "be careful what you wish for" narrative.

 

[Mugzy97]

Have you seen the standings?

A Boston win and TB loss today makes the Bruins the Leafs 1st round opponent.

So when the Leafs intentionally rest their top players in a game, paving the road for a Bruins win, that could have them avoid TB what should one's first thought be?

Leafs aren't preparing to play the Lightning, they're hoping to draw the Bruins instead.

I would say the Leafs are preparing to face either one of them, but they are resting their players to be as prepared as possible. These guys would be resting against any opponent tonight.

 

[tokyoite]

another friday night home game
very weird
what on earth is bettman thinking ?

 

[Srsly]

Depends on if the goal is to get Marner to 100. He would need Matthews help for that

Not really. Mitch produces pretty well without Matthews. He has solid chemistry with Tavares and utilizes his shot more.

 

[authentic]

actually respect for marner for agreeing to sit instead chasing 100 points

It’s definitely a good sign that he’s more focused on the playoffs than individual accomplishments. I have a hard time seeing him and Matthews not break out in a big way here. If we get solid depth scoring and goaltending I think we are the favourites against any team.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

My mind says Bruins...but my heart couldn't take another letdown at the hands of that damn team.

Not even scared of them; just, you know.

 

[TorMapleJays]

X factor.

Tampa game starts 30 minutes after ours.

 

[Mess]

That's a really absurd claim, and I can't even wrap my head around why your brain would go there. Leafs announced they were resting players before the outcomes last night. Every playoff team are resting players tonight.

I imagine they are more worried about their own prep then in playing these 4D chess games to try to play one good opponent over another good opponent.

It kind of feels like you are setting up some kind of "be careful what you wish for" narrative.

I don't blame my Leafs for being afraid to play the 2 X Champs and try and win their 1st playoff round in 18 years. On paper losing and falling into playing the Bruins is a better odds of success.

Either playing Conn Smythe reigning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy or facing rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman and journeyman Linus Ullmark instead is a big difference, with Campbell a closer match to the later pair.

Dressing their best lineup to attempt to secure a TB matchup sends a different message, IMO

Leafs are essentially allowing their opposition to control the outcome, and assisting Boston the most in the process is my POV, while playing it safe to avoid a key injury to a top player via resting decisions.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I don't blame my Leafs for being afraid to play the 2 X Champs and try and win their 1st playoff round in 18 years. On paper losing and falling into playing the Bruins is a better odds of success.

Dressing their best lineup to attempt to secure a TB matchup sends a different message, IMO

Leafs are essentially allowing their opposition to control the outcome, and assisting Boston the most in the process is my POV.

The line up has absolutely nothing to do with matchups. It has everything to do with minimizing injury and providing rest after a grueling two months of games every other night.