Series Talk: Leafs vs Lightning Pre-Playoff Thread

[mikeyz]

first round is irrelevant anyways

And yet I will be willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of Leafs fans on this board would stucco their entire house if they won a round.

 

[Mess]

Vasy getting hot at the wrong time

Vasilevskiy leads 3 Stars of the Week | NHL.com

Lightning goalie, Oilers forward Draisaitl, Pastrnak of Bruins earn honors

www.nhl.com

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, Edmonton Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl and Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak are the NHL's three stars of the week.

Vasilevskiy posted a 3-0-0 record with two shutouts and a .990 save percentage after stopping 99 of the 100 shots he faced.

The 2021 Conn Smythe trophy winner is tied for fifth in the league with a .918 save percentage this season.

 

[leafsfan5]

My biggest concern for this playoffs can be summarized in a tweet:



That needs to be updated to 1-9 btw. These guys need to show they aren't complacent and step on TB's throat, but I really don't know if they have it in them

 

[TMLegend]

If they don't win a round this year this core will never win a round.

Tampa's finally vulnerable. Shaky depth on defense and up front.

Legit blow it up if they lose.

 

[thusk]

My biggest concern for this playoffs can be summarized in a tweet:



That needs to be updated to 1-9 btw. These guys need to show they aren't complacent and step on TB's throat, but I really don't know if they have it in them

Some of those game started with weak goaltending

at 3-1 vs mtl trash start of Campbell


3-2 : beach ball from blueline goes in in Ot

1-0 vs tampa : leafs played a great 1st period and let a weak goal right at the end of 1st period because hes overplayed it, so after being outplayed in 1st period, they came back in locker room with a lead and momemtum. They came back with a quick goal 2nd period and leafs never be the same after.

3-2 : 2 first goal of bolt was pretty weak and game winner goal was also pretty weak... long shot campbell didn't control and lost his positionning for absolutly no reason...

So it is how leafs responded or goalie issues? Or both?

 

[myleafs]

I don't even want to see Boston's name in this thread. Neither team is a lock to win their round.

I will take that bet

 

[Recipe Unlimited]

Edit: nvm

 

[TorMapleJays]

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, Edmonton Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl and Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak are the NHL's three stars of the week.

Vasilevskiy posted a 3-0-0 record with two shutouts and a .990 save percentage after stopping 99 of the 100 shots he faced.

The 2021 Conn Smythe trophy winner is tied for fifth in the league with a .918 save percentage this season.

Unsustainable for 3-4 weeks. He will cool off, and hopefully just like baseball, after a heater, he will go into a slump.

He’s never played well vs Toronto

Some of those game started with weak goaltending

at 3-1 vs mtl trash start of Campbell


3-2 : beach ball from blueline goes in in Ot

1-0 vs tampa : leafs played a great 1st period and let a weak goal right at the end of 1st period because hes overplayed it, so after being outplayed in 1st period, they came back in locker room with a lead and momemtum. They came back with a quick goal 2nd period and leafs never be the same after.

3-2 : 2 first goal of bolt was pretty weak and game winner goal was also pretty weak... long shot campbell didn't control and lost his positionning for absolutly no reason...

So it is how leafs responded or goalie issues? Or both?

Both for game 4.

They must have been enjoying too many roof top bevies at the hotel the night before

 

[mapleleafs34]

Game 1 Forward Lines should be this:
Bunting-Matthews-Jarnkrok (2 players that have great chemistry with Auston, If Tampa focuses on Line 2, Auston will feast)
Tavares-O'Reilly-Marner (Offensive fire power & elite defensively, match them up with Kuch line)
Kerfoot-Lafferty-Nylander (TONS of speed, let Willy feast on weaker lines)
ZAR-Kampf-Acciari (Very reliable defensive 4th line)

 

[ShaneFalco]

Murray injured? Noone saw that coming

 

[rocketman588]

My biggest concern for this playoffs can be summarized in a tweet:



That needs to be updated to 1-9 btw. These guys need to show they aren't complacent and step on TB's throat, but I really don't know if they have it in them

The biggest issue I have with last year was they looked hung over after they won game 3 they basically hung a mission accomplished banner and got dummied instead of going for Tampa's throats it's a different series at 3-1

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Leafs are big and strong now. Won’t lose because of physicality. Maybe.

Among those teams, there is some very notable movement from season to season. Both Toronto and Edmonton have made a point of becoming tougher to play against and it seems the two teams have accomplished that in terms of becoming “heavier.” For the Leafs, it’s clear that being in a division with Boston and Tampa Bay was a key factor and though they’re still the lightest of the three, Toronto is right in the ballpark with the two East heavyweights. Time will tell if that’s the difference this season.

 

[ICBM]

Current Leafs remind me of 00-02 Penguins. Soft skilled forward group, weak and soft defense (Kasparaitis was the only bright spot), endless goalie carousel. Similar fragile team. They also weren't deep enough. Two great scoring lines and it was it.
Pens went deep in the playoffs in 2001, but their forwards were way more talented group and competition was way weaker than what Leafs gonna face this year.
To beat Tampa or Boston Leafs ought to have three scoring lines. There is no way around it. That's the only way to compensate for weak defense and inexperienced goalie.
Since they only have 2 scoring lines and no grit or character in leadership group (besides ROR)... Their chances are slim.

