Pre-Game Talk: Leafs vs Lightning. Game 5

[MSZ]

Looks like you’re one of the lucky ones that didn’t watch the game

I doubt he has watched any Leafs games since 2004.

 

[Rob Brown]

Get Sandin and Liljgren in there.
Who cares

Rielly - Muzzin
Sandin - Brodie
Giordano - Liljgren

No idea where to put Muzzin in this scenario...but want that bottom4.

Put Clifford back in - why not.
Release the 3rd line onto the lacking lines (whhhaa there too good together whaaaa)

Mikhayev - Matthews - Marner
Engvall - Tavares - Nylander
Bunting - Kampf - Kase
Kerfoot - Blackwell - Clifford

We're not at 'who cares' territory. The series is tied and you're acting like we need to just say f*** it and change everything in a last ditch effort. Putting Sandin in cold would be a bad idea, he'd get killed by their forecheck.

 

[SprDaVE]

Leafs can still win this series. They need to have short term memory and put game 4 behind them. They need to come out hard to begin game 5. I’ve been thinking and not sure what line up changed they need to do for forwards. Do you bring Simmonds back into the line up?

I'd sit Spezza and Kase for Clifford and Simmonds. Liljegren for Holl.

Kase has been ok, just not very good and I don't think he gives you enough. Spezza has been invisible. Liljegren is just better with Giordano. The hate Holl has received has been extremely exaggerated though.

 

[Rob Brown]

I'd sit Spezza and Kase for Clifford and Simmonds. Liljegren for Holl.

Kase has been ok, just not very good and I don't think he gives you enough. Spezza has been invisible. Liljegren is just better with Giordano. The hate Holl has received has been extremely exaggerated though.

I'd make these changes as well, I think. My hope would be that Simmonds and Clifford can reel in their play a bit and not take dumb penalties again, but they would provide in terms of emotion and intensity.

 

[showtime8]

The series is 2-2 and they are playing against a team that many predicted would go back to the cup finals for the 3rd consecutive year.

They've managed to put 5 goals against Vasilevsky twice this series and they looked dominant in the first game.

With the Leafs tied at 1-1 going into Tampa, many people thought that it would be curtains coming back to Toronto for game 5. They showed some resolve in game 3 and we knew that Tampa would punch back. It was a bit concerning that there was not much of a response and it's fair that the old narrative starts creeping in.

I think that Matthews takes over Game 5 for Toronto and elevates his play to win a close game. I think Keefe goes back to one of or both Simmonds & Clifford. The problem is, people keep focusing on the 4th line, like they're going to significantly change the game. If the big boys aren't going, they're toast.

 

[ToneDog]

We're not at 'who cares' territory. The series is tied and you're acting like we need to just say f*** it and change everything in a last ditch effort. Putting Sandin in cold would be a bad idea, he'd get killed by their forecheck.

Hopefully Keefe and Leafs management is not as emotional as some of the fanbase. Let's see how this plays out before we bring out the pitchforks.

 

[kevsh]

I completely disagree with OP.
Can't keep moving the goalposts when they don't step up. What will define this team is not game 1, or game 4. It will be winning the series or losing it. That has not changed since opening faceoff in game one of this season.

Now Tuesday they can go out an play a near perfect game and the talk will be how they dug in and found that extra gear, etc. ... At least until game 6 in Tampa, and possibly game 7 back in Toronto.

So no, nothing will be figured out Tuesday, win or lose. We will only know what this team is about if and when they win the series, or not. Until then, we've seen it all before.

 

[ToneDog]

I'd make these changes as well, I think. My hope would be that Simmonds and Clifford can reel in their play a bit and not take dumb penalties again, but they would provide in terms of emotion and intensity.

Amazing how tough guys like Hagel feel tough when they know they won't have to answer to a Clifford or Simmonds. Seriously, WTF are the Leafs thinking they can ice such a soft lineup up front ?

 

[Rob Brown]

Amazing how tough guys like Hagel feel tough when they know they won't have to answer to a Clifford or Simmonds. Seriously, WTF are the Leafs thinking they can ice such a soft lineup up front ?

Well we won on Friday (edit) and there was really no shenanigans so I don't really blame Keefe for keeping them out last night. It almost seemed like there WAS nonsense because Simmonds/Clifford were in the lineup. I'd wager one or both is in tomorrow, though.

 

[mapleleafs34]

Please start the big dogs tomorrow night. Get them involved in the game right off the hop.

 

[showtime8]

Amazing how tough guys like Hagel feel tough when they know they won't have to answer to a Clifford or Simmonds. Seriously, WTF are the Leafs thinking they can ice such a soft lineup up front ?

Simmonds and Clifford both took bad penalties and in their limited ice time, they shouldn't be causing goals against and causing the team to play a man down.

