Series Talk: North Division Round 1: Leafs (1) vs. Canadiens (4)

[Fogelhund]

Back to back playoff games are absurd.

Back to back games are tough, when the opponent rested the day before... hard to win games. This isn't the case here... both teams are on even terms. There is no advantage, disadvantage to us here. Just win the games.

 

[zeke]

We need to actually win a series, before we can be cocky... too many first round exits. Great team, great players, no success yet. Be humble, until you've won, and proven something. Regular season is meaningless.

You won't feel any better if we win two rounds.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Based on last night, I'd rather go with Rittich if we have to rest Campbell for a game.

I think I would too.

You won't feel any better if we win two rounds.

Most people feel better after winning than they do after losing.

 

[X66]

Leafs past playoff failures in all honesty are a bit overblown, and one of the bigger reasons for those failures will be on the bench this time around(Andersen).

Teams get to stuck on the Leafs not being able to win a round, that Caps team and those back to back Bruins teams are some of the hardest draws you can get in round 1, that's why I'm not as impressed with these teams that make it to round 2 or 3 but faced a team like Arizona or Vancouver to get there lol.

Last year was different, the Leafs were slight favourites against the Jackets but it was just such a weird year, playing a playoff game after a 5 month layoff, and only a 5 game series at that.

In reality, if the Leafs played the way they played in the last few playoffs, they'd mop the floor with this current Habs teams, the Leafs playoff performances have actually been quite strong outside of goaltending.

BUT, hockey is never that simple, obviously. Habs can totally win this series but it would be a big upset.

 

[egd27]

You won't feel any better if we win two rounds.

What are you basing that on ?

 

[DarkKnight]

Back to back games are tough, when the opponent rested the day before... hard to win games. This isn't the case here... both teams are on even terms. There is no advantage, disadvantage to us here. Just win the games.

Nope. I want the best hockey, it’s stupid and the risk of injury increases.

 

[Gallagbi]

The back to back is stupid but it evenly affects both teams. The Habs have a fair share of injuries to their team too.

If you're in a must-win situation you probably start Campbell on the second half (if they're down 2-1 in the series or 3-0). If not, then Rittich IMO. Depends on the situation and how Campbell plays too. If they're down that many games in the series, Campbell has probably struggled anyway.

If we're down 3-0, I think we're looking for a change in net. Campbell is either 0-3 or Fred just lost his opportunity.

The sky is also falling and this place is a a hell hole if we're down 3-0.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Back to back playoff games are absurd.

They have a end date they want to shoot for and it was likely going to result in 2 in 2 games. I mentioned it in the goaltending thread a bit ago. We need goalie depth if we want to rest our starter on this condensed schedule
Look on the bright side, we can finish them tools off in a record 5 days in a 7 game series

 

[666]

You seem easily confused. The Habs are our #1 rival regardless of how many times we've played them in the playoffs. We are the two most sucessful teams in NHL history, with the longest rivalry on and off the ice.

Just because you want it to be so doesn't mean it is. Go ahead, go to the Habs forum or the main boards and ask who the Habs biggest rival is. It will be the Bruins. We simply don't have a rivalry with anyone.

 

[egd27]

Just because you want it to be so doesn't mean it is. Go ahead, go to the Habs forum or the main boards and ask who the Habs biggest rival is. It will be the Bruins. We simply don't have a rivalry with anyone.

Have to disagree. The Bruins may be their biggest rival, doesn't mean a Leafs=Habs rivalry doesn't exist.

ri·val·ry
noun

1. competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.
   "commercial rivalry"

 

[dangomon]

With a back-to-back in the schedule it seems inevitable we need at least two goalies to win this series. Competence is all we ask for, let the players do the rest.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Have to disagree. The Bruins may be their biggest rival, doesn't mean a Leafs=Habs rivalry doesn't exist.

ri·val·ry
noun

1. competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.
   "commercial rivalry"

Yup. Seems like pretty basic stuff to me.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

We should take this easy but games will be close ... Price will win 1 game by himself but no way he takes 2 like he did last year against Pens ... and in a 7 game series it is too much to overcome .. 4-1 Leafs .. can't wait to kick some Hab *sss .. GLG

 

[X66]

Have to disagree. The Bruins may be their biggest rival, doesn't mean a Leafs=Habs rivalry doesn't exist.

ri·val·ry
noun

1. competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.
   "commercial rivalry"

And in all honesty, so many Habs Fans still rather see the Bruins win a cup than the Leafs, so as much people downplay the rivalry, deep, deep down the hate is there.

