GDT: Leafs @ Bruins Thurs, Apr 6th 7:00pm

[Jimmy Firecracker]

It didn’t show up on the score sheet but they were absolutely dominant vs Columbus. While not the greatest opponent, he obviously saw what most people saw.

Cute. “Most people” seem pretty divided on those lines. Dominating a garbage Blue Jackets roster but failing to score doesn’t mean a lot. Maybe they’ll get results tonight but I’ll remain skeptical.

 

[notbias]

1. ROR and Acciari will be. Not convinced on Knies for Game 1 anyway
2. I have no idea, nor does the coach seemingly
3. I don't know what you are asking.

If ROR is going to play 2LW, you move someone into that spot as a placeholder. Same if he's going to play 3C.
Acciari missed 2 games, plug a call up in for the weekend in that spot.

What simple logic is it that I'm missing? That these kinds lineup challenges are to insurmountable for an NHL coach to deal with without almost completely rearranging the deck chairs every day?

The player in for ROR (or Knies if he plays), has to be a replacement-level players, they can't be guys who would be on other lines.

So the ROR replacement is probably Holmberg, who is now 2C or 3C.

if Knies is top 6 (I think he will be), then ZAR/Lafferty (whoever will sit), should be filling in for him.

Then Acciari's replacement on the 4th line would have been Simmonds probably.

Here is a potential lineup they would have ran in the last few weeks with all these replacements, while chasing home ice.

Lafferty (Knies) - Matthews - Jarnkrok
Bunting - Tavares - Marner
Kerfoot - Holmberg (ROR) - Nylander
ZAR - Kampf - Simmonds (Acciari)

You want chemistry, if 3 lines are missing a player... what chemistry can they build?

 

[1specter]

I don't care about a young players' experience. This team is in a win now stage. If Liljegren isn't one of the best 6 defencemen going into a playoff game, he sits.

Playoff teams need to be 8 players deep on defense. That's how things look with TOR right now. Sitting Lil is not a problem, it's a sign that they have the depth they'll likely need.

Yeah yeah I know, ice the best team etc etc. However, I do also think he is one of the 6 best d-men on the team, so there is that.

 

[Burnie97]

Edited the OP but figured get this switched over to a GDT.

Unfortunately I'll be missing half the game or so but I'll be listening on the radio... hopefully catch the 3rd. GLG. It'd be really nice to get a W tonight.

 

[egd27]

The player in for ROR (or Knies if he plays), has to be a replacement-level players, they can't be guys who would be on other lines.

So the ROR replacement is probably Holmberg, who is now 2C or 3C.

if Knies is top 6 (I think he will be), then ZAR/Lafferty (whoever will sit), should be filling in for him.

Then Acciari's replacement on the 4th line would have been Simmonds probably.

Here is a potential lineup they would have ran in the last few weeks with all these replacements, while chasing home ice.

Lafferty (Knies) - Matthews - Jarnkrok
Bunting - Tavares - Marner
Kerfoot - Holmberg (ROR) - Nylander
ZAR - Kampf - Simmonds (Acciari)

You want chemistry, if 3 lines are missing a player... what chemistry can they build?

Knies isn't a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs and if Keefe is holding off on his line up choices based on a kid that has never played a professional game in his life, then he is indeed foolish.

As stated previously, Acciari missed a weekend.

The only player that's "missed" significant time is ROR

 

[justashadowof]

Eh tonight sure. The game against Tampa? I would be sitting any and all of the top guys if home ice is locked up by that point. Give Woll the start.

The above is how you set yourself up to lose your 7th opening round playoff series in a row.

Home ice is less important than testing your opponent and making an appropriate statement in match up games. In previous series at home (excluding the no audience variety on home ice), they went 2-2 against Tampa, 1-2 and 2-1 against Boston and 1-2 against Washington.

 

[notbias]

Knies isn't a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs and if Keefe is holding off on his line up choices based on a kid that has never played a professional game in his life, then he is indeed foolish.

As stated previously, Acciari missed missed a weekend.

The only player that's "missed" significant time is ROR

You're asking them to build chemistry.

They need full lines to do so.

They are missing ROR and potentially Knies.

While you're missing players, it is a good time to experiment and see what lines work well together, which is why 11-7 was alright (not ideal). It allowed them to see the most different lineups.

Ideally, the lines are locked in, I agree. But I don't think that will be possible, even now. If you want to ensure chemistry is being set now, tell Knies there is a 0% chance he plays and start building it with what you have.

I agree with you about setting lines, I just don't think they can yet.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Facing Swayman is better than facing Ullmark, but not by a ton.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

The above is how you set yourself up to lose your 7th opening round playoff series in a row.

Home ice is less important than testing your opponent and making an appropriate statement in match up games. In previous series at home (excluding the no audience variety on home ice), they went 2-2 against Tampa, 1-2 and 2-1 against Boston and 1-2 against Washington.

That game on Tuesday is entirely meaningless. It is media speak to get people to think the game is more important then it actually is. If both teams are firmly locked into playoff matchup and seedings then going full on for that game would be monumentally stupid. Would it be worth it to "make an appropriate statement" but lose Marner to an injury in a meaningless game? I don't think it would be myself.

 

[authentic]

Liljegren's decline lately has been brutal to watch. I had him pencilled into our long term 2RD position, but in the last few months, he barely looks like a 5-6.

He used to just smother guys, and he was breaking the puck out with ease. Now he looks like Mo back there, but without the offensive upside.

Weird how him and Nylander have been brutal since the deadline.

