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

[slozo]

I voted Leafs in 5, but could easily become 6 or 7 if the Habs can score.
With fans in each hometown, I would easily say 6 games - and this is truly the biggest loss from this matchup, no fans in the stands . . . it is a crying shame that this century old rivalry can't be celebrated properly.
Excited for it nonetheless!

 

[7even]

Of course, but having the fans there, would be absolutely incredible you have to admit. Theoretically, the Covid reason for the North Division, could have disappeared, and we could be in a position to allow fans now... but this didn't play out that way.

I honestly couldn't care less about anything that's not on the ice ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Menzinger]

While I also won't be surprised if it's a hard fought series - anything can happen in the playoffs.

This team has more talent, is also stocked with harder to play against players and has a core that looks to be playing the best hockey of their young careers. I went with Leafs in 5

 

[7even]

Montreal has exactly two good forwards and that's Gallagher and Toffoli, and neither are particularly great at making their own offense. If the defense just shows up and Campbell can be at least average that should be enough to let our forwards pull away with the series.

 

[Menzinger]

I think you can get similar production from Hyman at less cost and a more useful all around player. Willie clearly is a better offensive threat but not by much, Hyman is a guy who you can use on any line in any situation, Willie has to play top 6 or he is useless.

So you resign Hyman, trade Willie, hopefully the trade goes well and you get a blue chipper or a quality guy who immediately can make your roster and at a lower cap hit.

I really want Willie to be that guy who takes me out of my seat every game with a HOLY $Hit this guy is awesome, but he's becoming more of that guy who I want to throw something at the TV because his effort lately is $#it.

Huh? He's got 27 points in last 29 games....

 

[Twine Tickler]

Montreal has exactly two good forwards and that's Gallagher and Toffoli, and neither are particularly great at making their own offense. If the defense just shows up and Campbell can be at least average that should be enough to let our forwards pull away with the series.

to be honest, I am less worried about Gallagher as I am Josh Anderson. Although he hasn't been the gamebreaker their fans think he is, he has been good against the Leafs. It's almost as if his deceptive speed catches our D off guard. He has scored some softies against our goalies this year but always off of a good drive to the net. Almost every game against us he has noticeably been able to drive wide and beat our defensive group with ease. He can be a real difference maker for them if he can learn to finish. For as many soft finishes he was able to score, he missed the net or couldn't bury on at least double.

 

[mydnyte]

Has he been taken out or are we just discussing the possibility?

one of Spezza, Galy or Thornton needs to sit ...else Mik, or Simmonds, and i cant see it being them, though Mik has not shown any offense this year at all.

 

[ACC1224]

Leafs are soooooo good they can win a 4 out of 7 series in 3.

Doubt you laugh though

Good call.

 

[Spargon]

Its just adorable reading Habs thread seeing them calling us "Laffs" still and saying we have no D or goaltending.

Please let us dummy these clowns.

 

[Magic Man]

to be honest, I am less worried about Gallagher as I am Josh Anderson. Although he hasn't been the gamebreaker their fans think he is, he has been good against the Leafs. It's almost as if his deceptive speed catches our D off guard. He has scored some softies against our goalies this year but always off of a good drive to the net. Almost every game against us he has noticeably been able to drive wide and beat our defensive group with ease. He can be a real difference maker for them if he can learn to finish. For as many soft finishes he was able to score, he missed the net or couldn't bury on at least double.

He is also a savage body checker. In a 7 game series that will take it's toll. The Leafs could end up deep into their defensive depth with him on the other side.

 

[Bluelines]

Huh? He's got 27 points in last 29 games....

Since when does effort =- production? Tavares was on fire Willie was along for the ride . The guy simply quits on plays. If he knows he has to work to get the puck, he just gives up. Schifflie got benched and PLD got traded for doing the same stuff Willie does. Put it this way if Buff was on this team, Willies track suit would have a permanent place in the toilet.

 

[Twine Tickler]

He is also a savage body checker. In a 7 game series that will take it's toll. The Leafs could end up deep into their defensive depth with him on the other side.

