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

[Mess]

Sure. I think there's definitely pressure on this Leafs team to prove they can win when it counts, and I wasn't suggesting otherwise.

But I've seen quite a number of posts here (especially from Habs fans themselves) seemingly suggesting there's zero pressure on the Habs because they're the perceived under dogs. Which I don't buy for a second. Montreal is an incredibly high pressure market, and this series will be no different

Montreal shouldn't even really be in the playoffs, as they finished 18th in the overall standings and a team like NYR who had to play all year against WAS, PIT, NYI, BOS and Philly still finished with more points than Montreal and missed the playoffs and the Rangers cleaned house firing their President, GM and entire coach staff.

Montreal only got gifted a playoff spot because they played in the North Div.

I would say while there is always pressure on all teams to succeed the pressure on our Leafs is much greater being +20 points better than Montreal and coming into these playoffs heavy favourites with high expectations.. Lets hope they don't take this for granted and take advantage of the gift given them.

 

[Morbo]

Is that also true for the Leafs, because that also sounds similar if the favorite Leafs fail to advance and lose to the underdogs in round #1?

how does that sound familiar? Boston and Washington were favourites and the Jackets were considered even with the Leafs going into the series by most.

 

[Gary Nylund]

You're right - 3yrs ago they did manage to beat one good team, but even that team wasn't a real elite team

The Leafs finished tied for 6th overall and lost in the 1st round to the team that finished 4th overall.

Vegas finished 5th overall and won 3 rounds on their way to the cup final including a 4-1 series win against the team that finished 2nd overall.

But according to you, the Leafs performance is more impressive because they played so well and that 2nd overall team that Vegas beat wasn't "real elite", got it.

 

[stuart5035]

Right now Montreal is the only team that scares me. Not because the Habs are any good, but because of the damn monkey on our 1st round back. P I we are able to win a series then no one else scares me.

I will take your comment a step further;
1-playoff upsets abound, often just a hot goalie, Price can be otherworldly out of nowhere
2-underdogs can thrive, that’s the Habs
3-Their big physical mean defence can pummel, everyone on that team hits. Weber alone could take out a Marner, a Nylander. Petry takes so many liberties, Chiarot and Edmundson are beasts. Matthew’s himself said they are the toughest team to get to the net.
4-Anderson, Gallagher, Toffoli, Caufield, Suzuki, there is enough there to score, they have not had this healthy roster of forwards all year

This easily has all the makings of an upset, hope I’m wrong but I say “be worried”

Right now Montreal is the only team that scares me. Not because the Habs are any good, but because of the damn monkey on our 1st round back. If we are able to win a series then no one else scares me.

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

Has it been said if Sandin is going to be on the starting roster for playoffs?

 

[BertCorbeau]

With Hyman practicing with the main group, it sounds like he'll be good to go for game 1?

 

[Menzinger]

Has it been said if Sandin is going to be on the starting roster for playoffs?

Probably won't know that answer until next week

 

[7even]

I find the suggestion that there's no pressure on the Habs to be fairly suspect.

The guys on the team have got to know that if they fail to advance there's a reasonable probability that there could be big changes in the front office, which could mean retool/rebuild.

The future of their current squad more or less rests in how they play this round

The body language of a lot of their players sucks, Kotkaniemi looks like one of those dogs on the ASPCA commercials every time he makes a mistake.

 

[Stephen]

Right now Montreal is the only team that scares me. Not because the Habs are any good, but because of the damn monkey on our 1st round back. If we are able to win a series then no one else scares me.

I get what you're saying. If they get a taste for the winning they could go far with that new found confidence, though to be honest there are much scarier beasts out there beyond Montreal.

 

[authentic]

We are going to destroy them. Mark my words, it will be over by game 5. I do not remotely fear Montreal.

 

[BayStBullies]

It feels terrible going into the playoffs with an absolute failure of a powerplay. It's ridiculous that the coaches can't figure it out with this talent. It's going to be open season on this team, with the opposition knowing they might just end up in the positive if giving the Leafs a powerplay.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Has it been said if Sandin is going to be on the starting roster for playoffs?

He'll be available. But Keefe likely rewards the guys that got him there and have experience in Dermott/Bogosian. I would give them both a short leash to play well though.

