How well (or poor) do you think we will play in the playoffs?
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Maplebeasts
I See Demons!!!!!
I think we'll play reasonably well. Hard to say if that amounts to a series win or not. Unfortunately we're going to have to beat a very good team.
I predict we outplay our opponent for the third year in a row and this year we get some better puck luck and Matthews doesn't shoot 2%
Rogue Leader
Registered User
I truly don't know at this point. Each year I am like this is our year we are dominating and getting that Cup ... and you all know what happens. This time I will just sit back and hope for the best.
I do feel this group has a bit of a different feel to it. But the fact they can continue to play as rotten as they did last night keeps me questioning their true capability.
I have long believed the first round is a hump for this group, and if they can find a way to win one, the sky is the limit.
The East this season is a bloodbath... no way to predict how things might play out.
I will be watching with excitement, as always, but fully not expecting anything, as always.
I have long believed the first round is a hump for this group, and if they can find a way to win one, the sky is the limit.
The East this season is a bloodbath... no way to predict how things might play out.
I will be watching with excitement, as always, but fully not expecting anything, as always.
kevsh
Registered User
- Nov 28, 2018
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I like Matthews taking his game to a new level, more assertive, more physical and his elite talent has gotten even more elite. The blue line finally looks playoff-caliber, knock on wood no injuries, and a more mature forward group.
At times they make you want to believe, then give up a 4 goal lead. Goaltending is still a big "if" and I don't trust Keefe's coaching. Tavares is almost invisible most games and Nylander is still streaky. Plus, considering how tough the Eastern Conference is again, there's no easy, or even relatively painless path.
I think they can get out of the first round, regardless of their opponent, but not only does everything have to come together but they have to get over any lingering self-doubt. Should they do that - win what certainly be a very difficult round one - then I think anything's possible (keeping in mind, any potential opponent will also likely be feeling the effects of a long, tough series).
At times they make you want to believe, then give up a 4 goal lead. Goaltending is still a big "if" and I don't trust Keefe's coaching. Tavares is almost invisible most games and Nylander is still streaky. Plus, considering how tough the Eastern Conference is again, there's no easy, or even relatively painless path.
I think they can get out of the first round, regardless of their opponent, but not only does everything have to come together but they have to get over any lingering self-doubt. Should they do that - win what certainly be a very difficult round one - then I think anything's possible (keeping in mind, any potential opponent will also likely be feeling the effects of a long, tough series).
TheGreatOne11
Registered User
It all comes down to if this team shows up and lives up to its potential, so far this season we have seen what they are capable of and when running at 100% they could go all the way.
The real elephant in the room is Campbell, can he find his game again? We live or die by his hands, i think he will find his game and this will be the first time in a long time we are playing in June.
I think the boys grew up a little this year, no longer kids, they are here to put the league on notice that it's theirs now.
The real elephant in the room is Campbell, can he find his game again? We live or die by his hands, i think he will find his game and this will be the first time in a long time we are playing in June.
I think the boys grew up a little this year, no longer kids, they are here to put the league on notice that it's theirs now.
Buds17
Registered User
- Nov 29, 2015
- 8,590
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Finishing 2nd in the division would make for both an achievement and improvement. I'm thinking the effort will be there considering much of the current core has taken all but one of its previous playoff series to the limit. A result can be better predicted upon the finalization of the team's regular season finish and first round opponent.
RealisticLeaf55
Win it clean for J.T
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
- 78,334
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Not worried about the skaters, IMO the Goaltending is going to let the team down.
I know Dubas tried to bring in help but trying isn't good enough, IMO.
** didn't vote, no option covered my thoughts.
I know Dubas tried to bring in help but trying isn't good enough, IMO.
** didn't vote, no option covered my thoughts.
Fogelhund
Registered User
- Sep 15, 2007
- 24,379
- 29,508
ShaneFalco
Registered User
No clue which team we'll see and if Keefe continues to make head-scratching decisions
There are signs, compared to other years I think, that point to being harder to play against
Not much faith in our goaltending situation.....
