GDT: GDT: ECSF: (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs (A3) Florida Panthers - GAME 1 - 8 PM EST IN TORONTO

[Leaf Fans]

View attachment 1030081
Here ya go.

What is that evidence of?

 

[Spargon]

Oh but there's plenty more left

Imagine this guy rallying the troops ... "To HELL,, AND BACK!"

Seems to do a pretty good job.

 

[FerrisRox]

I think we made the conference final in the late 70's vs the Habs too, but too lazy to look it up. No one was beating that team anyway.

You are correct.

The Canadiens swept the Maple Leafs in the '78 Semi-Finals.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

What is that evidence of?

Interestingly enough, it was Maurice complaining about the number of calls against his team that game and I believe the rest of the calls went against the Leafs after that (or at least most - can't remember exactly). So bad example by that poster.

The Leafs perpetually have close to the lowest PP opportunities. The idea that they get preferential treatment is silly. And then we can talk about suspensions.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Can the leafs offer Gregory Campbell a job? President of hockey operations, maybe?

They could. I believe they would need Florida's permission though. It doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[HockeyVirus]

After watching way too much hockey during the past weeks, one of the things that stood out to me was how utterly joyless the journey looks for Toronto. Even after they won the series there was no celebration. Very few smiles.

I get that this is a job. I get that they're under enormous pressure to succeed in the post season. I get that the media is way over the top in how they cover the team. But even taking those things into account, a victorious series should bring some outward happiness. It's too bad that playing in what should be a great place to play pro hockey brings so little happiness to the players who play there.

They got roasted for celebrating like they won the cup for beating Tampa in 2023, now being roasted for being all business.

 

[Leaf Fans]

*all
Getting past FL would be the Leafs first time reaching a third round.

I expect them to be determined in their effort.

First time in a while anyway.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Lmao Tkachuk trying to play the underdog?

 

[Leaf Fans]

Pardon my mistaken information. Maybe what I actually read was that they’ve never won a third round series. This may be their season, we’ll see starting soon.
I was actually rooting for Leafs vs the Kings, I forgot that was in the semifinal.
The illegal stick challenge series,right?

That is true. In the past, teams would win the Cup in 2 rounds. Since the Leafs haven’t won the Cup since nor have they made a final 1967, they have not won a third round series.

 

[FerrisRox]

Never really got into the hatred between Montreal and Toronto either......When i was a kid in the 80's they would play i think 3 times a year usually Sat HNIC games....It was a showcase event and it created a buzz for sure but the teams were in different conferences and never had anything to do with eachother in an important spot (the last game of 2007 and 2021 came decades later)

The other thing is, they were never really competitive at the same time. The Leafs were pretty lousy in the 80's while the Canadiens were one of the better teams of the decade and made two trips to the Stanley Cup Final. In the early 90's, the Habs were a good team and made another trip to the Final. As we moved to the middle of the decade, the Leafs made back to back trips to the semi finals and the Habs hit the skids. The Leafs had a pretty solid team through the end of the decade and were competitive to start the 2000's while the Canadiens were lousy, and lost at sea.

The Leafs then stumbled through the Brian Burke years and began a streak of futility where they couldn't make the playoffs and the Canadiens were on the rise again going to the Semi-Finals in 2010, 2014 and to the Cup final in 2021.

 

[34]

Florida are the heavy favorites in this series. Hoping the Leafs just play their game and if it works out… then great. If not, oh well. It was expected.

 

[FerrisRox]

That is true. In the past, teams would win the Cup in 2 rounds. Since the Leafs haven’t won the Cup since nor have they made a final 1967, they have not won a third round series.

Interestingly, in 1932, there were three rounds to the playoffs and the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup that year.

They played the Chicago Black Hawks in the quarter finals, the Montreal Maroons in the semi finals then beat the New York Rangers in the Final.

But...

They still didn't win three playoff rounds.

The first round match up with the Hawks was a tie. 1-1. The series, which at the time was a two-game total goal series, saw the Hawks win game one and the Leafs take game two. The Leafs scored four more goals than the Hawks and advanced to the Semi-Finals.

Only the Stanley Cup Final was actually a best-of series with the Leafs sweeping the Rangers in the best-of-five series and winning their first Cup as "The Maple Leafs" and third overall (with the other two won as the St. Pat's.)