With the cap not being a factor anymore though Sandin-Liljegren should be ready and slotted in if that pair gets caved in.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

It feels terrible going into the playoffs with an absolute failure of a powerplay. It's ridiculous that the coaches can't figure it out with this talent. It's going to be open season on this team, with the opposition knowing they might just end up in the positive if giving the Leafs a powerplay.

I wonder if they pull out that 5 forward PP they were experimenting with 5 on 3 on a regular PP with Hyman instead of Rielly.

Having a d-man is kind of irrelevant with Marner and Matthews usually driving the puck up ice anyways.

 

[2 Slick]

The Leafs really need to fix their stagnant powerplay. It's not like it's been bad for a few games or a few weeks, we're talking months of 6-7% powerplay efficiency. Unless Campbell is letting in two goals or less every game, that won't cut it in the playoffs if they expect to get far.

Campbell has been decent this season, but he doesn't have the playoff experience. The Leafs have done a very good job of sheltering him and keeping shot counts down to extremely low. He's been sub .900 the last number of games as well, so that doesn't spell confidence for me.

I guess we'll see.

 

[binop7]

The Leafs really need to fix their stagnant powerplay. It's not like it's been bad for a few games or a few weeks, we're talking months of 6-7% powerplay efficiency. Unless Campbell is letting in two goals or less every game, that won't cut it in the playoffs if they expect to get far.

Campbell has been decent this season, but he doesn't have the playoff experience. The Leafs have done a very good job of sheltering him and keeping shot counts down to extremely low. He's been sub .900 the last number of games as well, so that doesn't spell confidence for me.

I guess we'll see.

Feel very nervous about this series as well. Leafs definitely should win. Far better team on paper, but this just has the makings of an upset. Will pray to every diety in existence the leafs remove the scabs from the playoffs.

 

[Atomos2]

Tavares line will be the key in this series. If they lose their matchup battle then this will be a difficult series.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Seems like we are the better team. I didn’t guess the pole but whoever voted taking it in 4 is optimistic. I’m pretty sure Montreal can hang with us enough to win a couple.

 

[harvestglen]

Has it been said if Sandin is going to be on the starting roster for playoffs?

For what it's worth, Chris Johnston the other day expected as much.

 

[crump]

These playoffs will be the coming out party for Sandin. It’s obvious we are missing that puck moving creative force on the PP.

 

[Metroid]

We are going to destroy them. Mark my words, it will be over by game 5. I do not remotely fear Montreal.

I fear the leafs more then the habs lol

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

These playoffs will be the coming out party for Sandin. It’s obvious we are missing that puck moving creative force on the PP.

The PP1 was not any better with Sandin on it. As much as I’d want it to be that simple.

 

[crump]

The PP1 was not any better with Sandin on it. As much as I’d want it to be that simple.

Well your right, the PP coach could use some help I guess. We have the Rocket Richard candidate, assist machine in Marner and can’t score with an extra man . We have nobody jamming the net, no threat from the point at all on that first unit. Marner doesn’t shoot from the point, Rielly doesn’t have good enough of a shot. It funny that we scored when Simmonds drove the net and Muzzin scored after the mayhem. We’ll need more of that, especially in the playoffs.

 

[Gallagbi]

Well your right, the PP coach could use some help I guess. We have the Rocket Richard candidate, assist machine in Marner and can’t score with an extra man . We have nobody jamming the net, no threat from the point at all on that first unit. Marner doesn’t shoot from the point, Rielly doesn’t have good enough of a shot. It funny that we scored when Simmonds drove the net and Muzzin scored after the mayhem. We’ll need more of that, especially in the playoffs.

We have too much net front presence and the wrong guys shooting because of it

 

[weems]

Montreal is a decent team with solid depth. They've consistently been able to play with us the past few seasons but at the end of the day dont have the elite talent to break games open and we do. I would say that if we match their intensity, the only thing that can win them the series is if Campbell plays poorly.

Habs will certainly try to set the tone early physically and our players will have to respond and certain players like Simmonds will most likely have to step in and drop the gloves to show them no shananigans will be allowed.

Our third line whoever it is will be very important this playoffs. They'll have to consistently chip in offensively if we want to make a deep run. Both Kerfoot and Mikheyev will be crucial players that play fast, are responsible defensively and provide offense.

Leafs in 5

 

[harvestglen]

Lets hope they don't take this for granted and take advantage of the gift given them.

Do you think it's possible for a team to be a heavy favourite, not take something for granted, and still lose?