GDT: Leafs @ Senators on TSN. 7PM

[Gary Nylund]

5 regulations wins looks very ugly when other teams like Boston and Detroit have more than double that. It’s nice to get points, but we all know shootouts and 3-on-3 don’t exist in the playoffs. So wining those games means nothing towards their playoff preparation.

We're 5th in the East by PTS%, and 12th in the East by Regulation PTS%.

22 games in, we're making a good case that we've taken a step back from being one of the best regular season teams in the league to being a middle of the road bubble team. I still think this team can do better, but can they really and if so, when will they start showing it?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind ...

 

[Cleetus]

Pray for my sanity. It's snowing, driving from the other side of town to the game and the Leafs haven't played in 5 days.

drive safe!

 

[Leaf Rocket]

You should get it on TSN5 in New Brunswick. Itks an Ottawa regional broadcast.

Somehow... they'll determine, tonight, I fall into the Habs bracket tonight and it'll be a blackout. Regardless I'll be fine and still watch via my other methods

 

[Gary Nylund]

Pray for my sanity. It's snowing, driving from the other side of town to the game and the Leafs haven't played in 5 days.

If you're concerned about your sanity, WTF are you doing going to a Leaf game?

Seriously though, drive carefully and good luck! Oh yeah, and GLG!!

 

[stickty111]

We're 5th in the East by PTS%, and 12th in the East by Regulation PTS%.

22 games in, we're making a good case that we've taken a step back from being one of the best regular season teams in the league to being a middle of the road bubble team. I still think this team can do better, but can they really and if so, when will they start showing it?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind ...

They have also had injuries to defence, and a bad start by their starter. It's actually impressive they have this record despite all that.

 

[HockeyVirus]

We're 5th in the East by PTS%, and 12th in the East by Regulation PTS%.

22 games in, we're making a good case that we've taken a step back from being one of the best regular season teams in the league to being a middle of the road bubble team. I still think this team can do better, but can they really and if so, when will they start showing it?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind ...

One thing that is consistent though, contending teams who "take a step back" in the regular season but go deep in the playoffs. So many examples recently including last years Panthers who made the playoffs on the last day only by the Penguins being eliminated by losing their last game against the tanking BlackHawks - all after winning the presidents trophy the year before.

Of course people come up with silly things. Whether it was they learned to play defense, got tougher, have a roster built for the playoffs not regular season. Who knows. But I choose to think this team will get D help and is capable of playing solid defense as we saw the past 3 seasons. I choose to think this team is tougher and built more for the playoffs than ever.

Who cares about all this if they make it. Do it when it counts.

 

[rojac]

Somehow... they'll determine, tonight, I fall into the Habs bracket tonight and it'll be a blackout. Regardless I'll be fine and still watch via my other methods

Huh? The Habs and Senators share that territory. Even if the Habs were also playing tonight, their games are on TSN2.

 

[wingman75]

Somehow... they'll determine, tonight, I fall into the Habs bracket tonight and it'll be a blackout. Regardless I'll be fine and still watch via my other methods

It won't. This will be broadcasted on TSN4 and TSN5 simultaneously. It is a combined panel, both Ottawa and Toronto crews will be present. I do think each channel will have their own broadcast teams (I don't have confirmation on that, but suspect...). Being in the Sens region, that is disappointing - I do not like their pbp guy. Fingers crossed it is Gord and Mike for both channels.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Somehow... they'll determine, tonight, I fall into the Habs bracket tonight and it'll be a blackout. Regardless I'll be fine and still watch via my other methods

You should be fine, Sens and Habs agreed to share regions years ago. Sens and leafs discussed it, but leafs weren’t interested. Too bad would of meant less blackouts for a lot of fans.
TSN5 in Montreal.

 

[SprDaVE]

If you're concerned about your sanity, WTF are you doing going to a Leaf game?

Seriously though, drive carefully and good luck! Oh yeah, and GLG!!

It was a gift, and I'm a Leafs fan so I clearly have no regard to my sanity.

 

[ACC1224]

Somehow... they'll determine, tonight, I fall into the Habs bracket tonight and it'll be a blackout. Regardless I'll be fine and still watch via my other methods

NFL is on one of the TSN channels as well tonight.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

NFL is on one of the TSN channels as well tonight.

Why are you trying to scare me like this?



I will keep you all updated if I do or do not get blacked out again

 

[Gary Nylund]

They have also had injuries to defence, and a bad start by their starter. It's actually impressive they have this record despite all that.

There are some mitigating circumstances. I sure as shit wouldn't call 12th in the East by PTS% impressive though.

One thing that is consistent though, contending teams who "take a step back" in the regular season but go deep in the playoffs. So many examples recently including last years Panthers who made the playoffs on the last day only by the Penguins being eliminated by losing their last game against the tanking BlackHawks - all after winning the presidents trophy the year before.

Of course people come up with silly things. Whether it was they learned to play defense, got tougher, have a roster built for the playoffs not regular season. Who knows. But I choose to think this team will get D help and is capable of playing solid defense as we saw the past 3 seasons. I choose to think this team is tougher and built more for the playoffs than ever.

Who cares about all this if they make it. Do it when it counts.

I don't see how this team is more built for the playoffs at all. IMO the roster we have today is much worse than the one that got crushed by Florida. And tougher? I have no idea where you get this idea that they're tougher. Based on the Marchand incident, I feel quite confident in saying that we're still possibly the most gutless pukes in the entire league and nothing whatsoever has changed in that regard.

