Post-Game Talk: Leafs tie Season Series with Senators

[NastyKnies]

dear god

 

[MK78]

As a fandom, the Battle of Ontario is the only thing some of us of a certain age have.

You take that away from us, and this entire project is not only a failure, but filled some of the deepest, hardest heart ache imaginable.

The 4th win is always the hardest one to get, but you feel realllly good about their chances to win this series now and remain Kings of Ontario.

Absolutely. I just started high school when they had the 92/93 runs, that really got me into following hockey, cuz in the 80's as a kid they stunk so nobody really paid much attention, then after that they stunk again, but the Battle of Ontario and those teams deeper runs truly cemented in my Leafs fandom...

 

[TheGreenTBer]

People are still going to talk about it if this team doesn't advance to the 3rd round at the very least.

Finals.

Has to be the finals.

 

[SprDaVE]

I lost my beer league finals, but I'll take this over that any day. I hope they can close it out Saturday. I'll be deathly afraid of another Leafs curse embarrassment.

Big contributions from the depth.

 

[mix1home]

McMann was decent. He had like 10 hits
I didn't mind Patches either. That 3rd line was decent

Nylander was the worse player. So I expect Nylander to explode on Saturday

I can't see Robby coming back any time soon.

Chief knows what he is cooking!

 

[sxvnert]

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Chief knows what he is cooking!

Whatever Keefe was cooking smelled like a diaper wrapped in athlete's foot

 

[MK78]

The last five plus years of life on earth have been a complete shit show of uncertainty and despair. With as much crap as the universe has thrown at us, it fills me with a deep sense of comfort and familiarity as a millennial Leafs fan to be watching Toronto beating Ottawa in the playoffs like it was still 2001.

Just win one before I die, you know? LOL. I still hopefully have some 30+ years god willing, but you never know in life.

JUST WIN ONE BEFORE I DIE DAMN IT! LOL.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I posted in either the pre game thread or maybe the gameday through I'm not sure that I wanted Auston to DOMINATE tonight.

I don't think he dominated but when they needed him he stepped up first with the goal in the 3rd and then getting the assist on the OT winner.

2 points tonight.

5 points in 3 games.

Also 1 depth goal per game

Game 1 OEL with assists by Jarnkrok and Laughton.

Game 2 Domi with an assist by Benoit and I think that's the only assist correct me if I'm wrong.

Game 3 Benoit assist by Matthews.

You get a depth goal every game you are in good shape.

I'll be honest I wasn't confident going into OT, not after that tying goal, but yes this team feels different they don't seem to get rattled.

 

[Enniskillen]

it was also over against Montreal when it was 3-1 and everyone in here was already planning out the 2nd round lol

We all have some kind of ptsd from that but what’s the point of watching the games if you don’t enjoy it?

 

[Ports]

Berube’s system which was dissed a lot during the regular season has proven to be highly effective coming down the stretch and in this series. The Leafs defense is winning the important battles and the forwards are committed to playing with a defense first mentality. Add solid, confident goaltending and a resurgent PP and they’re methodically winning the series over an inexperienced, over matched opponent. Leafs take a lead into the third period and just keep Ottawa to the outside and win the board battles. This is the style of play that concerned Leaf fans during the regular season because it looked boring and they were not a team that was dominating the opposition. It turns out they were building to this style of lower risk, strong positional play that can use opportunistic, highly skilled scoring to get a lead and then pretty much shut things down and if needed score critical goals in overtime when the game is truly on the line. The real test will be next series when they’re likely playing a Panthers team that has speed, skill and a relentless forecheck and better goaltending. I’ve got to say it’s nice to see Rielly be a contributor on the scoreboard again instead of the net negative player was in the regular season. Three solid d pairs is something the Leafs have not had in a long time. Treliving should get a lot of credit for that.

 

[PromisedLand]

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Just win one before I die, you know? LOL. I still hopefully have some 30+ years god willing, but you never know in life.

JUST WIN ONE BEFORE I DIE DAMN IT! LOL.

Whenever that drought is eventually ended, in terms of impact it will make any other Cup victory during my lifetime seem like an afterthought by comparison.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

for some unknown reason it's 3-0

they been coasting all series, no killer instinct. face it, they been playing like sh* for the majority of these games, no aggression, no excitement, no desire to blow out Ottawa and just take it to them. they're just taking a small lead and then sitting back, allowing the Sens back into it each time

but somehow they have a big lead

it must mean Ottawa is just that bad? because there's no way this should be 3-0

You just don’t appreciate the little things they do well. Play smart defensive hockey, take high danger shots away, block a ton of shots, make the simple plays, use opportunistic offence, and rely on great goaltending. They look poised, mature and calm. Learn to love this style, I have.

 

[LeafEgo]

I love our fourth line too, great tone setter, dependable and trust worthy. Laughton has found his role and it's a big one.

You see them matching up with Sens L1 just fine, taking a shift with a few minutes left to push the puck north and get an OZ draw so the top lines can finish em off. Lotty is controlling ice and shows some offensive acumen. It's been a pleasure.

 

[Commander Clueless]

If we win this series can we stop hearing about that Habs series?

Yeah no that was still pretty bad.

 

[sxvnert]

 

[Roo]

I didn’t watch the game bc of the Metallica concert, but seeing the highlights it looks like the Sens were on all out dive mode and generally playing like bitches. Also seems like the refs tried to help them out but to no avail. Battle of Ontario isn’t a battle, they’re getting swept LOL

 

[OVO16]

3rd line was cooking. Skill and Physicality

Love bringing in Patches for Robertson

 

[TheGreenTBer]

View attachment 1022186

She just found a fresh hemmorhoid

 

[sxvnert]

it was also over against Montreal when it was 3-1 and everyone in here was already planning out the 2nd round lol

Agreed. I'll never fully trust this team until its official. The last two games were blown leads that led to overtime. The ability to lock leads down is non existent.

 

[Rare Jewel]

View attachment 1022186

The only acceptable reaction when met with the natural phenomenon known as Simon Benoit.

 

[Delete1]

Berube’s system which was dissed a lot during the regular season has proven to be highly effective coming down the stretch and in this series. The Leafs defense is winning the important battles and the forwards are committed to playing with a defense first mentality. Add solid, confident goaltending and a resurgent PP and they’re methodically winning the series over an inexperienced, over matched opponent. Leafs take a lead into the third period and just keep Ottawa to the outside and win the board battles. This is the style of play that concerned Leaf fans during the regular season because it looked boring and they were not a team that was dominating the opposition. It turns out they were building to this style of lower risk, strong positional play that can use opportunistic, highly skilled scoring to get a lead and then pretty much shut things down and if needed score critical overtime goals in overtime when the game is truly on the line. The real test will be next series when they’re likely playing a Panthers team that has speed, skill and a relentless forecheck and better goaltending. I’ve got to say it’s nice to see Rielly be a contributor on the scoreboard again instead of the net negative player was in the regular season. Three solid d pairs is something the Leafs have not had in a long time. Treliving should get a lot of credit for that.

Some of us said all season long that the reason this team was different than prior iterations was because of the head coach.

 

[PanniniClaus]

3rd line was cooking. Skill and Physicality

Love bringing in Patches for Robertson

I wasn't sure Berube would change a winning lineup but Patches work on the wall was worth it. We like to go strong side so having wingers that can take a bump and then see the puck out over the line, is a critical piece.

That line was given 3rd line treatment and put the Laughton line back to being a 4th line, which is how it should be when things are going well.

 

[SprDaVE]

Just so funny after 1 game of leading the game in PPs, the dial was turned way the other way. Every time, without fail.