Series Talk: Leafs vs Bruins - 'ah shit here we go again' edition -- Full schedule post #933

[djdev]

i just want 2 things...
keep marner away from matthews on the 1st line
keep brodie in the pressbox

 

[Sypher04]

They might win or they might lose! Regardless of how you feel I think we’re all on the same page on Go Leafs Go!! Even if you don’t think the can win you’ll be cheering them on!

I would argue if anyone is claiming they can’t win or the result is in the bag, they either are not paying attention or have no idea what they are talking about. Will they actually win is another thing altogether

 

[HamiltonNHL]

i just want 2 things...
keep marner away from matthews on the 1st line
keep brodie in the pressbox

Keep JT away from Nylander

matthews
Nylander
Marner
JT

The big four driving their own lines. Marner is a PK specialist.

JT needs to be sheltered by faster players.

 

[ACC1224]

I would argue if anyone is claiming they can’t win or the result is in the bag, they either are not paying attention or have no idea what they are talking about. Will they actually win is another thing altogether

People have been crying about the apparent upcoming playoff struggles since last seasons playoff loss.
It must be exhausting for them.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Bert-Matthews-Domi
Nylander-Holmberg-Marner
Knies-Tavares-Robertson
McMann-Kampf- (pick one)

I wish we had more time to try this out.

 

[djdev]

Keep JT away from Nylander

matthews
Nylander
Marner
JT

The big four driving their own lines. Marner is a PK specialist.

JT needs to be sheltered by faster players.

i liked JT on the 3rd line with mcmann, thats when the leafs were really rolling. i dont think putting JT with faster players helps him at all, he needs wingers that are capable of slowing it down and playing a heavy cycle game.
unfortunately i feel like marner due to his lack of being able to play through physicality is the real liability here until he proves he can do it. hes the only guy on this team that ive yet to see EVER get involved in even a basic scrum.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

i feel like marner due to his lack of being able to play through physicality is the real liability here until he proves he can do it.

Then let him play on the third line. He can probably dangle Boston's 3rd line.

 

[ACC1224]

i liked JT on the 3rd line with mcmann, thats when the leafs were really rolling. i dont think putting JT with faster players helps him at all, he needs wingers that are capable of slowing it down and playing a heavy cycle game.
unfortunately i feel like marner due to his lack of being able to play through physicality is the real liability here until he proves he can do it. hes the only guy on this team that ive yet to see EVER get involved in even a basic scrum.

 

[djdev]

View attachment 853731

ive been critical of willy, but he doesnt play scared the way marner does in the post season. he just plays like willy(which is where the frustration comes from, like more of lack of effort)

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Leafs average 3.6 goals for per game.
Boston averages 2.73 goals against per game
Leafs vs Swayman 1.3 goals for per game (3 games this year).

 

[Srsly]

Bruins in 5 or 6.

I think they can surprise and win one maybe even two.

Traditionally we’ll win three and look like a favorite until the third period of game seven…sigh. Same old song and dance. It’s almost less painful to get swept by the Bruins than watch yet another team choke.

That said, we won our round last year. We had some unfortunate injuries this year and are stronger than we look on paper. We have a real chance if the team plays to their potential.

 

[wingman75]

I just remember all those times the series comes down to one game, and we can't buy a goal. But whatever, my expectations are lower than they've ever been with this core so not going to analyze too much, I'm just waiting to see how it all plays out. I'll be surprised if we win more than one round and if that's as far as we get, I hope we get at the very least a new coach.

Have to agree with that. Expectations are way low :-(

Making the Eastern Conference final would be a mandatory for the management team to keep their jobs (Treliving excepted of course).

 

[ACC1224]

I just hate the title, like I get it, but it's so Leafy.

Let's go, exorcise the ghosts!!!

Me too, figured it would have been changed by now.

 

[wingman75]

Marner will likely go head to head with Marchand and we know Marchand will try to intimidate him. It’ll be interesting to see how he responds.

I don't see Mitch as a guy who backs down from a challenge... but physically and I think mentally Marchand has a significant edge there.

Marner's job is to make the players around him better, so THEY can make a difference by him being at his best. To me, that means he has to play away from Matthews who has shown he is a better overall player without Mitch on his wing.

The Bruins already have a mental edge. It will be up to the Leafs in games one and two to do something about that. If we are giving up goals on the PK and breakaways or softies, we are doomed.

 

[Strangle]

This is my favorite time of the year

I f***ing love the playoffs and all the heartbreak it eventually brings

 

[Gary Nylund]

In my limited widsom I wouldnt either barring injuries. He is not defensively sound nor is he a physical nuisance.

If he took a page out of Berts book, he would be a little more of a problem for the opposition and place them on their heels. Speed alone isn't the magic bullet in the shutdown, North/South, gridning playoffs.

I get what you're saying, I just have a feeling about Robbie. I don't really have anything substantial to support my POV, just a feeling is all.

 

[IPS]

I responded to a comment on the first or second page of that thread where some guy was whining about obnoxious leafs fans having quoted merely a post where someone had said he thinks the leafs have better offense and will win. There was nothing to it that could ever be construed as obnoxious.

So I called him out on being a sensitive little snowflake and suggested he forego interacting with people since he finds it so distressing.

Naturally this was promptly deleted.

The mains are just not worthwhile for us.

Gotta be some of the most sensitive individuals you'd ever see around there.

 

[wingman75]

I wonder if the difference is, and always has been, who instigates the physicality.

The Leafs have often responded to their opponents playing physical and chasing that part of the game and getting hammered for it.

If they take the initiative to be the big blue bullies of Bay Street, does that change the perspective of the officials?

