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Series Talk: Leafs vs Lightning Pre-Playoff Thread

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Who wins?

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I just wonder how much will Tampa has left. I mean they have been through 3 straight grueling playoff runs, when do you start just not caring anymore because you’re exhausted?
 
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Suntouchable13 said:
I just wonder how much will Tampa has left. I mean they have been through 3 straight grueling playoff runs, when do you start just not caring anymore because you’re exhausted?
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It is up to us to break it. We had them on the floor last year, like they legit looked like they had accepted that we were the better team and then the 3rd period of game 6 happened lol one of the biggest issues this team has had in my opinion is seemingly getting caught off guard when a team goes balls out to pull themselves off the floor.
 
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Here is my clairvoyant prediction of this series.

IF the Leafs sweep the first 2 games at home then I think Leafs will win the series.
IF the Teams split the 1st 2 games in TO and TB wins game #2 going up 2-1 in the series with home ice they will win as Leafs will not win 3 of the next 4.
IF the Teams split the 1st 2 games in TO and Leafs win game #3 like last year then I see Leafs odds of winning this year still in their favour.
Everything else TB wins again.

So in summary IF the Leafs win 2 of the first 3 games in the series I like the Leafs chances of winning a playoff round for the first time in 19 years.
 
Mess said:
Here is my clairvoyant prediction of this series.

IF the Leafs sweep the first 2 games at home then I think Leafs will win the series.
IF the Teams split the 1st 2 games in TO and TB wins game #2 going up 2-1 in the series with home ice they will win as Leafs will not win 3 of the next 4.
IF the Teams split the 1st 2 games in TO and Leafs win game #3 like last year then I see Leafs odds of winning this year still in their favour.
Everything else TB wins again.

So in summary IF the Leafs win 2 of the first 3 games in the series I like the Leafs chances of winning a playoff round for the first time in 19 years.
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We had the series lead literally the entire way last year....until we didn't. I don't really buy into any of that. I mean obviously I would prefer us to be leading the series but the Leafs being down 2-1 hypothetically doesn't mean the series is over lol game 4's are always extremely pivotal games in a playoff series. Big difference between going home 2-2 and going home 3-1. I think the actual thing you want to see this year is when the Leafs are up in a series 2-1...or god forbid 3-1 to have the killer instinct to put a dying dog down. They have never had that to this point.
 
TheBeastCoast said:
We had the series lead literally the entire way last year....until we didn't. I don't really buy into any of that. I mean obviously I would prefer us to be leading the series but the Leafs being down 2-1 hypothetically doesn't mean the series is over lol game 4's are always extremely pivotal games in a playoff series. Big difference between going home 2-2 and going home 3-1. I think the actual thing you want to see this year is when the Leafs are up in a series 2-1...or god forbid 3-1 to have the killer instinct to put a dying dog down. They have never had that to this point.
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The reason I want the Leafs ahead after 3 and not behind is because I don't believe they have that killer instinct and we have enough evidence of past playoff failure including being up 3-1 against a weak opponent in Montreal only to lose the series and not being able to put a wounded dog away.

Even during the regular season without playoff pressure we haven't seen particularly against weak opposition Leafs killer instinct kick in.

What makes you sure this year will be different ? . "A leopard never changes its spots" .
 
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Mess said:
The reason I want the Leafs ahead after 3 and not behind is because I don't believe they have that killer instinct and we have enough evidence of past playoff failure including being up 3-1 against a weak opponent in Montreal only to lose the series and not being able to put a wounded dog away.

Even during the regular season without playoff pressure we haven't seen particularly against weak opposition Leafs killer instinct kick in.

What makes you sure this year will be different ? . "A leopard never changes its spots" .
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I mean, except for the countless teams that eventually breakthrough after years of failure. All I am saying is that leading a series hasn't exactly lead to success, while obviously you would prefer to be leading in a series over trailing in it....I don't think it is exactly make or break. Get to 4 wins before the other team, I do not give a damn what path they take to get there.
 
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Mess said:
Here is my clairvoyant prediction of this series.

IF the Leafs sweep the first 2 games at home then I think Leafs will win the series.
IF the Teams split the 1st 2 games in TO and TB wins game #2 going up 2-1 in the series with home ice they will win as Leafs will not win 3 of the next 4.
IF the Teams split the 1st 2 games in TO and Leafs win game #3 like last year then I see Leafs odds of winning this year still in their favour.
Everything else TB wins again.

