Pre-Game Talk: Leafs @ Bruins game 2.

[notbias]

Why didn't Keefe pull Sam after the 2nd goal. The guy looked like trash in there.

Because, do we have a better goalie?

The only correct answer is "maybe".

And it depends on the day.

 

[Nylander88]

Nylander coming back would help balance our lineup out big time. More firepower in the top 6, or an all-star caliber player hiding on your 3rd line.

 

[PromisedLand]

Posted this in the series thread

did something really go down or its just the phrasing of this tweet thats awkward?

 

[RunItBackAgain]

Posted this in the series thread

did something really go down or its just the phrasing of this tweet thats awkward?

Probably just reading too much into it.

 

[AustonMarner]

Matthews>>>Zacha>Coyle>Geekie=Holmberg>Kampf>Tavares

Tavares has been the worst Captain choice in the NHL since Kelly Buchberger 96'

If Keefe won't recognize or admit how terrible Tavares actually is on the PP and figure out that he is the exact opposite guy you want in the "bumper" or "net front" position on the PP because of his stone hands, limited vision and penchant for getting pushed around easily... I really can't comprehend what Keefe or PP coach is doing here...

and all those wondering what happend to Marner game 1 look no further than Captain Clueless aka Johnny Blackhole... doubt even Kucherov could carry Tavares at this point lol

 

[RunItBackAgain]

Matthews>>>Zacha>Coyle>Geekie=Holmberg>Kampf>Tavares

Tavares has been the worst Captain choice in the NHL since Kelly Buchberger 96'

If Keefe won't recognize or admit how terrible Tavares actually is on the PP and figure out that he is the exact opposite guy you want in the "bumper" or "net front" position on the PP because of his stone hands, limited vision and penchant or getting pushed around easily... I really can't comprehend what Keefe or PP coach is doing here...

and all those wondering what happend to Marner game 1 look no further than Captain Clueless aka Johnny Blackhole... doubt even Kucherov could carry Tavares at this point lol

Based on their play vs cap you're not wrong. They're paying Coyle AND Zacha less than we pay JT.

 

[Confucius]

Good job guys, you've successfully lowered our expectations to manageable levels. Go out there and don't get embarrassed and the fans will be happy enough.

f*** YOU ALL!

It’s about time we shook that plan the parade image. lol!

 

[Enniskillen]

I think this one will start the string of overtime games in this series.

Man, you make your assumptions based on what? Any Excel data or just a hunch? Or all the experience from the last seven years? Just curious about your logic.

 

[Confucius]

Man, you make your assumptions based on what? Any Excel data or just a hunch? Or all the experience from the last seven years? Just curious about your logic.

You’ve no doubt heard the saying, you can’t win them all. He is obviously going with, you can’t lose them all.

 

[AustonMarner]

Based on their play vs cap you're not wrong. They're paying Coyle AND Zacha less than we pay JT.

Its a sad predicament for the team but hopefully there will be resolution re: Tavares and his future with the team sooner rather than later...

Not only did Zacha and Coyle dominate Tavares all night but Geekie looked like a force compared to Tavares too... I hope nobody isolates video on Tavares shift by shift and actually sees what he does during the full course of a game like I do it's atrocious to watch him 5 V 5 and on the PP for that matter... if anything I would play Tavares on the 3rd line wing, faceoffs on his strong side, 2nd PP shooter position but I guess it's harder to do without Nylander in the Lineup

If keefe goes back to Samsonov in game 2... he'll deploy Tavares the same way as he did in game 1 for game 2 as well lol

 

[RunItBackAgain]

Its a sad predicament for the team but hopefully there will be resolution re: Tavares and his future with the team sooner rather than later...

Not only did Zacha and Coyle dominate Tavares all night but Geekie looked like a force compared to Tavares too... I hope nobody isolates video on Tavares shift by shift and actually sees what he does during the full course of a game like I do it's atrocious to watch him 5 V 5 and on the PP for matter... if anything I would play Tavares on the 3rd line wing, faceoffs on his strong side, 2nd PP shooter position but I guess it's harder to do without Nylander in the Lineup

If keefe goes back to Samsonov in game 2... he'll deploy Tavares the same way as he did in game 1 for the Leafs in game 2 as well lol

It is very sad. And I don't even blame Tavares that much. I'd take my 11M dollars and fame too. Good for him. Management f***ed us again. Hey guys you know what would be sick? If we signed Tavares to 11M and spent 80% of our cap on forwards and we can put noted heart and soul player kadri on the 3rd line for depth and he will be happy to do it. Actually no, let's trade him instead and get this sick point producing defenceman for him! I bet he will do well in playoff type hockey too!

 

[The Masters]

In speaking with multiple sources briefed on the situation, word is that the Toronto Maple Leafs winger wasn’t playing through any significant ailments during a closing stretch of the regular season in which he produced just four points (all assists) in 11 games, finishing shy of the 100-point milestone with 98.