There are signs, compared to other years I think, that point to being harder to play against
Not much faith in our goaltending situation.....
Suntouchable13
Registered User
Honestly, if we play TB it might not be so bad. They might be cooked after playing so much hockey the last couple of years. It catches up to you. Now, Vasi is still Vasi BUT I think we can and should win. Marner and Matthews have to bring it. Just play with the same swag they have been playing in the regular season so far.
Mickey Marner
Registered User
I expect to win, but I have no idea how this team is going to perform. Hopefully they get it done.
Wait until you see Boston's record vs playoff teams (sub 500, we have the best out of the Atlantic)
Out of curiosity, which teams in the east do you have faith in their goaltending, I can name one.
I think this is the year the Leafs do damage and Marner absolutely kills it this time around in the playoffs.
nuck
Registered User
- Aug 18, 2005
- 11,753
- 2,765
In Jack we trust. If he misses more than one game they are out in the 1st round. If he can manage .915 they can win a series, maybe even .910 does it if the shooters are flying. Really wishing right now that they had considered Reimer as insurance based on cap, cost and Kallgren but a healthy Campbell gives them a shot to get out of round 1.
ShaneFalco
Registered User
2 Slick
Registered User
I feel that Matthews and Marner have developed and matured to the point of where they'll be able to perform under pressure. Their overall performance this season has transcended to new heights that we've not seen before from them.
When it comes to our second, third and forth lines, then that becomes a little bit more of a question mark for me. Tavares barely has more goals than Bunting who makes 1/11th the amount of money he makes. His point production is a point per game, but his overall performance as a whole this season has dropped considerably. He will have stretches where he looks good and performs well, but for even longer stretches he will look sluggish, unable to make any plays with the puck in the offensive zone, lost puck battles and just look lost out there. Watch him throughout the course of a game. When he hits the offensive zone, he struggles to keep the puck and make plays. He's strong on the boards, but still struggles as a whole.
Nylander is what he is, lazy, uninspired, only plays whenever he feels like it. He's proven after 6-7 years that he has no desire or care to change his mindset. He'll look good for a few games, then go back to coasting, not back-checking, making lazy plays, not working hard to get loose pucks, disengaged, that's who he is, through and through. A very talented player, a 60+ point forward that could easily be an 80-90 point player if he put forth the effort on a regular basis. He might be Nylander from the playoffs last season or he might be Mr. invisible, no one knows but him.
Players like Mikheyev, Engvall, Kerfoot, Spezza, Simmonds, Blackwell are always sporadic when it comes to secondary offense. While their performances from some of them have improved tenfold this season, that doesn't mean it'll translate into secondary offense in the playoffs.
Spezza has been horrible for a number of months. He's finally looking his age. He may turn it up a bit in the playoffs, but he shouldn't be relied upon for any substantial offense.
Simmonds has no offense of any kind to speak of, he's just physical and nothing more.
Mikheyev, Engvall, Blackwell, Kerfoot, guys like that will provide a huge spark on the penalty kill, they may even provide offense in that role. 4 of Mikheyev's goals are on the penalty kill.
Ondrej Kase could easily provide secondary offense if he's healthy and actually plays. He has missed 20 some odd games and still isn't far off 20 goals. Shame that he plays the way he does, he'll continue to miss games that way, so he's unreliable in that sense.
Bunting isn't going to provide top notch offense in terms of goal production. He's a very streaky player in that regard. He does fight hard for the pucks, works his ass off, isn't afraid to get in front of the net and draws a lot of penalties based on just how he plays. Love his style, we need that in the playoffs.
Our defense is better than last season. Giordano is a nice calming presence, makes good quick and safe plays. Is good in front of the net and has played well with Lillijgren.
