Pre-Game Talk: Leafs vs Tampa game 7

[PromisedLand]

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

Idc anymore i just got 2 accepted offers with early completions. Win or don't. Life goes on.

Win tho

 

[SoftDumpNtheCorner88]

Refs don't care.

It's the same bullshit year after year with this team. One of the Top possession hockey teams in the league near the bottom for drawing calls, near the top for calls against. No coincidence that come playoffs Leafs and Tampa are top of the league in PPs and Toronto has a full 20min gap over Tampa on penalties.. even on games when we try to not take a penalty (last night) they find away to put us on a disadvantage when Tampa needed it.

It's something that should be addressed but won't... Because we will be watched like a hawk all year. Same thing happened with the Raptors for YEARSS until we got Leonard.

We would probably have HALF the PPs we do at Home if it wasn't for our home crowd doing their job for them... Remember that Stamkos trip on Matthews?... How fast the ref tried to look away to pretend he didn't see it?? The crowd went nuts and forced the call.... That should say a lot.

Game 7 in Toronto hoping the crowd does the job again because we know the Refs will never blow it in our favour.


I'm also betting they are calling it tight because this year we were ready for a rough play offs and Simmonds and Clifford show up to lead the way and we actually play good with them on the team and that style (check the record) but seeing that we had an edge there the refs nullified it and called it tight making them sit. They were also getting out of hand but still the momentum was in our favor in scrums this year.. with them in the line up.

 

[Eddo22]

I thinkBunting 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 too would like to see Bunting from the regular season playing, instead of playoffs Bunting and the Bunting that came back after the Bunting injury.

 

[Gallagbi]

The video is spot on, especially ONeill's comments about letting the second go.

And if not, you call the 3-4 blatant calls in OT instead of swallowing your whistle. Then you know you've given some opportunities.

 

[Mess]

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

You have to win 4 rounds to hoist the Cup and Tampa is back to back champs.

That means in series clinching/Cup winning determining games they're a perfect 8-0, either advancing to the next round or hoisting the Cup.

To make matters worse Vas has posted a shutout in 5 consecutive series/Cup winning games spanning two playoff years now.

Those are simply the facts on the table that our Leafs are facing now that this has gone to 7 games.

Every Leaf fan on the planet also knows Leafs success in series clinging games as the last successful one occurred in 2004.

All I'm saying is there is a clear favourite here and clear underdog based on those historical stats of the past and trending patterns.

Maybe it will be a good thing to get the monkey of their backs with a big win, as it would come under these extreme circumstances of historical trends to alter each teams past records.

Hey I'm betting on change myself, because nothing lasts forever.

 

[leafsfan5]

You have to win 4 rounds to hoist the Cup and Tampa is back to back champs.

That means in series clinching/Cup winning determining games they're a perfect 8-0, either advancing to the next round or hoisting the Cup.

To make matters worse Vas has posted a shutout in 5 consecutive series/Cup winning games spanning two playoff years now.

Those are simply the facts on the table that our Leafs are facing now that this has gone to 7 games.

Every Leaf fan on the planet also knows Leafs success in series clinging games as the last successful one occurred in 2004.

All I'm saying is there is a clear favourite here and clear underdog based on those historical stats of the past.

Maybe it will be a good thing to get the monkey of their backs with a big win, as it would come under these extreme circumstances of historical trends to alter each teams past records.

Hey I'm betting on change myself, because nothing lasts forever.

Tampa is a very formidable opponent but you're attempting to make them appear better than they are

An opportunity to clinch a series is when you have 3 wins and can get the 4th. In their cup run last year for instance, Tampa had an opportunity to clinch a series 7 times:

Round 1 versus Florida:
Chance to clinch in game 5 - Lost
Chance to clinch in game 6 - Won

Round 2 versus Carolina:
Chance to clinch in game 5 - won

Round 3 versus NYI:
Chance to clinch in game 6 - lost
Chance to clinch in game 7 - won

Round 4 versus Montreal:
Chance to clinch in game 4 - lost
Chance to clinch in game 5 - won

You're literally removing all the unsuccessful opportunities they had to clinch to give them that 8-0 record. Why are you doing that?

 

[Leafsfan74]

If Leafs win this game I will consider it the fifth win this series against T.B. That is how atrocious and.offensive the reffing has been.

Leaf fans need to engage in a full on old Montreal Forum " Maurice Richard-suspension-esque" reaction if the refs continue to violate the integrity of the game.

Even if Leafs win this game and recieve 8 PPs, this league has probably (finally) lost me as a fan. I'm sure I'm not alone. Hockey fans should feel insulted.