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

The other thing is, they were never really competitive at the same time. The Leafs were pretty lousy in the 80's while the Canadiens were one of the better teams of the decade and made two trips to the Stanley Cup Final. In the early 90's, the Habs were a good team and made another trip to the Final. As we moved to the middle of the decade, the Leafs made back to back trips to the semi finals and the Habs hit the skids. The Leafs had a pretty solid team through the end of the decade and were competitive to start the 2000's while the Canadiens were lousy, and lost at sea.

The Leafs then stumbled through the Brian Burke years and began a streak of futility where they couldn't make the playoffs and the Canadiens were on the rise again going to the Semi-Finals in 2010, 2014 and to the Cup final in 2021.

Not true. Leafs were a pretty good team in the late 70s (the Lanny McDonald goal against the Islanders who were primed to be a dynasty was just before they got bounced by the Habs). In my time as a Leafs fan, it's always been the same story: every time they've been contenders, they always run into a team just a little better. Hoping for something different this year.

 

[Gotaf7]

How healthy are the Cats?

 

[Gjman2019]

The other thing is, they were never really competitive at the same time. The Leafs were pretty lousy in the 80's while the Canadiens were one of the better teams of the decade and made two trips to the Stanley Cup Final. In the early 90's, the Habs were a good team and made another trip to the Final. As we moved to the middle of the decade, the Leafs made back to back trips to the semi finals and the Habs hit the skids. The Leafs had a pretty solid team through the end of the decade and were competitive to start the 2000's while the Canadiens were lousy, and lost at sea.

The Leafs then stumbled through the Brian Burke years and began a streak of futility where they couldn't make the playoffs and the Canadiens were on the rise again going to the Semi-Finals in 2010, 2014 and to the Cup final in 2021.

Yeah the Leafs actully did get to game 7 of the second round in 86 and 87...Under .500 team both years during the season though......In 86 they were actually 25-48-7.....Different circumstances back then as far as making the playoffs go.....

In 2002 The Leafs beat the Sens to go to the third round and the Habs had a 2 goal lead in game 4 against the Canes to go up 3-1 in the series......Habs lost that game and the series.......If Montreal hangs on and beats the Canes that would of set up a 3rd round series between the Habs and the Leafs with Gilmour playing for the Habs instead of the Leafs....That would of brought the house down if it would of happened........I still think about that scenario sometimes to this day.........

 

[authentic]

That is true. In the past, teams would win the Cup in 2 rounds. Since the Leafs haven’t won the Cup since nor have they made a final 1967, they have not won a third round series.

Since 1932 that is

 

[Bobby Butler]

How healthy are the Cats?

Ekblad is almost supernaturally healthy

 

[Laus723]

What is that evidence of?

Interestingly enough, it was Maurice complaining about the number of calls against his team that game and I believe the rest of the calls went against the Leafs after that (or at least most - can't remember exactly). So bad example by that poster.

The Leafs perpetually have close to the lowest PP opportunities. The idea that they get preferential treatment is silly. And then we can talk about suspensions.

It’s a joke. Didn’t think it was that hard.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

It’s a joke. Didn’t think it was that hard.

I guess it was 'cause I didn't get the joke (but I do appreciate people that don't explain their jokes - the best comedy).

 

[Leaf Fans]

Since 1932 that is

Yeah they had total goal series, but sure I'll take it a winning a round. I stand corrected.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Do it, Leafs.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Do it, Leafs.

View attachment 1030233

I prefer this

 

[avocadosmoothie]

How healthy are the Cats?

pretty healthy. they don't get injured, they do the injuring lol

 

[IdleTraveller]

Lmao Tkachuk trying to play the underdog?

I love Chucky but even I had to laugh at that. Bless him, he tries... Although, now that the Blues are out, we are the lowest ranked seed still left in playoffs. I reckon that makes us the Cinderella of all the teams left .

That said, betting odds seem to translate to roughly 60/40, which feel right. So definite favourites but not overwhelmingly so. A recent Athetic article actually put odds at 54/46 so pretty even actually. And yes, I'm doing my best to anti-jinx all the sportswriters who picked Tampa over us last series now picking us to win... Go away - we don't want your support!!!

 

[TheImpatientBoomer]

I prefer this

This is a classic though
The glove throw from Mitchell