Pre-Game Talk: Leafs vs Lightning. Game 5

[glue]

Its very difficult having faith in this team given the years of failure, but the good news is expectations for me and I'm sure many other fans are pretty low. Even if they win game 5 it really doesn't mean much with this team until we've finally won 4 games in a series. I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Compared to Marner’s usual standards in the playoffs, that’s him being good.

I was actually quite surprised with how good he was in games one and two and in parts of game three. However, he and Auston Matthews have not been providing the type of offence we’ve seen during the regular season, just two goals apiece in four playoff games, it’s not enough. Matthews hasn’t had a goal since game one, one of those being an empty net gaffe goal and the other being a 5 on 3 power-play goal.

I don’t know why these two can’t bring their regular season offence to the playoffs, I know Tampa is smothering them, but every other top player on every other team is elevating their games, even Evander Kane has four goals for Edmonton. They’ve got to be better.

I agree. I've never thought either were overpaid, so that's not my angle with this, but if you want to be the highest paid duo in the NHL, you have then go out and overcome tough checking.

If you can't, then what are we doing here? Do we just write off our best two players each series because they will be defended by tough players? It will never get easier. Next round it might be McAvoy/Bergeron, or it might be Slavin/Aho shutting them down, Ekblad/Barkov, then it might be Makar after that.

Full stop - this team needs them to overcome a very strong defensive game plan from Tbay. Maybe split them? Maybe double shift them? I have no answers.

 

[daveleaf]

If the refs decide to get whistle happy the outcome will be decided quickly. This is by far, the most ridiculous officiating i have even seen.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Matthews should score some goals
Same with honny tvares

 

[keonsbitterness]

Why can’t any of the Leafs’ core players play like Brayden Pointe plays in the playoffs?

Being mostly invisible for three of the first four games? I don't want that.

 

[francis246]

I think we are past the point where the coach needs to bail out the players. I think those adjustments come in when you are struggling to generate chances, or it looks like the other team is in a rhythm that we need to get them out of it. I don't think Tampa has looked any more in rhythm than we have. We have had more moments where we have dominated them. We start getting into problems when we flub chances - Matthews has hit posts or missed golden opportunities to score which he usually did not in the regular season - or are not being disciplined. We are not even really making too many stupid mistakes as much as just being lazy.

I am looking at that one goal that Holl is getting blamed for. Holl and Giordano broke 5 cycles on that play. Broke them clean. Didn't even give Tampa a chance to set up. It was the 6th straight cycle when the Leafs couldn't even get it past the red line that Tampa was finally able to set up and it cost us a goal. Our wingers have been struggling to get the job done on the cycle. They lose races, battles, and try to cheat. Engvall and Mikheyev had numerous chances and they gave the puck right back to Tampa, and Kase tried cheating on the goal against and Hedman took advantage.

what? have been a coach before? the coach never stops coaching, you never stop looking for advantages for your players. If you do, you are a horrible coach. I coach both collegiate and at the provincial level (team ontario) for another sport (not hockey), even when my best athletes are locked in, there are moments the opposition shuts them down for a certain period of points. We have plays designed to create mismatches our get them them open. You never stop creating advantages for your players just because your players are better than the opposition, especially when you have the ability to do so like in hockey with last change. That literally does not matter.

 

[CelticDruid]

I'd like to see muzzin on the 1st powerplay. The powerplay has been garbage

It's the same routine everytime we are so static.

The Oilers PP is always moving making it harder to defend

 

[CelticDruid]

Our team acted a lot tougher with Simmonds and Clifford in.

We look scared out there.

 

[francis246]

I would guess the 11 million dollar contracts should be motivation. Even the players making low millions should be motivated. I would guess personal pride should be motivation..
I would also be curious to know what additional steps Keefe should do to have them prepared. Wouldn’t you think that players skilled enough to make the NHL and that have been in pressure situations since they were 6 years old should show up ready to,play in such an important game?

It's as simple as starting them. Not going to the media and saying this game didn't matter? Not starting Holl, maybe balancing out the top 6 a bit more. Make in game adjustments, simple as flipping Nylander and Marner.

 

[IPS]

I ask because trying Tavares with Marner seems logical. He's not seeing the 4th line and the 3rd line isn't being broken up.

Last night would have been a great time to try something different with the top two lines with the game out of reach and Keefe rolled the same combos. Shit, he rolled Matthews / Marner all the way to the final horn in game 7 during last year's debacle against Montreal. I don't get it.

It's always an option, yes. Wouldn't shock me at all if it gets tried.