So in summary IF the Leafs win 2 of the first 3 games in the series I like the Leafs chances of winning a playoff round for the first time in 19 years.
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I like your prediction.

Seems like you're tidying up a bit. You should change your name to NotSoMessy
 
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napoleon in rags said:
Yeah, but haven't you heard? There was ZERO intensity in that game. ZERO, I'm telling you.
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Plays his stars for the entire last 3:30 of a "meaningless exhibition game" even calls a timeout to rest them and keep them out there. "Zero intensity I'm telling you" Scrum after every whistle, a fight, like 14 penalties between both teams "Zero intensity" Cooper is a whiney little bitch, he always pulls these sore loser lines after he loses a game. It is pretty embarrassing losing to the Leafs with a 3rd string AHL goalie in net and missing half the regular roster, so I get why he's saying that.
 
Suntouchable13 said:
I just wonder how much will Tampa has left. I mean they have been through 3 straight grueling playoff runs, when do you start just not caring anymore because you’re exhausted?
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Loss of motivation is a very real thing.

You could tell that Toews and Kane never played the same in the playoffs after winning their 3rd cup. Eventually all those aches and pains add up and when the players realize they've already accomplished the big goal several times, they kind of get hesitant in putting in those hard miles to win again. Crosby and Malkin - same thing after they won back to back cups.

I honest to god think we're seeing a similar thing with Tampa right now.
 
Mess said:
Here is my clairvoyant prediction of this series.

IF the Leafs sweep the first 2 games at home then I think Leafs will win the series.
IF the Teams split the 1st 2 games in TO and TB wins game #2 going up 2-1 in the series with home ice they will win as Leafs will not win 3 of the next 4.
IF the Teams split the 1st 2 games in TO and Leafs win game #3 like last year then I see Leafs odds of winning this year still in their favour.
Everything else TB wins again.

So in summary IF the Leafs win 2 of the first 3 games in the series I like the Leafs chances of winning a playoff round for the first time in 19 years.
Click to expand...
Too complicated for us old guys.

IF the Leafs win 4 of the first 7 games in the series, I predict they take the series.

See? Isn't that easier?
 
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Suntouchable13 said:
I just wonder how much will Tampa has left. I mean they have been through 3 straight grueling playoff runs, when do you start just not caring anymore because you’re exhausted?
Click to expand...

Maybe they aren’t as motivated. I doubt it personally (if they won the cup this year they would be 3 out of 4 and, by definition, a dynasty) but possible, but I disagree with the exhaustion angle.

Tampa hasn’t played any more hockey relevent to this season than anyone else has imo. Tampa played their last game June 26th 2022 and didn’t play again until the end of September. I wholly reject this media narrative that somehow fatigue carries over from one season to the next - 3 months later. Tampa aren’t losing because they are more tired than others, they are losing because they simply aren’t as good a team as they were before. Maybe there’s an element of injuries from previous years slowing them down, but you don’t have to play deep into the playoffs or even make them at all for that to be a factor.
 
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Menzinger said:


Most glaring was how old the team was. Just a couple young guys on the roster. Really was a very different league back then
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That team looks and feels like a redux of the “over the hill gang” that last won the Leafs a championship in ‘67. A ton of old veterans leading the way. Of course the results were far from a championship in ‘04.
 
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TheBeastCoast said:
It is up to us to break it. We had them on the floor last year, like they legit looked like they had accepted that we were the better team and then the 3rd period of game 6 happened lol one of the biggest issues this team has had in my opinion is seemingly getting caught off guard when a team goes balls out to pull themselves off the floor.
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Completely agree. Multiple times in the last 5 seasons the Leafs core have had a chances to grab a stranglehold on the series and choked. The 1st Boston series we had the lead in the 3rd of game 7 and blew it. The 2nd Boston series we were up 1-0 in game 6 with a chance to close and choked. Columbus - game 5 lay an egg. Montreal 3-1 - choke. Tampa up in the 3rd of game 6 - choke. The real series for me starts when the Leafs get a chance like the last 5 years and see how they respond. They need to play their best hockey when the chips are down.
 
Anthrax442 said:
playoff dates determined yet?
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Game 1 will be either Monday or Tuesday.
Game 2 will be either Wednesday or Thursday.
Game 3 likely next Saturday as Friday is booked at Amalie.

That's about all we know. I'd imagine the schedule is announced tomorrow night after the games are finished and all the match ups are set.
 
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