Pre-Game Talk: Leafs vs Tampa game 7

[danron1376]

any refs or former refs here? surely it's a bad feeling when a player tricks you with embelllishment. surely the refs for the next game saw the embellishment and don't want to be clowned? i hope they don't give tampa the benefit of the doubt from now on. of course this is asking too much.

He was buzzing but did he generate anything at all? It was a lot of stick handling into corner and losing the puck.

fair comment. it's more about kerfoot being a disappointment and not being able to make up for it.

 

[showtime8]

fans need to be on the refs all night long, because they are just waiting to give the leafs a penalty.

The biggest thing for me is that the momentum of the 3rd period was good up until that point. The refs were letting some things go and then Tampa sells the 2 high sticking calls.

Hopefully the refs let them play, but the Leafs can't let them dictate play anyways.

For Game 7, the first 10 minutes will determine how the Leafs will fare in the game. They need to take the momentum and run with it.

 

[CelticDruid]

He was the best skater in game 6 for either team, probably because have fresh he still is. They need to use him more.

I think Blackwell should take Buntings spot, as Bunting just doesn't look right coming back from his injury.

Either that or switching Engvall and Blackwell around.

 

[Buds17]

OT yesterday and a Game 7 tomorrow night. Tomorrow's absolutely going to be...something. Can only hope that the "something" referenced is positive and celebratory for the Leafs and the fan base.

 

[GojuLeaf]

Don't we have to HAVE a contending team for us to get "another" contending team?

Coming 4th in the league in points and taking the 2x champions to a game 7 is pretty much the definition of a contending team.

 

[Mr_Fun]

Hope the players are in a better frame of mind than the "I don't think I can watch it" crowd.

I'm watching this from start to finish, for better or for worse. This could be something epic that I wouldn't not want to see in real time. If they lose ill get over it, as much as I'll miss watching this exciting hockey with a so called dog in the race.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Hope the players are in a better frame of mind than the "I don't think I can watch it" crowd.

Last year, Game 7 felt like walking to the gallows. This season, I'm more confident in the Leafs' ability to win given how they've played, but just based on reffing and curses, I can see us ending up with a loss.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Last year, Game 7 felt like walking to the gallows. This season, I'm more confident in the Leafs' ability to win given how they've played, but just based on reffing and curses, I can see us ending up with a loss.

I'm trying to think of the most painful way to lose and then seeing if there is a prop bet that correlates. It's mostly scar tissue at this point but if they can find a way to drive that knife deeper they will.

 

[Mr_Fun]

any refs or former refs here? surely it's a bad feeling when a player tricks you with embelllishment. surely the refs for the next game saw the embellishment and don't want to be clowned? i hope they don't give tampa the benefit of the doubt from now on. of course this is asking too much.


fair comment. it's more about kerfoot being a disappointment and not being able to make up for it.

I remember Billy Smith clowned the refs for a 5 minute major against Glen Anderson in the 1983 finals. The next year, Lumley obliterated Smith in the finals and there was no call. I'm pretty certain the ref remembered the incident from the previous year and took appropriate action -- nothing.

Hopefully, we get the same kind of courtesy tomorrow.

 

[Eddo22]

Someone linked this to me and it was a very interesting breakdown on the series officiating

Leafs have been the most penalized team in the playoffs. If you look at all the other series the penalites are about even. Of course that doesn't tell the whole story. The reality is that if Toronto deserved 130 minutes of penalties (which I have no doubt they have), they are one of, if not the cleanest team in the game. Every other team should have at least 130 minutes.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Last year, Game 7 felt like walking to the gallows. This season, I'm more confident in the Leafs' ability to win given how they've played, but just based on reffing and curses, I can see us ending up with a loss.

I'm pretty confident we will show up and play hard, that's a lot more than we've done in recent years and I think this just because this group has a different aura. If we suck again in game 7 though then it's time for major changes.

I can see us losing because TB is a very good team. I think we've had the edge in play but it's a very slight edge and with two teams this evenly matched, anyone could win one deciding game.

The biggest question mark before the series is Campbell and that hasn't changed. If has one of his good nights, then I like our chances. But then again, I could say the same thing about Vasi so ... we'll see.

 

[Torontonian]

Simply, Toronto needs to get and play with a lead, and force Tampa to start taking risks and expose them. They cannot afford to do what they have done in the previous 4 years of game 7's and sit back afraid to make a play, they need to attack and attack with no passengers.

This game 7 will be if they have learned anything from the previous failures. If they play passive and afraid to make a mistake, it's going to cost them. As 34 said last night, they need to put there balls on the line and go for it.

