Series Talk: Leafs vs Lightning Pre-Playoff Thread

[CatchyTune]

That’s addition by subtraction, he was bad for them. Jeannot thread on TB board is hilarious.

I’m not worried about him (or Maroon) scoring goals. Those idiots are just out there to hurt people.

 

[TorMapleJays]

What is the odds that Tuesdays game turns into a gong show?

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

What is the odds that Tuesdays game turns into a gong show?

High, especially if Tampa gets bad news when it comes to their recent injuries. Any mid-term to long-term injuries and I'll bet anything they'll be headhunting to try and even the playing field.

 

[Optimist]

The Optimist is confident.

 

[stickty111]

Did you read what I said? Haha.

It could still be:

Monday, April 17 - Toronto
Wednesday, April 19 - Toronto
Saturday, April 22 - Tampa
Monday, April 24 - Tampa

Or Tuesday/Thursday in Toronto and still Saturday/Monday in Tampa.

Sorry misread your post

 

[Rob Brown]

Sorry misread your post

All good!

 

[Buzzman17]

Jonas’ article today had some good insight into Cooper’s strategy from last playoffs (and likely this one).

Where does Ryan O’Reilly belong with the Maple Leafs: Top six or bottom six?

Sheldon Keefe said O'Reilly has "done really well" with every assignment, but where will he most benefit the Leafs in the playoffs?

theathletic.com

Basically that when Tampa was at home Cooper targeted Tavares’ line and the results resoundingly favoured the Lightning against him. With that in mind, it may be prudent to have two lineups in the playoffs, one for home and on the road. O’Reilly could centre his own line at home to matchup against Tampa and let Matthews’ and Tavares’ lines go up against weaker competition, and on the road Keefe could move O’Reilly up to centre Tavares and protect him and the Leafs from matchup problems.

Home:
Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Jarnkrok-Tavares-Nylander
Kerfoot-O’Reilly-Acciari
ZAR-Kampf-Lafferty

Road:
Jarnkrok-Matthews-Nylander
Tavares-O’Reilly-Marner
Bunting-Acciari-Kerfoot
ZAR-Kampf-Lafferty

Nylander can’t play with Tavares. Switch Marner and Nylander

 

[kevsh]

No statement needs to be made in this game and trying to send one could result in someone on the IR.

Or, if the statement is just winning big, this is the Bolts. They've won back-to-back cups; They're not going to get rattled or intimidated. Just remember how the Leafs dominated in game 1 last year and how that series turned out.

I'd rather rest the big guns, treat it like a pre-season game and the only message I'd send is that the team knows this game is meaningless, that the real games are coming once the regular season is over.

 

[Clark4Ever]

What is the odds that Tuesdays game turns into a gong show?

I doubt they will have the opportunity to go after any of our key players (if Keefe has any common sense).

 

[notbias]

No statement needs to be made in this game and trying to send one could result in someone on the IR.

Or, if the statement is just winning big, this is the Bolts. They've won back-to-back cups; They're not going to get rattled or intimidated. Just remember how the Leafs dominated in game 1 last year and how that series turned out.

I'd rather rest the big guns, treat it like a pre-season game and the only message I'd send is that the team knows this game is meaningless, that the real games are coming once the regular season is over.

Not sure how many forwards can be rested... we are going to be carrying a lot of D.

 

[Brobust]

It's either leafs in 5 or Tampa in 7.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Nylander can’t play with Tavares. Switch Marner and Nylander

Either way I think can work. As long as the top two lines have Batman & Robin combos of Tavares-Marner/Nylander and Matthews-Marner/Nylander Leafs should be good.

 

[Jojalu]

That stat in last night's broadcast about their goal differential per period was worrisome, and oh-so-this-team: They are -2 on the season in the 3rd period (not sure if that included last night as I believe it was shown after Boston scored).

So, first two periods they are pretty much juggernauts (for some reason even more so in the 2nd), but fade in the final frame. Much like most (all) of their playoff performances: Start relatively strong but in the final 1/3rd or so of the series they fade (choke).

Perhaps the only answer is to bring in a team of world class team of sports psychologists to convince this team in-game that every period is the second, and each game is the 3 or 4 of the series?

They get outscored in the 3rd becuse they have the lead so often and try and sit back and defend.

They have not blown many leads this year,, but 5-2 games become 5-4 etc..

 

[DavidClarksonGOAT]

Leafs 100% get revenge this year and not only that but make it to the Conference finals at LEAST. This is the year trust me on this I predict such things.

 

[IPS]

IDGAF, Leafs in a sweep. Watch them make it look like a walk in the park.

 

[TimeZone]

Been watching a lot of Tampa the past few weeks, they genuinely look awful. Like not bad, legitimately terrible.

 

[authentic]

Been watching a lot of Tampa the past few weeks, they genuinely look awful. Like not bad, legitimately terrible.

They know the Leafs play down to their opponent so they're just playing mind games

 

[3blizzard4]

I would sit all our stars on Tuesday against Tampa.

 

[OVO16]

Simmonds absolutely needs to play this game. Do we have cap-space to call up Clifford for this game too?

Rest as many main players as you can

 

[leafsfan5]

I would sit all our stars on Tuesday against Tampa.

Top line should be Clifford - Zohorna - Simmonds

Log them 20 and let them throw the body the entire night

 

[Leaf Rocket]

 

[AvroArrow]

That’s addition by subtraction, he was bad for them. Jeannot thread on TB board is hilarious.

I swear he has like 4 points lol, I think they're more upset they traded like a whole draft class for him and now he's out.

 

[3blizzard4]

Gulp.

 

[Morbo]

Been watching a lot of Tampa the past few weeks, they genuinely look awful. Like not bad, legitimately terrible.

Normally that would be heartening, but...yeah.

 

[saltming]

Been watching a lot of Tampa the past few weeks, they genuinely look awful. Like not bad, legitimately terrible.

I wouldn't say terrible but they lack that cohesion they had last year.
Vasi has looks off and does not rebound after a bad showings like last year either.
That said, playoffs are a different beast. We need to put them down like a rabid animal.

Let go!!