Bunting suspension is offically over but surely he can't come back in for game 5
Post-Game Talk: IT WAS 4-1 | LEAFS WIN 5-4 IN OVERTIME
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ROR's postgame was telling. There was an undercurrent of frustration there.
Two comments stood out. The first was that we can beat anyone "if we get out of our heads". You don't hear players say that after a win at this time of year. The second was unintentional. He mentioned "stealing" the series from Tampa and quickly corrected it to "taking".
He knows we probably need to steal one more to take this home. It's unlikely we outplay them. That page doesn't turn mentally for this group until we get out of the first round. The degree of psychological damage this team is suffering from seems to have dawned on him tonight.
It was a great comeback to witness. So was game 4 against Columbus. We expected them to turn the corner then. We expected it in game 7 against Montreal. Hell, some actually expected it tonight. We're clearly not there yet.
Hope we can steal one more. Thursday is probably our best bet. GLG.
Two comments stood out. The first was that we can beat anyone "if we get out of our heads". You don't hear players say that after a win at this time of year. The second was unintentional. He mentioned "stealing" the series from Tampa and quickly corrected it to "taking".
He knows we probably need to steal one more to take this home. It's unlikely we outplay them. That page doesn't turn mentally for this group until we get out of the first round. The degree of psychological damage this team is suffering from seems to have dawned on him tonight.
It was a great comeback to witness. So was game 4 against Columbus. We expected them to turn the corner then. We expected it in game 7 against Montreal. Hell, some actually expected it tonight. We're clearly not there yet.
Hope we can steal one more. Thursday is probably our best bet. GLG.
Spargon
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I really can't see how he does. The one game he was in was a penalty filled shit show. We've won the 3 he's been gone and the reffing has been manageable (yes not perfect blah blah) with the chance to close it out I don't see how you rock the boat. If Vasi becomes a wall and it goes back to Tampa we think about a change but I say leave him out, give him a clean slate in round 2.
This is a typical leaf fan overreaction to a small sample size. Yes those stats do matter and are a good indication of what he will be in the future. Leaf fans should be thrilled if knies becomes a 30 goal 60 point guy.
It's so crazy that Rielly was average all year, then as soon as the playoffs start he goes absolute God Mode. We need Mo for a deep playoff run
If he can control himself he'd be useful
He can play in the top 6 if we need him to and he can score
But he can't control himself and we know that.
And besides, even you wanted to put him in who comes out?
Everybody is contributing
ROR is someone they really should had went after when he wanted to leave Buffalo.
Anyhow, it is really telling he said the guys need to get out of their heads. Bc the guys who was playing well were guys who either came via UFA last summer or TDL.
Need one and I think the New boys will help the old boys out.
If the Leafs win this series they gotta find a way to keep O’Reilly, he’s exactly what we needed.
Why would you report me? I just asked a simple question. And I will be willing to bet I have been a Leaf fan longer then you have.
Don’t change a thing. If Bunting comes in and takes a dumb penalty that costs us we’ll be giving all momentum and the series to Tampa. We’ve won 3 in a row no need to try anything new
By the way I noticed O’Reilly already has some commercials here, that’s a good sign
If we win this series we still have hopefully 3 more to go. We got lots of time to figure that out. Let’s just worry about winning games first lol
By the way I noticed O’Reilly already has some commercials here, that’s a good sign
He could easily come in for Lafferty, he hasn't done much and Bunting is another top 9 option
If Tavares is going to be looked after we need guys that can take some of his minutes and contribute offensively
Bunting can do that
I'd replace Lafferty or ZAF with Bunting, the 4th line hasn't done much and Bunting does have some offensive skills to his game. He's notably very good at the net front which - surprise, is how we've been scoring on Vas this series:
Game 1 - Nylander shot to make it 3-2, Vas was being screened.
Game 2 - Marner slapshot, Vas was screened. ZAR goal to make it 5-1, was off a greasy rebound. Really not worth going into the other goals since it seems like Tampa sorta gave up after it was 5-1. But they were both goals that came off of a net front presence.