It's Holl and Muzzin that are the question marks for me. Then two are a shit show more often than they are anything else. That is multiplied whenever they play together. So, as long as Keefe limits their ice time to the third line or healthy scratch for Holl, then it should be okay. If not, expect an extra goal or two against a game if they play together or get top line minutes.
Campbell is capable of providing .910 to .920% goaltending in the post-season, he did it last season. The problem with assuming that is that since December 15th, outside of maybe I'd say 5 games, he's been under .900% in every other single game since then. Ranging from .830 to .890 and well over 4 GAA+ in many of those outings. Whether or not any of that can be attributed to his ribs isn't important to me. It's Campbell's confidence that questions my confidence in him. He's a nice guy, loves his team mates, loves playing in Toronto, loves performing well, but his confidence is awful the last 4 months. I can't count how many times a game he constantly looks behind him when he's made a save. His confidence is in the shitter right now. I'm sure many will question how I could possibly know that or that I may be wrong and I could be, but it hasn't been proven to me otherwise yet. He is the BIGGEST question mark and concern for me heading into the playoffs.
If Campbell gets injured or has a bad game, it's lights out, game over.
Kallgren, with 10 games played in his career is sporting a dismal .899% and nearly 3GAA. He's not ready for that pressure. Teams will be even harder to play against, tougher to make saves on. If Kallgren is our goaltender in the playoffs, it's over before it even started... it JUST is.
Even if Campbell is healthy, it still may not be good enough.
Toronto's team save percentage has hovered at 31st for at least 93% of the time since December 15th to now. If that doesn't raise your eyebrows, then you have confidence, congratulations, I hope you enjoy the playoffs.
I have no confidence due to our goaltending. I've said it many times over the last four months. Many will say I'm being too critical or making assumptions. Maybe, but my assumptions are based on facts of what has transpired since December 15th.
My lack of excitement or positivity does not stem from past playoff failures. This season, this version of the Leafs has NOTHING to do with the Leafs of last season, or the one before that, etc.
It's a new season, my doubts are based on what's happening THIS season only.
I hope they do well and I hope they prove me wrong. I just don't think they have the goaltending to beat teams that have elite goaltending like Tampa Bay. Maybe if they face Florida instead of Tampa, as their goaltending is pretty suspect at best.
So, it's a combination of who they face in the first round and if Jack Campbell can A. stay healthy and B. perform at LEAST average or above.
Haven't had average goaltending on a consistent basis since November, don't even know what it looks like. It looks kind of like Campbell's two wins in a row from a week or so ago. I want that version of Jack Campbell, not any other one.
When it comes to our second, third and forth lines, then that becomes a little bit more of a question mark for me. Tavares barely has more goals than Bunting who makes 1/11th the amount of money he makes. His point production is a point per game, but his overall performance as a whole this season has dropped considerably. He will have stretches where he looks good and performs well, but for even longer stretches he will look sluggish, unable to make any plays with the puck in the offensive zone, lost puck battles and just look lost out there. Watch him throughout the course of a game. When he hits the offensive zone, he struggles to keep the puck and make plays. He's strong on the boards, but still struggles as a whole.
Nylander is what he is, lazy, uninspired, only plays whenever he feels like it. He's proven after 6-7 years that he has no desire or care to change his mindset. He'll look good for a few games, then go back to coasting, not back-checking, making lazy plays, not working hard to get loose pucks, disengaged, that's who he is, through and through. A very talented player, a 60+ point forward that could easily be an 80-90 point player if he put forth the effort on a regular basis. He might be Nylander from the playoffs last season or he might be Mr. invisible, no one knows but him.
Players like Mikheyev, Engvall, Kerfoot, Spezza, Simmonds, Blackwell are always sporadic when it comes to secondary offense. While their performances from some of them have improved tenfold this season, that doesn't mean it'll translate into secondary offense in the playoffs.
Spezza has been horrible for a number of months. He's finally looking his age. He may turn it up a bit in the playoffs, but he shouldn't be relied upon for any substantial offense.
Simmonds has no offense of any kind to speak of, he's just physical and nothing more.