 

[danron1376]

You have to win 4 rounds to hoist the Cup and Tampa is back to back champs.

That means in series clinching/Cup winning determining games they're a perfect 8-0, either advancing to the next round or hoisting the Cup.

To make matters worse Vas has posted a shutout in 5 consecutive series/Cup winning games spanning two playoff years now.

Those are simply the facts on the table that our Leafs are facing now that this has gone to 7 games.

Every Leaf fan on the planet also knows Leafs success in series clinging games as the last successful one occurred in 2004.

All I'm saying is there is a clear favourite here and clear underdog based on those historical stats of the past and trending patterns.

Maybe it will be a good thing to get the monkey of their backs with a big win, as it would come under these extreme circumstances of historical trends to alter each teams past records.

Hey I'm betting on change myself, because nothing lasts forever.

crazy stat for Vasi. i hope the Leafs don't take that in the wrong way and try to beat him with perfect shots and wind up not scoring as a result.

 

[napoleon in rags]

I'll watch with hope tempered by lack of faith.

 

[Nineteen67]

This team has already proven they can compete. It took Matthews a while to learn that his body can be a weapon. Rather than getting ragged-dolled and laughing about it he’s fighting back. He took a suspension and I’m all for doing it again next season.

Knowing what it takes, knowing how to play in the playoffs, although a couple of years too late, is a huge step forward for this group.

Play the same way tomorrow night and it’s a no lose situation, in my opinion.

 

[Mess]

crazy stat for Vasi. i hope the Leafs don't take that in the wrong way and try to beat him with perfect shots and wind up not scoring as a result.

Jack Campbell stole game #5 for Toronto and as of yet Vas has not been able to hold the Leafs offense in check.

But Vas has a proven history of saving his best game for the last game of a series., Leafs will need their A game to advance.

 

[ToMaLe]

Can the Leafs please give us a different movie to watch, we can only watch Groundhog Day so many times…

 

[Nineteen67]

Jack Campbell stole game #5 for Toronto and as of yet Vas has not been able to hold the Leafs offense in check.

But Vas has a proven history of saving his best game for the last game of a series., Leafs will need their A game to advance.

Hes been great in clinching games, but I think it’s the team’s commitment to D that allows him to have that shutout streak.

 

[Stephen]

Jack Campbell stole game #5 for Toronto and as of yet Vas has not been able to hold the Leafs offense in check.

But Vas has a proven history of saving his best game for the last game of a series., Leafs will need their A game to advance.

Leafs need to make tomorrow night our very own version of the Islanders/Oilers handover in 1984. No doubt, the Lightning were probably icing down and all business yesterday after the OT win, and they've been on top of a long time. But Toronto needs to ramp it up and really take it to them. Out skate them, out hit them, disrespect them, weather their attempts, stay disciplined and focused and just win. Have a big start, let it snowball in a good way, don't look back. Feed off the home crowd, make our own heroes, break all our bad streaks, start good new streaks.

 

[Burnie97]

If Leafs win this game I will consider it the fifth win this series against T.B. That is how atrocious and.offensive the reffing has been.

Leaf fans need to engage in a full on old Montreal Forum " Maurice Richard-suspension-esque" reaction if the refs continue to violate the integrity of the game.

Even if Leafs win this game and recieve 8 PPs, this league has probably (finally) lost me as a fan. I'm sure I'm not alone. Hockey fans should feel insulted.

It has been f***ing atrocious I agree.

The odd person on this board will laugh at this. They'll say Kerfoot sucked etc. Absolutely he f***ed up... but Leafs were in a spot to win that game last night and then 2 f***ing phantom calls for a 5 on 3. Not just to make it a 5 on 4 but a f***ing 5 on 3. Anyone who watches those replays on either penalty and can explain how either were a penalty .... good luck.

The refs suck.

Like many have said... like when Leafs are in Boston... the fans have to go nuts and the refs will call it. They're at home. Use it to your advantage. Leafs can win it. Go f***ing do it.

Oh yeah... f*** Tampa... f*** the refs.

 

[Canadian Finn]

Plan on being very loud tomorrow night.

signed - big Finn with a very loud voice.

 

[Cleetus]

Can the Leafs please give us a different movie to watch, we can only watch Groundhog Day so many times…

 

[Nineteen67]

The refs have several examples of TB embellishing so hopefully they take that into account tomorrow.