Believe me, I love Josh Anderson. I would absolutely love him on the Leafs. And I do think his statistical output this year is low for what I think he can be. But the argument was Anderson > Hyman. To me this is not even close. Hyman is very clearly the better all around player. I have not seen 1 thing that would indicate otherwise. Including the eye test. As was mentioned before, Anderson's ability to beat people wide is very impressive. And he can play a very physical game that is very desirable, especially in the playoffs. In fact I mentioned that very thing in the Leaf board that he is the player I am most worried about. But Hyman is almost better at every aspect of the game except hitting. Not sure that I'd value hitting high enough to put him ahead of Zach TBH

 

[Menzinger]

Since when does effort =- production? Tavares was on fire Willie was along for the ride . The guy simply quits on plays. If he knows he has to work to get the puck, he just gives up. Schifflie got benched and PLD got traded for doing the same stuff Willie does. Put it this way if Buff was on this team, Willies track suit would have a permanent place in the toilet.

I think we were watching different games. Nylander was helping drive that lines offensive output during the second half of that season alongside Tavares. You don't put up near PPG numbers in the NHL by lacking effort or being lazy.

He also had the lowest goals against numbers of his career this season too

 

[666]

You just started following this team? The Habs are our #1 rival and many of us have been waiting from 78/79 for playoff revenge.

C'mon man, that was 42 years ago. They swept us in 78 and 79 and then went on the win the cup both years as we barely made the playoffs. We were nothing and they just trounced us. That's not a rivalry, that's a beating. Do you consider Ottawa our main rival because we swept them a couple of times? A rivalry needs two to tango. You might think that they are our rival but we aren't theirs. Boston and Montreal agree on their rivalry.

I don't know many Habs fans but the ones that I do know don't think much of us. Like I said, it's similar to how some Jets and Canucks fans think that there is something between us. There isn't. We just don't have that kind of history in the modern era. In the modern era we've missed the playoffs about 20 years and the Habs have 8 cups. Between us being pretty bad and lots of division realignment we haven't really had a chance to build something. Ottawa was fun for a few years as was Philly but you have to consistently make the playoffs and then play the same teams to build a real rivalry and we just haven't been good enough. Hopefully we can get something started with Tampa or someone like that but for now we having nothing.

 

[Menzinger]

Believe me, I love Josh Anderson. I would absolutely love him on the Leafs. And I do think his statistical output this year is low for what I think he can be. But the argument was Anderson > Hyman. To me this is not even close. Hyman is very clearly the better all around player. I have not seen 1 thing that would indicate otherwise. Including the eye test. As was mentioned before, Anderson's ability to beat people wide is very impressive. And he can play a very physical game that is very desirable, especially in the playoffs. In fact I mentioned that very thing in the Leaf board that he is the player I am most worried about. But Hyman is almost better at every aspect of the game except hitting. Not sure that I'd value hitting high enough to put him ahead of Zach TBH

From a career standpoint Anderson has been pretty mediocre in the playoffs. I don't get why people think he's going to dominate the ice.

He can be a useful player for the Habs, but I wouldn't lose sleep over a 2nd liner

 

[Notsince67]

Hello Habs

 

[ChurchOfMatthews]

C'mon man, that was 42 years ago. They swept us in 78 and 79 and then went on the win the cup both years as we barely made the playoffs. We were nothing and they just trounced us. That's not a rivalry, that's a beating. Do you consider Ottawa our main rival because we swept them a couple of times? A rivalry needs two to tango. You might think that they are our rival but we aren't theirs. Boston and Montreal agree on their rivalry.

I don't know many Habs fans but the ones that I do know don't think much of us. Like I said, it's similar to how some Jets and Canucks fans think that there is something between us. There isn't. We just don't have that kind of history in the modern era. In the modern era we've missed the playoffs about 20 years and the Habs have 8 cups. Between us being pretty bad and lots of division realignment we haven't really had a chance to build something. Ottawa was fun for a few years as was Philly but you have to consistently make the playoffs and then play the same teams to build a real rivalry and we just haven't been good enough. Hopefully we can get something started with Tampa or someone like that but for now we having nothing.

Agreed. I think many on here are confusing hatred and rivalry. I despise the Habs but there is no rivalry between us and I hope that changes

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

The only reason we have this matchup in the first place is because of the Canadian restrictions.

I suppose but we could have it every year.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

from elite prospects:

Toronto Maple Leafs at eliteprospects.com

Montréal Canadiens at eliteprospects.com

Compare them broken apart (and probably without guys not playing at all. It's a pretty big difference. The only thing helping them is their D core. Overall player for player the difference is pretty large.

 

[Bluelines]

I think we were watching different games. Nylander was helping drive that lines offensive output during the second half of that season alongside Tavares. You don't put up near PPG numbers in the NHL by lacking effort or being lazy.