Mikheyev, Engvall, Blackwell, Kerfoot, guys like that will provide a huge spark on the penalty kill, they may even provide offense in that role. 4 of Mikheyev's goals are on the penalty kill.
Ondrej Kase could easily provide secondary offense if he's healthy and actually plays. He has missed 20 some odd games and still isn't far off 20 goals. Shame that he plays the way he does, he'll continue to miss games that way, so he's unreliable in that sense.
Bunting isn't going to provide top notch offense in terms of goal production. He's a very streaky player in that regard. He does fight hard for the pucks, works his ass off, isn't afraid to get in front of the net and draws a lot of penalties based on just how he plays. Love his style, we need that in the playoffs.
Our defense is better than last season. Giordano is a nice calming presence, makes good quick and safe plays. Is good in front of the net and has played well with Lillijgren.
It's Holl and Muzzin that are the question marks for me. Then two are a shit show more often than they are anything else. That is multiplied whenever they play together. So, as long as Keefe limits their ice time to the third line or healthy scratch for Holl, then it should be okay. If not, expect an extra goal or two against a game if they play together or get top line minutes.
Campbell is capable of providing .910 to .920% goaltending in the post-season, he did it last season. The problem with assuming that is that since December 15th, outside of maybe I'd say 5 games, he's been under .900% in every other single game since then. Ranging from .830 to .890 and well over 4 GAA+ in many of those outings. Whether or not any of that can be attributed to his ribs isn't important to me. It's Campbell's confidence that questions my confidence in him. He's a nice guy, loves his team mates, loves playing in Toronto, loves performing well, but his confidence is awful the last 4 months. I can't count how many times a game he constantly looks behind him when he's made a save. His confidence is in the shitter right now. I'm sure many will question how I could possibly know that or that I may be wrong and I could be, but it hasn't been proven to me otherwise yet. He is the BIGGEST question mark and concern for me heading into the playoffs.
If Campbell gets injured or has a bad game, it's lights out, game over.
Kallgren, with 10 games played in his career is sporting a dismal .899% and nearly 3GAA. He's not ready for that pressure. Teams will be even harder to play against, tougher to make saves on. If Kallgren is our goaltender in the playoffs, it's over before it even started... it JUST is.
Even if Campbell is healthy, it still may not be good enough.
Toronto's team save percentage has hovered at 31st for at least 93% of the time since December 15th to now. If that doesn't raise your eyebrows, then you have confidence, congratulations, I hope you enjoy the playoffs.
I have no confidence due to our goaltending. I've said it many times over the last four months. Many will say I'm being too critical or making assumptions. Maybe, but my assumptions are based on facts of what has transpired since December 15th.
My lack of excitement or positivity does not stem from past playoff failures. This season, this version of the Leafs has NOTHING to do with the Leafs of last season, or the one before that, etc.
It's a new season, my doubts are based on what's happening THIS season only.
I hope they do well and I hope they prove me wrong. I just don't think they have the goaltending to beat teams that have elite goaltending like Tampa Bay. Maybe if they face Florida instead of Tampa, as their goaltending is pretty suspect at best.
So, it's a combination of who they face in the first round and if Jack Campbell can A. stay healthy and B. perform at LEAST average or above.
Haven't had average goaltending on a consistent basis since November, don't even know what it looks like. It looks kind of like Campbell's two wins in a row from a week or so ago. I want that version of Jack Campbell, not any other one.
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
- 78,334
- 45,560
Yep, Dubas negligence could be the biggest reason the team goes no where this year.
Like you say, 'in Jack we trust'. We really have no other option, that's what it comes down to.
Nylanderthal
Registered User
- Jun 9, 2010
- 7,901
- 6,252
This is a valid point, aside from TB with vasi, look at the other 6 playoff teams. Carolina? Freddie five hole has left a lot to be desired in the post season. The rangers? Shesty hasn’t proven squat and neither has that team. Relying on 940 goaltending and pp opportunities isn’t a recipe for PO success, i think they’re one and done for sure.