This is 100% a thing. I have experienced myself, clearly not at the NHL level lol
It has to resonate throughout the lineup.

The only issue I find with this team is that they can initiate physicality, but they are unable to play through the other teams physicality. They always look so effin weak.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Thoughts from the Bruins Series thread.
They don't seem as confident as I would have guessed. Fans are glad Boston tanked to avoid Vasi and are happy to face any Leaf Tender.

I don't like this matchup for us. Guys like Domi/Bertuzzi have been great additions to the Leafs.

How can you not want to face their goalies over Vasi?

If we can't score against Samsonov then I want the whole coaching staff fired and significant roster changes this offseason

Bruins best matchup was Leafs .They do not get enough shots to beat Vasi 4 times in 7 games in my humble opinion.T

Lets see how it goes. I have 0 confidence this year but i have a little hope. go B's

Bruins head into this series having won 7 in a row vs the Maple Leafs.

In those seven games, the Bruins have averaged:
3.57 Goals For per game
1.86 Goals Allowed per game

However, each of the last three playoff series against the Leafs went to Game 7s.

The Bruins are 13-4-0 in their last seventeen home games against Toronto.
They are 8-8-1 in their last seventeen road games against Toronto.
Home-ice could be a big factor in deciding this series.

Oh, and Jeremy Swayman has been great during the aforementioned 7 game win streak. 4-0-0 ; 1.21 GAA ; .961 Sv%

I would start Swayman Game 1.

cant complain.
this is our best matchup.
even better than facing wsh or nyi.
our star players will always play well against tor

Our firepower is also so inconsistent.

Good luck to the Bruins but this will be no cake walk and may turn out not as we all wish.

I have zero expectations either way for this playoffs.

If they dont get out of this no shot funk they wont last.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

I want to see Reaves takes runs at guys early. Trent Frederick would be down to toss fists im sure

 

[SprDaVE]

I don't see Mitch as a guy who backs down from a challenge... but physically and I think mentally Marchand has a significant edge there.

Marner's job is to make the players around him better, so THEY can make a difference by him being at his best. To me, that means he has to play away from Matthews who has shown he is a better overall player without Mitch on his wing.

The Bruins already have a mental edge. It will be up to the Leafs in games one and two to do something about that. If we are giving up goals on the PK and breakaways or softies, we are doomed.

It would go a long way for Marner to finally have a great playoffs. I don't really care about matchups and comparing, he just needs to be our best winger. It's not all up to him of course but we need him to be great, not just ok or even just good. He's missed a lot of time recently and he's just alright since coming back. He needs to find another gear.

 

[Lightsol]

i just want 2 things...
keep marner away from matthews on the 1st line
keep brodie in the pressbox

You'll probably get the first but the second? No chance. In fact, I'd be willing to bet Brodie will lead the Leafs in icetime... Again.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Gents we need to be optimists in this thread .. here is my big hot take of series .. Sammy will beat either Swayman and/or Ullmark straight up in battle of tenders .. both Ullmark and Swayman have ben chokers when it counts their entire lives and they know it

Also Keefer please keep Brodie OUT of lineup .. he is washed and we don't need any more vet screw ups from him

Up front it is gonna be tricky for you but da key is to keep JT with McMann and Mitch .. if this line can at least hold its ground and not give up goals against we will be ok .. if they start to leak then move JT to 3rd line and bring up Holmberg

Matty's line needs to tilt ice every shift and win us da games .. we need 2 goals per game from Bert Matty and Domi

3rd line of Jankrok Holmberg and Willy is super fast and it is exactly what Willy needs .. we need a goal a game from Willy bottom line other 2 guys can play D

4th line we need to play very aggressive on forecheck Dewar and Reaves for sure need to be on this line and likely Knies if he brings a heavy game .. I would sit Kampf as he brings nothing

On D you watch Reilly really really close to see if he is bringing his A playoff game or not .. if he is blocking shots, taking hits well (as Bruins are gonna target him) and moving puck .. play him with Ed early as Bruins needs message sent when they run Rielly and refs in Boston do nothing .. you instruct Ed to hurt da 1st guy who tries it (he knows how to do get job done on sly) .. Boosh although tough ain't gonna get job done

McCabe and Benoit need to play 25 minutes a game .. these 2 are gonna have to play shutdown role

Use Mitch as a PKer as we need his quick edges in our own end .. and tell him to dump puck asap and no fooling around with it .. we can't have goals against with him giving up pucks on overly creative passes .. he needs to simplfy his game .. he needs to be told he doesn't need to create offence .. we need him to be our ACE defensively

 

[Leafsfanperson]

No Chara, Bergeron or Kreijic?

Reeves can eat the suspension instead of Kadri for breaking a stick on Marchand's face.

We'll find out if Marner wants to be a life long Leafs.

Auston is due for a playoff breakout given he leads every series in shots?

Pasta just shows up for every game against the Leafs which is concerning but if we can't get it done this year, what excuses are left?

I'm not getting invested until the second round, whether we're spending the summer making a list of management fire or take the next step, it's popcorn season, Go Leafs Go.

 

[wingman75]

It would go a long way for Marner to finally have a great playoffs. I don't really care about matchups and comparing, he just needs to be our best winger. It's not all up to him of course but we need him to be great, not just ok or even just good. He's missed a lot of time recently and he's just alright since coming back. He needs to find another gear.

Our reality is that Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Rielly and Samsonov have to be our 6 best players. Yes, we need the support staff to be solid as well, but even if they are and these guys are not great, it's not going to matter. The sad part is, it will only take one of them not being great to derail the entire thing. Such is our roster as constructed.