Game 3 - Matthews goal to make it 2-1. Tying goal. Winning goal was an uncharacteristically soft goal that Vas let in, it was unblocked.
Game 4 - Accari goal, Matthews' 2nd goal, tying goal from Rielly and winning goal from Kerftoot. None of those happen without a solid net front presence.
I don't expect him to make the 4th line dangerous or anything but he does give it an offensive threat.
That said, I'm okay with Bunting sitting game 5 but not the rest of the playoffs.
Game 1 - Nylander shot to make it 3-2, Vas was being screened.
Game 2 - Marner slapshot, Vas was screened. ZAR goal to make it 5-1, was off a greasy rebound. Really not worth going into the other goals since it seems like Tampa sorta gave up after it was 5-1. But they were both goals that came off of a net front presence.
Game 3 - Matthews goal to make it 2-1. Tying goal. Winning goal was an uncharacteristically soft goal that Vas let in, it was unblocked.
Game 4 - Accari goal, Matthews' 2nd goal, tying goal from Rielly and winning goal from Kerftoot. None of those happen without a solid net front presence.
I don't expect him to make the 4th line dangerous or anything but he does give it an offensive threat.
That said, I'm okay with Bunting sitting game 5 but not the rest of the playoffs.
ACC1224
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deprw
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I think that last sentence is the reason we can't do that. There isn't weak link that we have to replace. Problem is that when we should Bunting being a Bunting becomes a problem. He has to play quiet game, if his coming back. Hits has to be clean, mouth has to be closed towards referees and we don't know if his effective that way.
AllDay28
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Divine
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I can't see how he doesn't. Have you seen Jarnkrok on the first line? He's been horrible. He was -1 today, the Leafs only starting scoring when they got Jarnkrok off the line. Bunting is our best offensive forward outside of the core 4, and has actually played well with Matthews and Marner.
Also, if Tampa wants to seek retribution on Bunting - let them take the penalties. That helps the Leafs. The Leafs really can't afford to keep him out next game. If they keep him out and they lose, then it's back in Tampa for Game 6 - where Cooper has the line matching advantage and Tampa can shut us down for most of the game like they did the last two. Then, if we lose that, we're now back at Game 7 having lost 2 in a row and we're going to be in our heads.
You have to play Bunting. Take out ZAR in my opinion, he played 6 minutes this game. If anything, Bunting pushes everyone down a spot which is great. If Jarnkrok was playing well on the first line, maybe you wait... but he's been a black hole. I don't know how you could keep your highest scoring forward the last two seasons outside of Matthews/Marner/Nylander/Tavares out. That's like Boston keeping Marchand out when he was a 60 point player.
Put him in and tell him to control his temper. You can play him on the 4th line if you must, but it increases our secondary scoring which has been almost non-existent this series. Are people forgetting Bunting put up 60+ points last year and ~50 this year while being on the fourth line for a bit? It's not a scrub who's an agitator we're talking about.
I don’t think Bunting will be in unless there is an injury. He is a ticking time bomb and will be bait into doing something stupid
Leaf Fans
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t happens more often than one would think: Rangers down 3-1 to the Penguins last year and won. Montreal over Toronto the year before that. Sharks over the Golden Knights in 2019 ( Vegas was up 3-0 in game 7) Rangers over the Penguins in 2015, LA over San Jose in 2014 _ San Jose was up 3 game s to 0, Chicago over Detroit in 2013. Heck Tampa Bay has done it to Pittsburgh. Not all were first round but most of them were. There are way more examples than those. People just remember Toronto because everyone cares about them- some for them to win some for them to lose but they are on everyone's minds. So, Florida, Winnipeg, NYI, and Tampa still have a chance in a not all that unusual situation,
Da Cool Rula
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Why even bring this up?
By the way, had to laugh at this comment from a Tampa fan.
"I think we're up 3-1 is Cernak doesn't get cheap shotted."
Strangle
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I agree, you can’t keep bunting out of the lineup. And you can’t take Knies out either
MSZ
Car guy
Tampa is 1-8 in playoff OTs since 2020.
The lone win came last year against the Leafs.
The lone win came last year against the Leafs.
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