 

[Hellcat]

This is exactly why I would dress Wayner tonight .. da 1st whack to ROR glove would be Leaf closest to bench jumps off and Wayner immediately jumps on ice and drops whoever quick even if Marchand .. a donny brook would break out but thats ok .. message sent no f*ckin with our guys

Did you see last nights Rangers Lighting game .. OMG it was an all out war .. dirtiest game I have seen all year .. Kuch getting his playoff game ready .. and Rangers did not cave in one bit

Put me in coach ....

 

[tom leafers]

Liljegren's decline lately has been brutal to watch. I had him pencilled into our long term 2RD position, but in the last few months, he barely looks like a 5-6.
He used to just smother guys, and he was breaking the puck out with ease. Now he looks like Mo back there, but without the offensive upside.

i agree, could be he's not used to the amount of games yet? im fine not having him in the playoff lineup, i want big strong guys that will just absolutely punish guys in front of the net just like what montreal/tampa did to us.

 

[Magic Man]

Holl has been used as the top PK guy all year long. Keefe trusts him.

Schenn is the all time hit leader on a team that can definitely use that skillset.

Liljegren talent wise is right up there with the Leafs best defenseman. But, they're not going to scratch the top-4 guys and the two he's in competition with seem to do one element really well. I think he's the 7th guy going into the playoffs. He is only not the next in line if Rielly is hurt and they then turn to Gustafsson. I think with a greater depth of talent on the blueline they may choose with injuries to run 7 defenseman a little more often and he'd get in that way like he has been doing lately.

 

[therealkoho]

Cute. “Most people” seem pretty divided on those lines. Dominating a garbage Blue Jackets roster but failing to score doesn’t mean a lot. Maybe they’ll get results tonight but I’ll remain skeptical.

Some shots just hit the goalie, some shots were blocked, some shots were tipped wide, some shots flat out missed, a couple of shots hit posts, and some shots turned into great saves.

The theme here is that there were a lot of shots in fact about 18 more than normal, and that means about 30 more attempts than normal.

That all adds up to something, doesn't it?

 

[IPS]

If Keefe managed to ruin Liljegren before the playoffs that is seriously impressive in a terrible, terrible way.

 

[3blizzard4]

Bruins fans already barking like tiny chihuahuas.

Their board is Comedy Central right now!

 

[crump]

Should be another tight game. Only issue I have with line 2 is nobody is going to go lay a hit to forecheck, sorry, lay an effective hit. They are going to rely on turnovers to get their opportunities.

 

[Nhlpowerweek]

There has never been a better purpose for Simmer than these last two big games against Boston and Tampa. I want him out there hitting anything that moves and engaging whether in scrum or fight. It also allows someone else to rest at the same time.

Schenn should be out there too. Batter them up good for the playoffs.

You already know sisire simmonds bout his leadership, gangsta and talk. And thr fights. He finna totally explode on everybody he sees if playing tonight etc. He is our suspension guarantee. He will runneth over a sucka, and get that suspension. And at the same time taking out the opposite fool. Now thats heavy right thurr. Michael Mann heavy. Heat heavy. Mann is btw making Heat 2. Its already in the news. Its going to be a prequel and seguel at the same time. Now how G is THAT?

 

[therealkoho]

Knies isn't a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs and if Keefe is holding off on his line up choices based on a kid that has never played a professional game in his life, then he is indeed foolish.

What is it they say about "the higher the expectations?"

I just wish the media would stop talking about this kid, it's really not fair to him and it usually makes some of the fanbase look silly.

IF he signs

IF he can skate in even one game, which opponent do you pick?

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Some shots just hit the goalie, some shots were blocked, some shots were tipped wide, some shots flat out missed, a couple of shots hit posts, and some shots turned into great saves.

The theme here is that there were a lot of shots in fact about 18 more than normal, and that means about 30 more attempts than normal.

That all adds up to something, doesn't it?

Sure it’s good, hell it’s great. But again how much of that is the Leafs lines being super special awesome and how much is on them playing a lineup (especially that defence corps) that looked like this.

Tonight’s test will be huge and it’ll be interesting to see if the Leafs can replicate the shot volume from Tuesday.

 

[1specter]

Bruins fans already barking like tiny chihuahuas.

Their board is Comedy Central right now!

Meh, let em bark. Their team has slaughtered the league this season so they're free to brag. And to be honest, even though the Bruins have destroyed the league with nobody coming close, I feel like Bruins fans at least have the self-awareness to realize it doesn't really matter without winning a Cup, and they've been far less obnoxious about their success than Oilers fans have for example. The main board has practically been turned into an Edmonton Oilers forum where we have to hear non-stop about all their amazing players and how they're gonna win the Cup etc etc.

The Bruins have actually won a Cup in recent memory and have had multiple finals trips as well, and many dominant regular season teams that lost in the first couple of rounds, so they know deep down that even though this regular season was historic for them it's far from any guarantee. They've also seen their team blow a 3-0 series lead.

 

[ACC1224]

Bruins fans already barking like tiny chihuahuas.

Their board is Comedy Central right now!

Context?

 

[egd27]

What is it they say about "the higher the expectations?"

I just wish the media would stop talking about this kid, it's really not fair to him and it usually makes some of the fanbase look silly.

IF he signs

IF he can skate in even one game, which opponent do you pick?

Well he's in FLA now with the Frozen Four. So if they make the Finals on Saturday, I guess you hope he doesn't get too drunk after the game and give him a look against the Panthers on Monday and go from there.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Skipping out of work early this afternoon to go drinking for the long weekend. Should be nice and intoxicated to over react in the GDT later. Please forgive me for being more annoying than usual.

f*** the Bruins and GLG

 

[Isaac Nootin]

If Keefe managed to ruin Liljegren before the playoffs that is seriously impressive in a terrible, terrible way.

Keefe is the cause of his poor play lately? Interesting.