 

[666]

Have to disagree. The Bruins may be their biggest rival, doesn't mean a Leafs=Habs rivalry doesn't exist.

ri·val·ry
noun

1. competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.
   "commercial rivalry"

By that definition all pairs of teams are rivals. And let's face it we haven't been very close to superior in the modern era.

Here is the Leafs-Habs in the modern era:
1978 Semifinals: Canadiens, 4–0
1979 Quarterfinals: Canadiens, 4–0


Here is the Habs-Bruins in the modern era:
1968 Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–0
1969 Semifinals: Canadiens won, 4–2
1971 Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
1977 Stanley Cup Finals: Canadiens won, 4–0
1978 Stanley Cup Finals: Canadiens won, 4–2
1979 Semifinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
1984 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 3–0
1985 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 3–2
1986 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 3–0
1987 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 4–0
1988 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–1
1989 Division Finals: Canadiens won, 4–1[
1990 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–1
1991 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–3
1992 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–0
1994 Conference Quarterfinals: Bruins won, 4–3
2002 Conference Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–2
2004 Conference Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
2008 Conference Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
2009 Conference Quarterfinals: Bruins won, 4–0
2011 Conference Quarterfinals: Bruins won, 4–3
2014 Second Round: Canadiens won, 4–3

QED

 

[BertCorbeau]

Just because you want it to be so doesn't mean it is. Go ahead, go to the Habs forum or the main boards and ask who the Habs biggest rival is. It will be the Bruins. We simply don't have a rivalry with anyone.

 

[MapleLeafs9]

You won't feel any better if we win two rounds.

I disagree with this somewhat. I would definitely feel a lot better losing in the SCF or 3rd round over the 1st, but ultimately still be sad we couldn't win the cup. Making top 4 or the SCF is a pretty damn good year, and we'd definitely get chirped by non leaf fans/friends/family less.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I disagree with this somewhat. I would definitely feel a lot better losing in the SCF or 3rd round over the 1st, but ultimately still be sad we couldn't win the cup. Making top 4 or the SCF is a pretty damn good year, and we'd definitely get chirped by non leaf fans/friends/family less.

He's just being ridiculous. I'd feel better had we beaten CLB last season than I do now no matter what happened after that. Same goes for the year before against Boston. And the year before that. And the year before that. And the last time before that in the playoffs where we collapsed in the third against Boston, I'd have felt a LOT better had not pissed that game away and won the series instead.

I'll go out on a limb and say 99.99% of sports fans agree with me, winning feels better than losing.

 

[egd27]

By that definition all pairs of teams are rivals. And let's face it we haven't been very close to superior in the modern era.

Here is the Leafs-Habs in the modern era:
1978 Semifinals: Canadiens, 4–0
1979 Quarterfinals: Canadiens, 4–0


Here is the Habs-Bruins in the modern era:
1968 Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–0
1969 Semifinals: Canadiens won, 4–2
1971 Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
1977 Stanley Cup Finals: Canadiens won, 4–0
1978 Stanley Cup Finals: Canadiens won, 4–2
1979 Semifinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
1984 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 3–0
1985 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 3–2
1986 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 3–0
1987 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 4–0
1988 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–1
1989 Division Finals: Canadiens won, 4–1[
1990 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–1
1991 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–3
1992 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–0
1994 Conference Quarterfinals: Bruins won, 4–3
2002 Conference Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–2
2004 Conference Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
2008 Conference Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
2009 Conference Quarterfinals: Bruins won, 4–0
2011 Conference Quarterfinals: Bruins won, 4–3
2014 Second Round: Canadiens won, 4–3

QED

I assume the QED is referring to my statement that the Bruins were the Habs biggest rivals but a Leaf-Hab still exists. Glad we came to an agreement.