 

[IPS]

My biggest concern for this playoffs can be summarized in a tweet:



That needs to be updated to 1-9 btw. These guys need to show they aren't complacent and step on TB's throat, but I really don't know if they have it in them

Trailing the series: 7-3
Series is even: 7-10
Leading the series: 1-8


That's.... disturbing. And that one game was game 4 against Montreal, and we all know how the rest of the series went.

 

[leafsfan5]

Some of those game started with weak goaltending

at 3-1 vs mtl trash start of Campbell


3-2 : beach ball from blueline goes in in Ot

1-0 vs tampa : leafs played a great 1st period and let a weak goal right at the end of 1st period because hes overplayed it, so after being outplayed in 1st period, they came back in locker room with a lead and momemtum. They came back with a quick goal 2nd period and leafs never be the same after.

3-2 : 2 first goal of bolt was pretty weak and game winner goal was also pretty weak... long shot campbell didn't control and lost his positionning for absolutly no reason...

So it is how leafs responded or goalie issues? Or both?

They blew 1-0,2-1,3-2 leads in 2019 before Campbell came around. This has been an issue for a while now, regardless of Campbell's struggles

Also, to be fair to Campbell in game 5 against MTL the Leafs were getting outplayed the first half of the game. The same thing occurred in game 6, except Campbell kept them in it. The same issue happened last year in game 4 of the TB series, we got run over 10 minutes in because we were terrible to start

The Leafs need to start on time in games they know the opponent will be desperate, but they don't

Trailing the series: 7-3
Series is even: 7-10
Leading the series: 1-8


That's.... disturbing. And that one game was game 4 against Montreal, and we all know how the rest of the series went.

The roster we have right now is great and probably the deepest it's ever been (as well as the most conducive to playoff success). But, it's tough to be confident with statistics like this, the core just doesn't string together consistent efforts to put teams away. I will need to see it to believe they can do it

Also, that tweet was after game 4, they're now 1-9 when leading a series

 

[Metroid]

My biggest concern for this playoffs can be summarized in a tweet:



That needs to be updated to 1-9 btw. These guys need to show they aren't complacent and step on TB's throat, but I really don't know if they have it in them

So leafs should just let Tampa take a 3-0 lead..based on % and shit, we have a better chance at winning in 7 that way....lol

 

[thusk]

They blew 1-0,2-1,3-2 leads in 2019 before Campbell came around. This has been an issue for a while now, regardless of Campbell's struggles

Also, to be fair to Campbell in game 5 against MTL the Leafs were getting outplayed the first half of the game. The same thing occurred in game 6, except Campbell kept them in it. The same issue happened last year in game 4 of the TB series, we got run over 10 minutes in because we were terrible to start

The Leafs need to start on time in games they know the opponent will be desperate, but they don't


The roster we have right now is great and probably the deepest it's ever been (as well as the most conducive to playoff success). But, it's tough to be confident with statistics like this, the core just doesn't string together consistent efforts to put teams away. I will need to see it to believe they can do it

Also, that tweet was after game 4, they're now 1-9 when leading a series

Game 5 its not true... 2 of 3 first habs goal was trash... but overall ...Scoring chance was 13-11 in favor of mtl after 1, HDSC 7-2 in favor of leafs... but soon in the second period leaf was aleady down by 3 because of Campbell struggle...

Game 6, yes im agree

 

[thusk]

They blew 1-0,2-1,3-2 leads in 2019 before Campbell came around. This has been an issue for a while now, regardless of Campbell's struggles

Also, to be fair to Campbell in game 5 against MTL the Leafs were getting outplayed the first half of the game. The same thing occurred in game 6, except Campbell kept them in it. The same issue happened last year in game 4 of the TB series, we got run over 10 minutes in because we were terrible to start

The Leafs need to start on time in games they know the opponent will be desperate, but they don't


The roster we have right now is great and probably the deepest it's ever been (as well as the most conducive to playoff success). But, it's tough to be confident with statistics like this, the core just doesn't string together consistent efforts to put teams away. I will need to see it to believe they can do it

Also, that tweet was after game 4, they're now 1-9 when leading a series

Not necessairly the deepest, i dont think its the right thing... i think this year line up is just build more like a playoff team...

As exemple will compare this year team vs last year line up...

Last season amount nottom 6, kampf was the only NHl player driving the net, working hard and going in dirty area...

This season, kerfoot is the only one who play more in peripheric but didn't drive the net a lot or going in dirty area...

I dont think this line lineup is more talented but just playing the way you need to have playoff succes

 

[leafsfan5]

Game 5 its not true... 2 of 3 first habs goal was trash... but overall ...Scoring chance was 13-11 in favor of mtl after 1, HDSC 7-2 in favor of leafs... but soon in the second period leaf was aleady down by 3 because of Campbell struggle...