He also had the lowest goals against numbers of his career this season too

Hey I love his talent, I love his explosiveness, I love his absolutely top end talent. I despise his aloofness and effort.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Agreed. I think many on here are confusing hatred and rivalry. I despise the Habs but there is no rivalry between us and I hope that changes

Of course there is. Just because the rivalry has been dormant for a long time, that doesn't mean it's dead. All it takes is a spark to ignite it again and that's about to happen. If you don't believe me, you just watch!

 

[Notsince67]

I honestly couldn't care less about anything that's not on the ice ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Leafsfan74]

The fun time of the year will soon be upon us. For me, some of the keys will be the following:

- Have Simmonds become a net presence on the PP. Looking at some of the early goals for the Leafs, he was a magnet for the front and created problems for teams. Even Thornton was a big body that bothered teams on the PP early on. Habs will not allow it without a price, so, I can see a few two men advantages when they get upset

- Be prepared to match the physical work by Anderson, do it by committee. Focus on him especially throughout the series, and cut off the head of the snake. As he pays the physical price that he likes so much to dish out, the rest of the Habs will receive the message. You don't get away from your game but you finish every check against him. He is verbal about his intentions, take him at his word and make him pay the interest over the series.

That hit by Hutton last game against him elicited a meme like reaction from me, a head nod and slow clap of appreciation. Do more of it against him please. He wants to play such a game, so, grant him his request.

- Expose Webers aging foot speed. Not just on the rush, but down low. Force him to hold and cheat.

- Counter Gallaghers sometimes overzealous deep puck play with quick outlet passes once you obtain possession. I've seen it often. He's a dog on a bone at times in front, but a liability if the puck goes the other way.

- Most importantly, have all four lines rolling with a mission and make it impossible for the Habs to handle the collective challenges of the Leafs depth.

I expect that Keefe is going to feel the game out when spreading out the minutes. I wouldn't be surprised to see some different imbalances in the minutes except the first line which will carry the vast majority. I also wouldn't mind a Hutton/Dermott tandem until Bogosian gets back.

The fact that the bottom six can have any two of four effective, mostly physical D Men is going to be a blessing. Such that I can see any of the three in before Bogosian gets back and I wouldn't be concerned.


Go Leafs Go!

 

[Bluelines]

Of course there is. Just because the rivalry has been dormant for a long time, that doesn't mean it's dead. All it takes is a spark to ignite it again and that's about to happen. If you don't believe me, you just watch!

Probably depends on your age, for people born in the 80's or later, the Sens probably have more of a rivalry than the Habs, those playoff series against the Sens were pretty heated at the time. 20's somethings have more hate for Boston than any other team.

 

[Bluelines]

The fun time of the year will soon be upon us. For me, some of the keys will be the following:

- Have Simmonds become a net presence on the PP. Looking at some of the early goals for the Leafs, he was a magnet for the front and created problems for teams. Even Thornton was a big body that bothered teams on the PP early on. Habs will not allow it without a price, so, I can see a few two men advantages when they get upset

- Be prepared to match the physical work by Anderson, do it by committee. Focus on him especially throughout the series, and cut off the head of the snake. As he pays the physical price that he likes so much to dish out, the rest of the Habs will receive the message. You don't get away from your game but you finish every check against him. He is verbal about his intentions, take him at his word and make him pay the interest over the series.

That hit by Hutton last game against him elicited a meme like reaction from me, a head nod and slow clap of appreciation. Do more of it against him please. He wants to play such a game, so, grant him his request.

- Expose Webers aging foot speed. Not just on the rush, but down low. Force him to hold and cheat.

- Counter Gallaghers sometimes overzealous deep puck play with quick outlet passes once you obtain possession. I've seen it often. He's a dog on a bone at times in front, but a liability if the puck goes the other way.

- Most importantly, have all four lines rolling with a mission and make it impossible for the Habs to handle the collective challenges of the Leafs depth.

I expect that Keefe is going to feel the game out when spreading out the minutes. I wouldn't be surprised to see some different imbalances in the minutes except the first line which will carry the vast majority. I also wouldn't mind a Hutton/Dermott tandem until Bogosian gets back. The fact that the bottom six can have any two of four effective, mostly physical D Men is going to be a blessing. Such that I can see any of the three in before Bogosian gets back and I wouldn't be concerned.


Go Leafs Go!

Corey Perry is built for the playoffs, watch him turn on another gear.

I'm wondering if Jumbo and Simmonds have a playoff gear.