Series Talk: Leafs vs Lightning Pre-Playoff Thread

[Dekes For Days]

For those interested in momentum going into the playoffs.
Leafs are 5-1-1 in April; TB is 1-4. Each team has 1 game left and Toronto is on a 3 game win streak with points in 5 straight, TB has 4 straight regulation losses.

Funny. It seemed like such a big topic previously. Now crickets.

 

[rocketman588]

Getting more confidence in the series tbh


I think we sent a pretty big message last game that they're not going to bully us this year

 

[Notsince67]

BTW everyone, just an FYI. For everyone saying “Why do we have to play a tough team like Tampa in round 1?”

If it was a 1-8 conference format like a lot of you wanted, we would be facing the Rangers in the 1st round as the #4-5 seeds. We would be #4.

There’s no excuses this year, Let’s just do it.

Winning a cup is a dream.
Winning a cup after directly eliminating Tampa and Boston is an orgasm

 

[Fogelhund]

Name one...oh there are none, nil and zippo.

Matthews, Marner, Liljegren we’re all drafted during Dubas time as GM and olayed in the playoffs last year.

 

[Atomos2]

I really hope Rielly plays better than he has recently. Last game he was awful and he's been awful for the past few. As much as I want Schenn in the lineup, that Rielly-Schenn pairing scares me. And I think Cooper will try to take advantage of them whenever he can.

 

[crump]

Getting more confidence in the series tbh


I think we sent a pretty big message last game that they're not going to bully us this year

Agree. Going 8/8 on the PK showed the zebras they weren’t going to bully us this year.

 

[Jojalu]

I really hope Rielly plays better than he has recently. Last game he was awful and he's been awful for the past few. As much as I want Schenn in the lineup, that Rielly-Schenn pairing scares me. And I think Cooper will try to take advantage of them whenever he can.

Reilly just had his 2 best games in the past 4.

 

[Niagara Bill]

i think Schenn is 95% in for game 1. His ability to box out the top of the crease is way too valuable. Knies on the other hand is a toss up. The playoffs is a game of mistakes, and generally speaking the team that makes less of them wins. I love what Knies brings, and if it were up to me he'd be in the lineup game 1. But I just think Sheldon tends to defer to less risky options. Matty Knies has been excellent IMO. He doesn't look out of place at all. It's actually shocking that he is only 2 games into his NHL career. What makes him different from other young forwards who have come into the lineup is his ability to play the brand of hockey that we need to play to be at our best. work the puck down low, and battle. None of the likes of Abruzzese, Robertson, and even Holmberg to a lesser degree have been able to show that ability.

Sheldon was asked pregame yesterday what brought about lining Knies up with Willy in last night's tilt against TB, he said that it was equal parts of necessity as well as the fact that he felt Matty had earned the opportunity after the FLA game. So it is clear that Sheldon likes what he sees to some degree. However, only Connor Timmons and ZAR played less then Matt last night. So it really is a toss up if you ask me. I recognize Knies and Abruzzese are 2 very different prospects and they offer 2 very different games. But Knies has already been thrown into more intense games then Nick has ever been in. So that same philosophy on sheltering Nick last season does not seem to be applying with Matt. I think they know there is a very tangible difference in the 2 young kids. The biggest thing that seperates those 2 is particular is that Matt plays like a tenured NHL player already. The pace of the game does not seem to faze him, and he clearly can handle the physicality of the pro game as well. The same could even be said if comparing Matty to Nick Robertson. Matt is just the most ready to play the game at the highest level out of any of our prospects. So It is really hard to predict how Sheldon treats him. Playing Matt in game 1 would go against recent history as it relates to Sheldon's coaching style, but we've never had a player like Matt Knies at our disposal either.

Matt is gunna get into playoff games at some point, I just think game 1 is a toss up at the current moment. Sheldon is a tough guy to read at the best of times. I feel like I will have a better idea on what is going to happen when I see Knies' usage on Thursday. If he gives him ~15 mins of Ice time, I would say Sheldon is strongly considering using him game 1 and wants to see how he handles an increased load. But if it's the 12-13 mins we've seen the last 2 games, I think he will sit him out until we need a change of pace and then check him into the lineup as our "ace in the hole". The latter of the 2 options might be a bit less pressure for the kid. Presumably if we are down in the series and needing to make a change, it will be because 1 or multiple guys have made game changing mistakes. It is always easier to find the fairway when the guy before you goes OB off the tee. But teeing off first can sometimes be a bit too much pressure for some.

Maybe the thinking is not about Knies, it should be about guys like ZAR, who last game was terrible and showed no physicality at all. If he is not physical why tf do you need him.
Maybe if Knies sits it becomes 11 forwards so Schenn dresses. TB need to show physical superiority, their DNA, (not fighting) and ZAR did not play his role.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I really hope Rielly plays better than he has recently. Last game he was awful and he's been awful for the past few.

I think his body is dead. The team knew it as well. He's LTIR sooner than people think.

 

[Atomos2]

Reilly just had his 2 best games in the past 4.

I’ve rewatched the last 2 games and no he hasn’t. In fact, defensively, he has been the worst among the d who have played imo.

 

[Jojalu]

I’ve rewatched the last 2 games and no he hasn’t. In fact, defensively, he has been the worst among the d who have played imo.

The night he played with Brodie he had 10 shots and was all over the ice making plays in both ends.

I did not see tye Tampa game so I can't comment but Reilly has never been an issue in the playoffs

 

[ToneDog]

Poll does not allow user to change their picks.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Maybe the thinking is not about Knies, it should be about guys like ZAR, who last game was terrible and showed no physicality at all. If he is not physical why tf do you need him.
Maybe if Knies sits it becomes 11 forwards so Schenn dresses. TB need to show physical superiority, their DNA, (not fighting) and ZAR did not play his role.