Game 6, yes im agree

Sure, game 5 they were fine, but there's still been enough of these kinds of performances that I'd lay the brunt of the blame on the team more so than the goalie. Campbell struggled at times, but we've done this with Freddy in net as well

Not necessairly the deepest, i dont think its the right thing... i think this year line up is just build more like a playoff team...

As exemple will compare this year team vs last year line up...

Last season amount nottom 6, kampf was the only NHl player driving the net, working hard and going in dirty area...

This season, kerfoot is the only one who play more in peripheric but didn't drive the net a lot or going in dirty area...

I dont think this line lineup is more talented but just playing the way you need to have playoff succes

I would say it's the deepest since JT has come here. The big 4 is in their prime, you have players like ROR/Acciari/Jarnkrok who are great support pieces. A fourth line that is actually playable, 6-8 NHL level defenseman, decent starter

I also didn't necessarily say more talented, I just think it's deeper and deep in the ways we need (playoff style hockey). With this in mind, it comes down to the core players of this team and coaching not becoming complacent. If we have Tampa down we need to strike, we didn't last year

 

[thusk]

Sure, game 5 they were fine, but there's still been enough of these kinds of performances that I'd lay the brunt of the blame on the team more so than the goalie. Campbell struggled at times, but we've done this with Freddy in net as well

I would say it's the deepest since JT has come here. The big 4 is in their prime, you have players like ROR/Acciari/Jarnkrok who are great support pieces. A fourth line that is actually playable, 6-8 NHL level defenseman, decent starter

I also didn't necessarily say more talented, I just think it's deeper and deep in the ways we need (playoff style hockey). With this in mind, it comes down to the core players of this team and coaching not becoming complacent. If we have Tampa down we need to strike, we didn't last year

But leafs didn't play the same way last 2 or 3 year than first 3

They changed the way they played in playoff...

 

[BTP]

Would be nice to finally break the curse this year

 

[Auston Escobar]

Our last game against Tampa, do we dress a “full”lineup or fill it with Marlies and depth players. Do you play Samsonov or Murray.

Marlies, Growlers and Kallgren in net.

 

[Gary Nylund]

And yet I will be willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of Leafs fans on this board would stucco their entire house if they won a round.

LOL WTF? Is there some hidden meaning here I'm not aware of? Is stucco even a thing anymore?

Sure, game 5 they were fine, but there's still been enough of these kinds of performances that I'd lay the brunt of the blame on the team more so than the goalie. Campbell struggled at times, but we've done this with Freddy in net as well

I would say it's the deepest since JT has come here. The big 4 is in their prime, you have players like ROR/Acciari/Jarnkrok who are great support pieces. A fourth line that is actually playable, 6-8 NHL level defenseman, decent starter

I also didn't necessarily say more talented, I just think it's deeper and deep in the ways we need (playoff style hockey). With this in mind, it comes down to the core players of this team and coaching not becoming complacent. If we have Tampa down we need to strike, we didn't last year

Best Leaf team I've seen in 50+ years, on paper anyway. I don't like the way they played since the TDL but whatever, when the playoffs start I'll be like a little kid again, dreaming about my team playing to their maximum potential. Now that's something this team hasn't done in the playoffs in literally decades but if this collection of talent can somehow get the most out of themselves, be all they can be as it were, watch out! Who knows, maybe this will be the year.

 

[Racer88]

LOL WTF? Is there some hidden meaning here I'm not aware of? Is stucco even a thing anymore?


Best Leaf team I've seen in 50+ years, on paper anyway. I don't like the way they played since the TDL but whatever, when the playoffs start I'll be like a little kid again, dreaming about my team playing to their maximum potential. Now that's something this team hasn't done in the playoffs in literally decades but if this collection of talent can somehow get the most out of themselves, be all they can be as it were, watch out! Who knows, maybe this will be the year.

I was thinking the same thing trying to figure out what he meant by stucco

 

[Stephen]

Current Leafs remind me of 00-02 Penguins. Soft skilled forward group, weak and soft defense (Kasparaitis was the only bright spot), endless goalie carousel. Similar fragile team. They also weren't deep enough. Two great scoring lines and it was it.
Pens went deep in the playoffs in 2001, but their forwards were way more talented group and competition was way weaker than what Leafs gonna face this year.
To beat Tampa or Boston Leafs ought to have three scoring lines. There is no way around it. That's the only way to compensate for weak defense and inexperienced goalie.
Since they only have 2 scoring lines and no grit or character in leadership group (besides ROR)... Their chances are slim.

This team reminds me of the Alfredsson era Senators that kept running into the Toronto wall year after year and had their psychological blocks in the big games, playing somewhat timid in the elimination moments, having the elite forwards up front, the skill advantage neutralized by the muscle disadvantage and kind of going budget in net. That said, the Sens did go on a couple of deep runs but 2003 coincided with avoiding Toronto and in 2007 when they were a little bit past their prime. Where we would be on that curve, we won’t know until the games are played.