 

[tom leafers]

Time for a clutch goal from Mik or Engvall, theyve been disappointing this series after having break out regular seasons.

 

[bpower]

I think Bunting should take Buntings spot, as Bunting just doesn't look right coming back from his injury.

Either that or switching Engvall and Blackwell around.

This man is playing 3D chess, while the rest of us are playing checkers.

I'm trying to think of the most painful way to lose and then seeing if there is a prop bet that correlates. It's mostly scar tissue at this point but if they can find a way to drive that knife deeper they will.

haha, exactly. I think the Leafs will play well but ultimately lose in the most heart wrenching way possible. They find new ways to achieve this each and every year.

 

[CelticDruid]

This man is playing 3D chess, while the rest of us are playing checkers.


haha, exactly. I think the Leafs will play well but ultimately lose in the most heart wrenching way possible. They find new ways to achieve this each and every year.

Lol

Thanks for spotting that!

Updated.

 

[IPS]

I'm pretty confident we will show up and play hard, that's a lot more than we've done in recent years and I think this just because this group has a different aura. If we suck again in game 7 though then it's time for major changes.

I can see us losing because TB is a very good team. I think we've had the edge in play but it's a very slight edge and with two teams this evenly matched, anyone could win one deciding game.

The biggest question mark before the series is Campbell and that hasn't changed. If has one of his good nights, then I like our chances. But then again, I could say the same thing about Vasi so ... we'll see.

Every other year felt like a choke. This year doesn't feel like a choke at all. They're doing everything right and outplaying the defending champions but dumbass external circumstances are keeping them from what they've earned.

 

[Mess]

OT yesterday and a Game 7 tomorrow night. Tomorrow's absolutely going to be...something. Can only hope that the "something" referenced is positive and celebratory for the Leafs and the fan base.

The Maple Leafs, who’ve been eliminated in the first round each of the past five seasons, are 0-for-their-last-8 in close-out games.
vs.
Tampa Bay who have won 2 straight Cups, and are 8-0 for-their-last-8 in close-out games.

So in high pressure deciding games where an 8-0 team is facing a 0-8 team, then hoping for something special and positive to celebrate looks like the course of action one needs to take.

 

[leafsfan5]

The Maple Leafs, who’ve been eliminated in the first round each of the past five seasons, are 0-for-their-last-8 in close-out games.
vs.
Tampa Bay who have won 2 straight Cups, and are 8-0 for-their-last-8 in close-out games.

So in high pressure deciding games where an 8-0 team is facing a 0-8 team, then hoping for something special and positive to celebrate looks like the course of action one needs to take.

Tampa was up 3-2 against the Islanders last year and lost, they were also up 3-0 against MTL and lost. They're not 8-0 in their last 8 close-out games

Diving deeper into this, their last 8 games with a chance to close it out Tampa is 5-3

 

[Racer88]

Coming 4th in the league in points and taking the 2x champions to a game 7 is pretty much the definition of a contending team.

Countered by losing in the first round 6 years in a row is not the definition of a contending team
winning rounds is the sign of a contending team

 

[WTFMAN99]

0-9 in games they can eliminate the opponent....

How we losing Saturday? 5-1 stomping or heart breaker in OT?

 

[Racer88]

0-9 in games they can eliminate the opponent....

How we losing Saturday? 5-1 stomping or heart breaker in OT?

Stomping

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

0-9 in games they can eliminate the opponent....

How we losing Saturday? 5-1 stomping or heart breaker in OT?

OT - A Bogosian point shot will hit Giordano's ass and go in. This is after Matthews hits the crossbar

 

[Cleetus]

OT - A Bogosian point shot will hit Giordano's ass and go in. This is after Matthews hits the crossbar

with the puck or his teeth?

 

[leafsfan5]

In their last 4 series clinching wins Tampa has scored 8 goals, an average of 2 a night. Problem is they've allowed 0 lmfao. 4 shutouts in a row!

If we can get one early I like our chances as we'll get them out of the shell they want to play in. Need a strong start

 

[keonsbitterness]

The only silver lining of having game 7 is that the crowd is gonna be absolutely HYPE

The fans need to be huge sucks and yell for penalties, no matter how marginal. Put the refs under the biggest spotlight possible.

The Maple Leafs, who’ve been eliminated in the first round each of the past five seasons, are 0-for-their-last-8 in close-out games.
vs.
Tampa Bay who have won 2 straight Cups, and are 8-0 for-their-last-8 in close-out games.

So in high pressure deciding games where an 8-0 team is facing a 0-8 team, then hoping for something special and positive to celebrate looks like the course of action one needs to take.

Optimism is just dripping off your post.