Pre-Game Talk: Leafs vs. Lightning

[leaffaninvancouver]

Any reason spezza keeps getting scratched? Weird you sit him out for simmonds

I expect to see them do this with a few of the older vets, giving them maintance days to get ready for the playoffs. Also good to get the people who will be called up if we run into injuries some playing experience.

 

[zeke]

I love games against Tampa. The talent level is absurd.

Marner - Matthews - Kucherov
Stamkos - Point - Nylander
Killorn - Tavares - Palat
Bunting - Cierlli - Maroon

Hedman - Rielly
Sergechev - Giordano
McDonagh - Brodie

Vasi

Not bad.

Imo tho McDonagh doesn't belong there and Maroon definitely doesn't belong there.

 

[Bellzy]

That 4th line though

 

[ToneDog]

That 4th line though

That 4th line will be needed to go up against Perry, Maroon and Bellmare. Could be some fireworks.

 

[riffle]

Golf fever? Or, maybe the "tootsie slides"? Hate when that happens.



^^^^^ Jen Botterill has (probably) commented that next gen fans want to see more of this opposed to guys like Biss.

 

[TorMapleJays]

Golf fever? Or, maybe the "tootsie slides"? Hate when that happens.

Willy Nye rocking a crucifix. Same with Matthews.

 

[zeke]

Golf fever? Or, maybe the "tootsie slides"? Hate when that happens.



^^^^^ Jen Botterill has (probably) commented that next gen fans want to see more of this opposed to guys like Biss.

Willy is the best.

literally designed to piss off all the boomers.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Willy is the best.

literally designed to piss off all the boomers.

He looks fine, apart from the socks with sandals..

 

[crump]

That 4th line will be needed to go up against Perry, Maroon and Bellmare. Could be some fireworks.

Geez, that Tampa Bay 4th line has their own t-shirt

Maroon is 33, Bellemare is 37 Perry is 36
Clifford is 31. Spezza is 38 and Simmonds is 33
if we have Blackwell on that line he is is 29.

Lets hope this is our vintage year.

 

[zeke]

Looks like TBay gets McDonagh back tonight.

 

[HEAVY DUTY]

When was the last time Bunting scored a goal? Seems like it was ages ago.

edit: it was Mar 07 against Columbus. Hasn't scored in 12 games. yikes.

needs to get on it.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

We're more likely to beat the Lightning than the Habs

 

[zeke]

Looks like TBay gets McDonagh back tonight.

false alarm.

 

[notbias]

When was the last time Bunting scored a goal? Seems like it was ages ago.

edit: it was Mar 07 against Columbus. Hasn't scored in 12 games. yikes.

needs to get on it.

He's still doing his job, I wouldn't be too upset if Marner and Matthews keep scoring like they are and he is just on the forecheck creating chaos and fishing pucks out.

 

[zeke]

so he's ready to go, they just don't want to start him off with back2backs.

so all eyes on the dman TOI tonight to see who might potentially be coming out of the lineup for muzz tommorrow.

 

[Scion]

so he's ready to go, they just don't want to start him off with back2backs.

so all eyes on the dman TOI tonight to see who might potentially be coming out of the lineup for muzz tommorrow.

My guess is the bottom 3 rotate a bit before the playoffs. Regardless of who the Leafs go with they are going to need 7 D if they want to go far in the playoffs.

 

[zeke]

My guess is the bottom 3 rotate a bit before the playoffs. Regardless of who the Leafs go with they are going to need 7 D if they want to go far in the playoffs.

still interesting to see what Keefe's first instincts are here - is his first instinct to put Brodie back with Mo as the top pair? or to reunite him with Gio and keep Boosh on the top pair?

 

[AuraSphere]

so he's ready to go, they just don't want to start him off with back2backs.

so all eyes on the dman TOI tonight to see who might potentially be coming out of the lineup for muzz tommorrow.O

It'll be either Liljegren or Lybush. My bet is Lily given his sheltered TOI.

Rielly - Lybushkin
Giordano - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl

Kind of sick of seeing Lybush with Rielly - but I imagine this is what Keefe will do

 

[X66]

In the Keefe era, we play Tampa pretty well.

Unlike other teams, we can make them pay from mistakes.

 

[zeke]

It'll be either Liljegren or Lybush. My bet is Lily given his sheltered TOI.

Rielly - Lybushkin
Giordano - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl

Kind of sick of seeing Lybush with Rielly - but I imagine this is what Keefe will do

the funny thing is in that set-up.......Rielly-Boosh actually likely becomes our softest usage, bottom pairing.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Rielly Lyubushkin
Muzzin Brodie
Giordano Liljegren

Would be nice.

 

[AuraSphere]

the funny thing is in that set-up.......Rielly-Boosh actually likely becomes our softest usage, bottom pairing.

Honestly - if Keefe is smart, he probably does this:

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl/Lybush
Giordano - Liljegren


You don't play with the 1st or 3rd pairing, they have proven to be effective. Let Holl/Lybush fight it out for a spot with muzzin (which i imagine will go to Holl given the past chemistry and also seeing how his TOI is reflected)

 

[Rob Brown]

Rielly Lyubushkin
Muzzin Brodie
Giordano Liljegren

Would be nice.

Yeah I feel like Liljegren has looked good with Gio. Doesn’t really make sense to take him out.

 

[Apex Predator]

I think when Muzzin returns we’ll see

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Gio - Lyub

I would like to see

Rielly - Lyub
Muzzin - Brodie
Gio - Liljegren


If Muzzin can get back to his self they can take on the tough minutes.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Yeah I feel like Liljegren has looked good with Gio. Doesn’t really make sense to take him out.

Agreee they look great. I've liked the Rielly-Lyubushkin and Giordano-Liljegren pairings. Muzzin-Holl have not looked good together all year. Rather not reunite them.