 

[Racer88]

It's as simple as starting them. Not going to the media and saying this game didn't matter? Not starting Holl, maybe balancing out the top 6 a bit more. Make in game adjustments, simple as flipping Nylander and Marner.

Ok fair enough. I sure hope he makes these adjustments and the players put in a lot more effort then last nights game. I just can’t be satisfied with them losing in the first round 6 years in a row and I think that will make 19 years since the last first round win.
Shanny and Dubas has had all the resources needed, the luck of the lottery win. It’s time for it to start paying off

 

[francis246]

Ok fair enough. I sure hope he makes these adjustments and the players put in a lot more effort then last nights game. I just can’t be satisfied with them losing in the first round 6 years in a row and I think that will make 19 years since the last first round win.
Shanny and Dubas has had all the resources needed, the luck of the lottery win. It’s time for it to start paying off

It's two fold, players have to bring the effort and close it out. That much is true. Keefe cannot make the players perform. But Keefe also has to do his job as a coach and motivate these guys two wins in the next three. Hopefully he can get them to win the next two. I actually believe whole heartedly they are going to get it done. They've shown moments of it this series.

 

[danron1376]

have Nylander see this 1000 times before the next game. edit: and other players obviously

 

[Leafsfan74]

Our team acted a lot tougher with Simmonds and Clifford in.

We look scared out there.

That was the ganeplan. Keefe seems to have felt the pressure to get away from it due to the league anti-Leaf reffing.

If he hadn't taken that silly penalty in game one, maybe Clifrord and Simmonds play a bigger role to this point.

Bottom !ine, don't get away from the pre-playoff strategy. Put that line back and let them bring the home crowd with them. Just play clean but hard.

 

[Legion34]

anyone else depressed after last nights game?
I think Tampa will take Tuesday and we'll be in a must win by Thursday - Setting the stage for Game 7 winner take all on Friday, where we lose.

Incoming " We pushed the cup champs to game 7 - we should be happy with our progress"

I wrote it before but going into the playoffs I made my peace with season records rocket and probably a hart.

That said my “prediction” was that the leafs would win

Game 1 3 5 6. Alternate then break the streak.

All we know for sure is it ain’t going 7. Drake bet 400k on it going 7. So we know it’s done in 6. That guy hasn’t won a bet in his life.

 

[fahad203]

So its best out of three..still in our favor

Keefe needs to overcoaching. Double shift Matthews

Or put Tavares with Matthews and go with one good line

Boston has been doing it for years

 

[Legion34]

If the refs decide to get whistle happy the outcome will be decided quickly. This is by far, the most ridiculous officiating i have even seen.

I love how the leafs have been victims of violent assault for 6 years with no calls. The refs finally call things and it’s holding the stick.

We still don’t know if murder is ok. Haven’t had enough platers in the ice to find out

 

[Nineteen67]

Being mostly invisible for three of the first four games? I don't want that.

What?

 

[Rob Brown]

Is he aware that the series isn't over? I get the frustration but come on.

 

[IPS]

I get it the Leafs have had their issues but god these penalties are starting to piss me off. So all of a sudden we're the most undisciplined team in the league? GTFO with this crap, can we ever get a series with decent officiating?

 

[All Mod Cons]

Is he aware that the series isn't over? I get the frustration but come on.

Isn't it?

I've read the exact same comments for the previous 4 years. Sometimes I feel like a fortune teller when really i can only see what is actually happening.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Biggest game in Matthews era for the LEafs. Till game 6, of course.

 

[Rob Brown]

Isn't it?

I've read the exact same comments for the previous 4 years. Sometimes I feel like a fortune teller when really i can only see what is actually happening.

Isn't it what? Over? No, there are at least two games left and we have home ice. The series is tied, it's not over.

 

[mapleleafs34]

I wrote it before but going into the playoffs I made my peace with season records rocket and probably a hart.

That said my “prediction” was that the leafs would win

Game 1 3 5 6. Alternate then break the streak.

All we know for sure is it ain’t going 7. Drake bet 400k on it going 7. So we know it’s done in 6. That guy hasn’t won a bet in his life.

I mean for what its worth, he just won $235k on a $100k bet that Drake London was the first WR off the board in the NFL draft.

Drake curse has been over since the Raps won the NBA title

 

[All Mod Cons]

I get it the Leafs have had their issues but god these penalties are starting to piss me off. So all of a sudden we're the most undisciplined team in the league? GTFO with this crap, can we ever get a series with decent officiating?

Same every year. That's why the fans "who are not fans and should go and follow the Kraken" say the same thing every year in the regular season. Gotta figure out a way to play through it.

Added to that, when our PP goes to shit every single playoffs, it's so predictable.