But…..I fully expect a Leaf to get penalised for diving, likely in the first 1/2 of the 3rd.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Odog right on the money. Yes we could have won inspite of the dog shit refs but my god to get it so wrong in such a pivotal moment of the game? Pathetic. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and I guess the league wants the game to be as close to it as possible. All last night told the hockey world is that to win you give yourself a much better chance diving.

 

[Kiwi]

Jesus, this place is bleak

I wouldn't want to be in a foxhole with about 95% of you and you're negative attitudes

This team is bloody good, Tampa won in OT at home by the skin of there teeth but I'm supposed to believe we can't win this thing at home in game 7? Bull****

You bet your ass we can win and we will, that's how much I believe in these guys after watching them this entire season

WE CAN AND WE WILL

 

[ShaneFalco]

Jesus, this place is bleak

I wouldn't want to be in a foxhole with about 95% of you and you're negative attitudes

This team is bloody good, Tampa won in OT at home by the skin of there teeth but I'm supposed to believe we can't win this thing at home in game 7? Bull****

You bet your ass we can win and we will, that's how much I believe in these guys after watching them this entire season

WE CAN AND WE WILL

I love it when someone says leaf fans are negative
And then goes on to say if you don't agree with me you're basically a hater

 

[6ix]

When you break down their 0-8 record in series clinching games, the thing that stands out to me if they’ve never had the better goalie, in fact they’ve always had a goalie notorious for letting in soft goals.

Holtby > Andersen
Rask >> Andersen
Korpisalo = Andersen (that year)
Price >> Campbell
Vasilevsky >> Campbell

Vasilevsky hasn’t been as great compared to previous seasons overall, but with the chips on the line in OT he was as good as ever. The ability to lock in when it mattered.

Forwards can get you through the regular season. A bonafide #1 goalie gets you through playoff rounds.

 

[hockeyes]

It has been f***ing atrocious I agree.

The odd person on this board will laugh at this. They'll say Kerfoot sucked etc. Absolutely he f***ed up... but Leafs were in a spot to win that game last night and then 2 f***ing phantom calls for a 5 on 3. Not just to make it a 5 on 4 but a f***ing 5 on 3. Anyone who watches those replays on either penalty and can explain how either were a penalty .... good luck.

The refs suck.

Like many have said... like when Leafs are in Boston... the fans have to go nuts and the refs will call it. They're at home. Use it to your advantage. Leafs can win it. Go f***ing do it.

Oh yeah... f*** Tampa... f*** the refs.

I'm glad people are commenting on just how much of a joke the league is, from their player suspensions to their in game reffing, it's a clown show.

I can acknowledge a mistake or whatever on the first call but to put a team down late in an elimination game 5 on 3 without being absolutely 100% f***ing sure they deserve to be down 2, should warrant an immediate firing and never reffing a game again. It's either incompetence or corruption, full stop.

 

[Dreakmur]

Refs don't care.

It's the same bullshit year after year with this team. One of the Top possession hockey teams in the league near the bottom for drawing calls, near the top for calls against. No coincidence that come playoffs Leafs and Tampa are top of the league in PPs and Toronto has a full 20min gap over Tampa on penalties.. even on games when we try to not take a penalty (last night) they find away to put us on a disadvantage when Tampa needed it.

It's something that should be addressed but won't... Because we will be watched like a hawk all year. Same thing happened with the Raptors for YEARSS until we got Leonard.

We would probably have HALF the PPs we do at Home if it wasn't for our home crowd doing their job for them... Remember that Stamkos trip on Matthews?... How fast the ref tried to look away to pretend he didn't see it?? The crowd went nuts and forced the call.... That should say a lot.

Game 7 in Toronto hoping the crowd does the job again because we know the Refs will never blow it in our favour.


I'm also betting they are calling it tight because this year we were ready for a rough play offs and Simmonds and Clifford show up to lead the way and we actually play good with them on the team and that style (check the record) but seeing that we had an edge there the refs nullified it and called it tight making them sit. They were also getting out of hand but still the momentum was in our favor in scrums this year.. with them in the line up.

You don’t draw penalties by possessing the puck. You draw penalties by challenging the defence by entering dangerous areas.

I'm glad people are commenting on just how much of a joke the league is, from their player suspensions to their in game reffing, it's a clown show.

I can acknowledge a mistake or whatever on the first call but to put a team down late in an elimination game 5 on 3 without being absolutely 100% f***ing sure they deserve to be down 2, should warrant an immediate firing and never reffing a game again. It's either incompetence or corruption, full stop.

The first one looked enough like a high stick that the referee had to call it. Upon video review, Foote should get fined after the game. The second one was an obvious call.