While I think they should remain in the line-up, I can understand that they wouldn't get into the lineup

 

[Buds17]

I'm guessing that there will be a lineup change both up front and on the blueline (one each). Remaining hopeful that the most important change will be the one in the 'W' column.

 

[LeafsNation149]

Looks like you’re one of the lucky ones that didn’t watch the game

I watched it, I also watched the other 3 which make the series 2-2 lol.

Can't tell what's more pathetic, last nights performance on the ice, or the fans demoralized attitude right after the game that are ignoring the 82 games of regular season and 3 games of playoffs played prior.

 

[TheShape]

Both teams have been Jekyll and Hyde, Tampa fans are saying the same thing we are.

But history has shown us one team can get it done in this situation and the other freezes.

Ps: for all of Keefe’s tinkering he needs to flip Marner and Nylander on the road.

 

[TopCheese]

Need to juggle the forward lines to get some players going. Tavares is playing too slowly to be an effective 2C in this series. Can still take faceoffs as a winger. This would be a great way to tell the 11 million dollar guys: find a way to win together or one of you is gone

Tavares - Matthews - Marner
Bunting - Kerfoot - Nylander
Mikheyev - Kampf - Engvall
Clifford - Blackwell - Kase

 

[SprDaVE]

I'd make these changes as well, I think. My hope would be that Simmonds and Clifford can reel in their play a bit and not take dumb penalties again, but they would provide in terms of emotion and intensity.

Pretty much. But at the end of the day, I think only Spezza will switch out for Simmonds. I'd expect Liljgren back in too. Which is fine. Clifford I don't think will see the lineup unless there's an injury. He only played with Bunting being injured.

 

[SprDaVE]

Need to juggle the forward lines to get some players going. Tavares is playing too slow to be an effective 2C in this series. Can still take faceoffs as a winger. This would be a great way to tell the 11 million dollar guys: find a way to win together or one of you is gone

Tavares - Matthews - Marner
Bunting - Kerfoot - Nylander
Mikheyev - Kampf - Engvall
Clifford - Blackwell - Kase

Yeah that's something that should have been done last game to test it out. I think it could work. I don't even think Tavares has been winning face offs, so that's another big problem.

 

[Apex Predator]

I don’t know if the Leafs need to go to this but giving Tavares Marner and hoping that gives him the jump start he needs?

 

[MarMarSab3]

Kerfoot Matthews Nylander
Bunting Tavares Marner
Engvall Kampf Mikheyev
Clifford Blackwell Simmonds

Giordano Liljegren
Reilly Lybushkin
Muzzin Brodie

 

[TheShape]

Need to juggle the forward lines to get some players going. Tavares is playing too slowly to be an effective 2C in this series. Can still take faceoffs as a winger. This would be a great way to tell the 11 million dollar guys: find a way to win together or one of you is gone

Tavares - Matthews - Marner
Bunting - Kerfoot - Nylander
Mikheyev - Kampf - Engvall
Clifford - Blackwell - Kase

This is panic territory and I don’t think Keefe is quite there yet. I would expect this Hail Mary come game 7 where Keefe will throw it together abandoning any sort or plan. Remember game 5 vs Columbus? Load up top line, scratch Robertson and for an ice cold Johnsson.

I can see how this constant juggling stuff doesn’t inspire confidence from the players.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I think we all agree one 1 thing - the top 6 is getting tucked. That's where we need changes the most.

Mik - Matthews - Nylander
Bunting - Tavares - Marner
Blackwell - Kampf - Engvall
Clifford - Kerfoot - Kase

This is what I would like to see. Blackwell is a better winger than C. Kerfoot gives some offensive potential on the 4th line. Mik gives some defensive effort on the top line.

Kase or Simmonds on the 4th, doesn't matter much to me. Kase has been really bad so far imo, but so has Simmonds.

 

[tom leafers]

Il take the blame for the losses boys. They were because i watched the games with friends/family as opposed to at home.

Games 5/6 i will be at home and off this logic, I think the leafs win this one and finish off Tampa in game 6.

They were absolute trash last night, so can only get better right?

Blind optimism and beer is the only thing keeping me going.

 

[All Mod Cons]

We've had 82 games to figure out what might work or not with Tavares and Nylander.

It looks like we're still not really sure.

 

[Mopar]

Kerfoot Matthews Nylander
Bunting Tavares Marner
Engvall Kampf Mikheyev
Clifford Blackwell Simmonds

Giordano Liljegren
Reilly Lybushkin
Muzzin Brodie

That should be our lineup for Game 5 with the Matthews line to start. Keefe needs to stop overthinking things. He's not smart enough.

The boys need to come out flying and get back to what worked in Game 1.

 

[rocketman588]

Justin Holl will start the game and will have another give away in the first minute of the game; Keefe will think that was an elite play.

you think I am joking but I am not

Then every stat nerd dubas stan will come on here to tell us the numbers say he's actually the best D man on the team