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The issue is also said not to have cropped up as the result of some kind of off-ice incident, like a game of two-touch soccer gone wrong or whatever other conspiracy theories might be floating around out there.

Still, there isn’t a whole lot of clarity to be found, either on or off the record, about what did happen.

If he was able to play all 82 regular-season games, including a lengthy shift that bled into the final minute of Wednesday’s finale in Tampa, and there was no off-ice incident, what forced him to sit out Game 1 of the playoffs against the Boston Bruins on Saturday?

Per the sources, he is said to have woken up with an issue that needed attention Thursday morning and remained “pretty stiff” when the series got underway more than 48 hours later. There’s no evidence Nylander even came to TD Garden on game day as he wasn’t spotted walking off either of the team buses in the morning or late afternoon.

Fortunately for the Leafs, there was a Nylander sighting at Warrior Ice Arena on Sunday. He was the first player to take ice — as he’s wont to do — before a 1:30 p.m. skate featuring the Game 1 scratches: Noah Gregor, TJ Brodie, Mark Giordano, Conor Timmins, prospect Cade Webber and goaltenders Martin Jones and Joseph Woll.

That was shortly after teammate Jake McCabe told reporters at the team hotel that Nylander “seemed to be in good spirits today,” but there wasn’t much joy to be found in the work he was doing inside the Bruins practice rink.

Nylander looked to be laboring, especially early in the session, and misfired entirely on a couple of shot attempts while the ice sheet was still freshly resurfaced. He wasn’t moving with his normal fluidity and frequently hunched over while regrouping along the boards between drills. He had Giordano feed him passes to practice one-timers and went through a series of puck-touch drills under the supervision of assistant coaches Manny Malhotra and Dean Chynoweth.

Johnston: What I'm hearing about William Nylander's injury and availability for the Maple Leafs

Nylander skated Sunday and there's every expectation he will play at some point in the series, but when and what happened are still unclear.

theathletic.com

 

[Nineteen67]

Insert Nylander for Marner. Worth a shot.

 

[AustonMarner]

It is very sad. And I don't even blame Tavares that much. I'd take my 11M dollars and fame too. Good for him. Management f***ed us again. Hey guys you know what would be sick? If we signed Tavares to 11M and spent 80% of our cap on forwards and we can put noted heart and soul player kadri on the 3rd line for depth and he will be happy to do it. Actually no, let's trade him instead and get this sick point producing defenceman for him! I bet he will do well in playoff type hockey too!

I don't blame him either... I really am cheering for Tavares and the team of course but I'm not sure he can captain this team to a SC victory... I guess we'll just have to stay tuned and see

 

[ACC1224]

I have a hard time believing they suspend him for a playoff game. Far too much on the line.

If it were for disciplinary reasons they would have said.

 

[AustonMarner]

Insert Nylander for Marner. Worth a shot.

Can I ask you a question?
Do you watch hockey

 

[Magic Man]

Domi, Bertuzzi and Knies up front did exactly what they needed to do. Now keep that same physical intensity for the entire playoff run. It's an edge to be the scarier of the two teams.

 

[Nineteen67]

Can I ask you a question?
Do you watch hockey

No, you may not ask

 

[RunItBackAgain]

Can I ask you a question?
Do you watch hockey

Wait you can watch the hockey games? I thought they were played in private and we had the deserve-to-win ometer and box score to judge performances off of.

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

Man, you make your assumptions based on what? Any Excel data or just a hunch? Or all the experience from the last seven years? Just curious about your logic.

I love Homer's optimism but he is like the reverse Midas. Every prediction he makes turns to shit lol

 

[Revolt]

Really hope Nylander is good to go for this one.

Also hope Woll is in net.

 

[1specter]

Score some f***ing goals, make some f***ing saves. That's it

 

[Aashir Mallik]

Johnston: What I'm hearing about William Nylander's injury and availability for the Maple Leafs

Nylander skated Sunday and there's every expectation he will play at some point in the series, but when and what happened are still unclear.

theathletic.com

This doesn’t sound like he’s gonna be ready for game 2….

 

[AustonMarner]

No, you may not ask

Well, I did already and it was a hypothetical question (answer obvious or no answer required)

 

[The Masters]

This doesn’t sound like he’s gonna be ready for game 2….

Whether Nylander will feel limber enough to return for Game 2 on Monday night remains unclear. How his body responds to the Sunday skate is crucial.

It would seem to be an encouraging sign that he lasted longer than any of his teammates while remaining out for 56 minutes. He appeared to get more comfortable and loose as the session went on. Nylander finished his work by taking a series of breakaways on Woll and raised a fist in celebration after scoring on his last attempt.

Getting him back in the lineup would be a big boost after a 5-1 loss to Boston in the opener, with the Leafs having difficulty getting through the neutral zone cleanly and establishing a sustained offensive attack. Nylander is an elite transporter of the puck who often gains the blue line with ease.