I like the theory that stepping back means that we're about to go deep but I can't take it too seriously. Sometimes teams take a step back because they're just not that good anymore. But I do agree that I don't care much, if they make it and do it when it counts, I'll be more than happy.

It was a gift, and I'm a Leafs fan so I clearly have no regard to my sanity.

LMAO good point. Enjoy!!

 

[stickty111]

There are some mitigating circumstances. I sure as shit wouldn't call 12th in the East by PTS% impressive though.

I don't see how this team is more built for the playoffs at all. IMO the roster we have today is much worse than the one that got crushed by Florida. And tougher? I have no idea where you get this idea that they're tougher. Based on the Marchand incident, I feel quite confident in saying that we're still possibly the most gutless pukes in the entire league and nothing whatsoever has changed in that regard.

I like the theory that stepping back means that we're about to go deep but I can't take it too seriously. Sometimes teams take a step back because they're just not that good anymore. But I do agree that I don't care much, if they make it and do it when it counts, I'll be more than happy.


LMAO good point. Enjoy!!

Considering the circumstances, yes it is impressive

 

[wingman75]

NFL is on one of the TSN channels as well tonight.

TSN1 = NFL Thursday Nighter
TSN2 = Habs game, Habs region only
TSN3 = Jets game, Jets region only (game not until 9pm)
TSN4 = Leafs game, Leafs region only*
TSN5 = Sens game, Sens region only*

* = same game

 

[Nineteen67]

At some point they’ll assert themselves….or maybe they won’t.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Considering the circumstances, yes it is impressive

Sure. Agree to disagree.

 

[Nineteen67]

Expecting another trash effort. Also expecting another great game from Woll

Effort is not the problem.

 

[AvroArrow]

Ottawa always brings their A game against us. The guys have had enough rest, show up on time, compete hard and treat it like a playoff game, because they always do against us.

 

[Chief Leaf]

Ottawa must have gained some confidence beating the Rangers in their last game and it always seems they play us well.

Hate to say it but Keefe yelling at practice probably still doesn't carry over into game mode or hold much weight.

Until I see Our team coming out strong and finishing strong every game, battling hard to own all areas on the ice and gaining consistency in that respect, they just seem to fall into bad habits of being soft and letting the opposition pressure us into our end of the rink. And that's why I'm calling another game that goes to a shootout.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Ottawa must have gained some confidence beating the Rangers in their last game and it always seems they play us well.

Hate to say it but Keefe yelling at practice probably still doesn't carry over into game mode or hold much weight.

Until I see Our team coming out strong and finishing strong every game, battling hard to own all areas on the ice and gaining consistency in that respect, they just seem to fall into bad habits of being soft and letting the opposition pressure us into our end of the rink. And that's why I'm calling another game that goes to a shootout.

Indeed.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Pray for my sanity. It's snowing, driving from the other side of town to the game and the Leafs haven't played in 5 days.

Hey, it's a Leaf home game without the 401 or the Gardiner; you win.

 

[ICBM]

Hate to say it but Keefe yelling at practice probably still doesn't carry over into game mode or hold much weight.

Keefe knows Shanny is going to make him a scapegoat. He will fire him to release the pressure and keep his job. That's why he kept him in the summer. We'll see Keefe's firing pretty soon.

 

[Rare Jewel]

edit

 

[1specter]

There are some mitigating circumstances. I sure as shit wouldn't call 12th in the East by PTS% impressive though.

I don't see how this team is more built for the playoffs at all. IMO the roster we have today is much worse than the one that got crushed by Florida. And tougher? I have no idea where you get this idea that they're tougher. Based on the Marchand incident, I feel quite confident in saying that we're still possibly the most gutless pukes in the entire league and nothing whatsoever has changed in that regard.

I like the theory that stepping back means that we're about to go deep but I can't take it too seriously. Sometimes teams take a step back because they're just not that good anymore. But I do agree that I don't care much, if they make it and do it when it counts, I'll be more than happy.


LMAO good point. Enjoy!!

I am mostly in agreement with you and have been fairly disappointed with the output of the team this season. That being said, there is a better balance to the top 9 now that I like, it just looks bad cause they're underperforming or snakebit. The third line is arguably the best third line we've had in years, Domi has settled into a nice 3C role and Robertson looks like an NHLer finally while Jarnkrok rounds out that line nicely with his veteran presence and responsible 2-way game. Bert even with his struggles tilts the ice significantly, he's just majorly snakebit but brings a much better presence than the stopgap / revolving door type players we had in the top six before like Kerfoot, Galchenyuk, Malgin etc. Also, Bert's time to shine should be the playoffs so I'm not too bothered by regular season right now. Knies has also been a solid addition and should continue to get better.

Ironically, the biggest problems have been Matthews and Marner and their pedestrian play, they have been non-factors in half the games this season. It does look like that's turning around now potentially, but I have my doubts about them showing up in playoffs as they've failed to do so for many years. Keefe also should've separated them much sooner.

Then there's the D and goaltending, but injuries are out of everyone's control, and Samsonov unfortunately is a headcase. Despite that, Woll is still rocking a .915 which is encouraging.

I am also not a fan of Keefe, but I don't know if this team does better with another coach honestly, the core is still immature and mentally weak.