 

[MapleLeafs9]

He's just being ridiculous. I'd feel better had we beaten CLB last season than I do now no matter what happened after that. Same goes for the year before against Boston. And the year before that. And the year before that. And the last time before that in the playoffs where we collapsed in the third against Boston, I'd have felt a LOT better had not pissed that game away and won the series instead.

I'll go out on a limb and say 99.99% of sports fans agree with me, winning feels better than losing.

Yup, I guarantee Jets fans feel a lot better about their 2018 WCF run rather than getting cleaned out in the 1st round. Or Sens fans and their ECF run in 2017. Habs fans and their 2010 and 2014 ECF runs. They're probably still upset they didn't win the cup obviously, but they 100% look back on those runs a lot more fonder than "oh that was the year we were good but lost in the 1st round..."

 

[666]

I assume the QED is referring to my statement that the Bruins were the Habs biggest rivals but a Leaf-Hab still exists. Glad we came to an agreement.

I assume that you are agreeing with me that by your definition that any pair of teams have a rivalry.
By your definition the Leafs-Ducks rivalry could be pretty special.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Yup, I guarantee Jets fans feel a lot better about their 2018 WCF run rather than getting cleaned out in the 1st round. Or Sens fans and their ECF run in 2017. Habs fans and their 2010 and 2014 ECF runs. They're probably still upset they didn't win the cup obviously, but they 100% look back on those runs a lot more fonder than "oh that was the year we were good but lost in the 1st round..."

I feel better about almost making it to the finals in 93 instead of losing in the first round. I feel better about beating NYI in 1978 then I do if we had lost. I could go on and on.

 

[7even]

By that definition all pairs of teams are rivals. And let's face it we haven't been very close to superior in the modern era.

Here is the Leafs-Habs in the modern era:
1978 Semifinals: Canadiens, 4–0
1979 Quarterfinals: Canadiens, 4–0


Here is the Habs-Bruins in the modern era:
1968 Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–0
1969 Semifinals: Canadiens won, 4–2
1971 Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
1977 Stanley Cup Finals: Canadiens won, 4–0
1978 Stanley Cup Finals: Canadiens won, 4–2
1979 Semifinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
1984 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 3–0
1985 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 3–2
1986 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 3–0
1987 Division Semifinals: Canadiens won, 4–0
1988 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–1
1989 Division Finals: Canadiens won, 4–1[
1990 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–1
1991 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–3
1992 Division Finals: Bruins won, 4–0
1994 Conference Quarterfinals: Bruins won, 4–3
2002 Conference Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–2
2004 Conference Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
2008 Conference Quarterfinals: Canadiens won, 4–3
2009 Conference Quarterfinals: Bruins won, 4–0
2011 Conference Quarterfinals: Bruins won, 4–3
2014 Second Round: Canadiens won, 4–3

QED

That's pretty disingenuous. We've stomped the Sens almost their entire existence, have had very little meaningful competition over the last 15 years, and yet the Battle of Ontario remains a psychological reality. The Panthers can't measure up to the Lightning and that's still a rivalry, etc etc. Not all rivalries are born in competitive isolation: Red Wings vs Avs was strictly competitive and that bears out in a pretty dead modern rivalry. That there's still emotion between Leafs and Habs, on both sides, attests to the psychosocial aspects of fandom.

I don't have any unusual ill-will towards the Canadiens but I also didn't grow up in Canada. Quoting all time series ignores the pride that forms on natural cultural divides and dismisses cultural identity as a major player in why and how people participate in sports fandom. If this were unimportant everyone would just be a Patriots fan.

 

[zeke]

I think I would too.



Most people feel better after winning than they do after losing.

But every team loses in the end except for one.

 

[zeke]

What are you basing that on ?

Experience.