Although I agree that part of the argument should be what is ZAR doing to cement himself in the lineup, I think one major detail that would be overlooked is the higher then average defensive zone starts for ZAR as part of his usage. Currently ZAR leads all forwards on the team in defensive zone starts/60mins at 5v5 since the TDL. I decided to change the date range from TDL to present day as Lafferty and ROR were ahead of him when analyzing the entire year, but only because they played on different squads. Their roles have been adjusted since arriving in Toronto.

Although ZAR may not present as much of a wow factor, he is clearly trusted to take on tough assignments in the defensive zone. That is something Sheldon will 100% not feel comfortable doing with a 20 year old rookie playing his 3rd pro game.

If Knies plays, it will mean someone else will have to fill ZAR's role. Which is entirely possible, and something I believe will in fact happen. But Knies will not be playing on the 4th line with Kampf and Acciari. I can almost guarantee that. I know you never suggested that, but I am just making it known why ZAR is in the lineup currently, and why he may still be there in a weeks time.

I do think if Knies gets in, ZAR will be the odd man out.But it will mean someone like Lafferty will be taking the place of ZAR, not Knies. Knies will almost certainly have to play with a guy like ROR and/or Nylander if he wants to get into the lineup IMO. Because if we are talking about who is the better 4th line defensive option at the current moment it is ZAR>Knies.

I still really hope we see Knies in the Game 1 lineup

 

[ACC1224]

Poll does not allow user to change their picks.

Commitment issues?

 

[Brobust]

A lot of good thoughts here.

You're right, Keefe is tough to read. And there are definitely a number of things to consider here, one might be what Knies is like - is starting him in game 1 too much pressure or is he the type to thrive on the pressure? If the pressure isn't a concern, I'd give him at least 15 minutes against NY and if all goes well, he's playing in game 1. But letting the vets take game 1 makes a ton of sense also so I guess the only thing we know for sure is that whatever Keefe decides, people will be calling for his head on a platter as soon as his decision becomes public.

The concern with Knies and his current inexperience is matchups, not pressure.

It's better to play him in game 1 than in game 3 or 4.

 

[Atomos2]

The night he played with Brodie he had 10 shots and was all over the ice making plays in both ends.

I did not see tye Tampa game so I can't comment but Reilly has never been an issue in the playoffs

??

We're talking about Rielly right? I don't think he's ever had a 10 shot game.

You're right about him never really being an issue in the playoffs though. I'm just hoping these past few games are just Rielly in 'avoid getting injured and save yourself for the playoffs' mode.

 

[Jojalu]

??

We're talking about Rielly right? I don't think he's ever had a 10 shot game.

You're right about him never really being an issue in the playoffs though. I'm just hoping these past few games are just Rielly in 'avoid getting injured and save yourself for the playoffs' mode.

It was a 9 shot game. You are correct

 

[Jojalu]

I am waiting the news that Muzzin has been incognito working with a European team and will be ready to go Game 1!!!!

 

[ULF_55]

Commitment issues?

I'm waiting until game 3.

 

[WTFMAN99]

We always lose in 7 so I chose that.

I don't know if we will be allowed to beat Tampa or Boston...we seem to get phantom calls and the game is called completely different for us versus those teams.

 

[Gary Nylund]

The concern with Knies and his current inexperience is matchups, not pressure.

It's better to play him in game 1 than in game 3 or 4.

Not sure what you mean, can you elaborate?

 

[Rob Brown]

Is it next week yet? Got my pre-game reservations at Realsports set for Monday to Thursday depending on when Games 1 and 2 are - just want things to start!

 

[LeafLoyalist]

The refs, by not doing their job, and to such a ridiculous, blatantly obvious extent that it would make any sane person upset. They're putting Bunting in serious danger, because players (rightfully) feel like they can abuse him and try to injure him and they'll not only face zero consequences, but they may even get a PP for their team.

Heck, if the refs were doing their job, "reputation" wouldn't even matter. The fact that you're talking about "reputation" really just shows how comfortable we've gotten with corruption in this league.

He's actually been MASSIVELY toned down ever since the Keefe comments a couple weeks ago. It's pretty obvious Dubas talked to the league, with receipts, they set out a plan to reset the situation, Bunting is holding up his end of the bargain, and the refs are ignoring it and continuing to let people abuse him.

I feel for Bunting but he has created this narrative, refs are not being fooled by his drama and embellishment and starting scrums and then running away. Not to mention the calling our of refs with his crying little boy spells...refs won't be embarrassed and continuosly fooled by his antics. His near 2 hander swing on perry the other night shows he still has no discipline. He hasn't toned it down, maybe a game or 2, but not sure at this point he can fix it in short time.

 

[LeafLoyalist]

It was ridiculous. Nice punch to Tavares by Cernak..uncalled…3:1 Bunting touches a guy and gets a penalty.

In this case it was partly due to the way the game was being called, just previous to this Tampa was called on 2 scrum incidents, the refs set the tone that anyone continuing to engage will be called...Bunts was an easy target after 2 called against Tampa for the same scrum pile up

 

[Gallagbi]

I feel for Bunting but he has created this narrative, refs are not being fooled by his drama and embellishment and starting scrums and then running away. Not to mention the calling our of refs with his crying little boy spells...refs won't be embarrassed and continuosly fooled by his antics. His near 2 hander swing on perry the other night shows he still has no discipline. He hasn't toned it down, maybe a game or 2, but not sure at this point he can fix it in short time.

Theyre definitely being fooled and embarassed on a regular basis, just not by Bunting right now