Pitt, Jarry has to show he can do it in the PO as well.
Florida has a longer streak than us of being first round fodder and Bob might be the biggest flake in the entire NHL WRT what you get out of him on a given night. Boston has Swayman and Ullmark who are unproven.
Who knows what’s going on in Washington.
Enga Olly
Registered User
- May 26, 2021
- 1,108
- 1,376
Reasonable/Realistic Enga - We will have gained experience from past years and it will help winning at 1 round and possibly 2 rounds, it's a roll of the dice with luck also playing a part in every playoff series
Cynical/Worried Enga - We are a very good team haunted by past failures and just below the surface of all the skill, high scoring, fantastic playmaking, lurks deep doubts about our goaltending and are 1 soft goal away from everything turning to dust
Fantasy/Child-like Fantasy Enga - We've used all our past heartbreak and disappointment to teach us what to do and what not to do, Jack and Muzzin have been playing possum and are ready to unleash their super-hero selves and we will rip though the conference like a tornado and be unstoppable
Cynical/Worried Enga - We are a very good team haunted by past failures and just below the surface of all the skill, high scoring, fantastic playmaking, lurks deep doubts about our goaltending and are 1 soft goal away from everything turning to dust
Fantasy/Child-like Fantasy Enga - We've used all our past heartbreak and disappointment to teach us what to do and what not to do, Jack and Muzzin have been playing possum and are ready to unleash their super-hero selves and we will rip though the conference like a tornado and be unstoppable
HamiltonNHL
Resigning Marner == Running it back
- Jan 4, 2012
- 22,710
- 13,885
Winning a playoff series is quite a bit of luck
We are more at risk than other teams of losing games with bad goals. (can't clear net, weak goal).
and puck luck is a big decider when teams are evenly matched.
The drama level is over 9000 for sure.
I wish the boys well. My big ask is Campbell plays well as he's so love-able, him getting shit on because Tavares can't score will madden me.
We are more at risk than other teams of losing games with bad goals. (can't clear net, weak goal).
and puck luck is a big decider when teams are evenly matched.
The drama level is over 9000 for sure.
I wish the boys well. My big ask is Campbell plays well as he's so love-able, him getting shit on because Tavares can't score will madden me.
HockeyVirus
16/34/88/91/44 - Pathetic losers
- Nov 15, 2020
- 21,323
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They have to break through eventually. We don't like to hear it because of Toews and Kane, but our stars are only 24. They didn't figure out the playoff by age 23 = chokers for life? There are long histories of teams and franchise players who figured it out much later than that.
My question is our goaltending. I don't trust us to get a save when we need one when it counts. But I didn't trust that with Freddy either. If we are focused, play how we have most of the season, forwards helping the D, our D protecting our goalie and letting them see pucks, I like our chances.
If we can score 3 goals in the playoffs, the question is can we keep it under 3? I think we will be winning a lot of games 3-2, maybe 4-2. We've really reigned in the shots against lately. But we've been a bit sloppy at times.
So if Jack can give us .920 sv%, our stars don't vanish, and we maintain the overall structure we've played with most of the season, I think we can compete with anyone.
After that, who knows. Bounces, injuries, etc. Shit happens.
My question is our goaltending. I don't trust us to get a save when we need one when it counts. But I didn't trust that with Freddy either. If we are focused, play how we have most of the season, forwards helping the D, our D protecting our goalie and letting them see pucks, I like our chances.
If we can score 3 goals in the playoffs, the question is can we keep it under 3? I think we will be winning a lot of games 3-2, maybe 4-2. We've really reigned in the shots against lately. But we've been a bit sloppy at times.
So if Jack can give us .920 sv%, our stars don't vanish, and we maintain the overall structure we've played with most of the season, I think we can compete with anyone.
After that, who knows. Bounces, injuries, etc. Shit happens.
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