Once again, skidding into the playoffs...

[Gary Nylund]

Before Florida reach the stanley cup final, how many playoff round did they won previous like 20-25 years? 1 and chocking at the end of regular season to miss playoff is not more prestigious than chocking in playoff

The years they finally got result, they made playoff for the only reason Pittsburgh was chocking against one of worst NHL team or they would be out of playoff...

The year a lot of people stop believing caps core could ever win something in playoff is the year they finally won it

You never know when thing gonna change

Sure, that's why I put our cup changes at greater than 0%. Not a lot greater, but still, better than 0%.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Drawing conclusions for the playoffs is not seeing the forest for the trees.

Which is why I never do that, seems obvious enough. I basically never make predictions, but trying to assess probability, that's something completely different altogether.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I’d have avs first for sure and then Florida Colorado is good money at that number if it’s not the leafs of course

There's a lot of teams in the mix, should be an interesting playoffs!

 

[Gary Nylund]

Yup, and lost 2-1 in game 7 the first of the two times we played Tampa. Beat them in 6 the second time.

There was also a really bad stretch, getting outscored badly in a 3 year span of game 7's I think it was, can't remember exactly. We don't always get blown out in game 7, but there have been too many times where we just get dominated for no good reason. And of course Florida is seemed like we were never really in it at all. Huge favorites to win the series going in, we added ROR, McCabe and Schenn (who was playing great), finally won a playoff series and against Florida, stinkaroni.

 

[Westlander]

While there is no compelling reason to be really confident right now, there are some differences with past Leaf teams which may offer hope;

One is the improved defence and the other is the goaltending tandem and the chance that they can regain the form of earlier in the season. If you have the above two things, even with a mediocre team almost anything is possible in the playoffs.

They say teams can’t really flip the switch, but - and this is going back - you saw exactly that with the 2000-2001 Leafs. That was the first season after they’d exchanged a bit of skill for more grit (Roberts and Corson brought in as UFAs, Tucker traded for in the previous season).
They never really clicked at all during the season but then swept heavily favoured Ottawa and became what I thought was the best version of all the Pat Quinn teams, despite losing to the finalist NJD, who I still believe that they could have and should have beaten, if not for the Domi-Niedermayer incident..

Hopefully this team can flip the switch too.

 

[thusk]

There was also a really bad stretch, getting outscored badly in a 3 year span of game 7's I think it was, can't remember exactly. We don't always get blown out in game 7, but there have been too many times where we just get dominated for no good reason. And of course Florida is seemed like we were never really in it at all. Huge favorites to win the series going in, we added ROR, McCabe and Schenn (who was playing great), finally won a playoff series and against Florida, stinkaroni.

Leafs was favorite because Florida underperformed all year long before finishing 1st in NHL a year ago but leafs was not favorite by much...

 

[notbias]

While there is no compelling reason to be really confident right now, there are some differences with past Leaf teams which may offer hope;

One is the improved defence and the other is the goaltending tandem and the chance that they can regain the form of earlier in the season. If you have the above two things, even with a mediocre team almost anything is possible in the playoffs.

They say teams can’t really flip the switch, but - and this is going back - you saw exactly that with the 2000-2001 Leafs. That was the first season after they’d exchanged a bit of skill for more grit (Roberts and Corson brought in as UFAs, Tucker traded for in the previous season).
They never really clicked at all during the season but then swept heavily favoured Ottawa and became what I thought was the best version of all the Pat Quinn teams, despite losing to the finalist NJD, who I still believe that they could have and should have beaten, if not for the Domi-Niedermayer incident..

Hopefully this team can flip the switch too.

Can someone please explain how the defense is improved?

Not on paper, with statistics.

Goaltending, 100% agree, this could actually be a difference maker, hot goaltending can steal series.

 

[Jojalu]

Can someone please explain how the defense is improved?

Not on paper, with statistics.

Goaltending, 100% agree, this could actually be a difference maker, hot goaltending can steal series.

Tanev and McCabe have been one of the best shutdown pairings in the league. That is an improvement.

Carlo is still too early on to know what his impact will be.

 

[notbias]

Tanev and McCabe have been one of the best shutdown pairings in the league. That is an improvement.

Carlo is still too early on to know what his impact will be.

Overall, not just a single pairing, there is still 2/3 of a game to be played.

I just don't think statistically they are better.

 

[Seras]

Bro we have won ONE round in the last zillion years. This actually makes the regular season success even worse. You spend the better part of a year getting your hopes up for an inevitable letdown.

I don't get the round thing, it's meaningless.

One years playoff failure or success doesn't have anything to do with the following or previous year, this whole round nonsense is something new that people starting using as a measurement of success which I put on par with attendance ribbons and gold stars for trying.

You either win the cup or you lose along with all the other 31 teams, it's just a matter of when.

Regular season success means you have a CHANCE to participate in the playoffs for a CHANCE to win the cup against 15 other teams who are also trying to win the cup which many people seem to ignore.

 

[Seras]

Ignore 8 consecutive seasons of sub .500 hockey in the playoffs and be happy.

One playoff failure or success has nothing to do with another other than tracking stats which a cpu/calculator can do.

If happiness is your motivation then you would be much better served doing something that actually made you happy.

 

[Evilhomer]

A team's record going into the playoffs usually doesn't predict anything. To put it another way, if the Leafs roll into the playoffs having dummied teams like Philadelphia, San Jose, Anaheim, Buffalo, etc., it will be meaningless, just as it will be if they lose to those games.

 

[Jojalu]

Overall, not just a single pairing, there is still 2/3 of a game to be played.

I just don't think statistically they are better.

I think their style of play has changed a lot. For the first part of the year it seemed they were keeping shots to the outside and executing their defensive roles.

The past 6 weeks I can't really figure out what they are doing. They don't try to keep possession and they seem willing to let teams come at them.

Outside the past two weeks they were perfect in closing out games with a lead. If that can translate to the playoffs then I don't care what style they play. I am still heavily concerned they won't be able to score when it matters though

 

[Maple Leaf]

One playoff failure or success has nothing to do with another other than tracking stats which a cpu/calculator can do.

If happiness is your motivation then you would be much better served doing something that actually made you happy.

really cause last time i checked the same dudes are still on the ice you look?

 

[notbias]

I think their style of play has changed a lot. For the first part of the year it seemed they were keeping shots to the outside and executing their defensive roles.

The past 6 weeks I can't really figure out what they are doing. They don't try to keep possession and they seem willing to let teams come at them.

Outside the past two weeks they were perfect in closing out games with a lead. If that can translate to the playoffs then I don't care what style they play. I am still heavily concerned they won't be able to score when it matters though

The past two weeks do exist though, and I'd argue their play has become worse the longer the season has gone on (haven't looked into the stats to confirm this).

Anyway, I don't think statistics say that their playing style has drastically improved the team defense. Again, it would be nice to be proven wrong, but I think the only big increase this year is goaltending.

 

[Gary Nylund]

One playoff failure or success has nothing to do with another other than tracking stats which a cpu/calculator can do.

If happiness is your motivation then you would be much better served doing something that actually made you happy.

Objectively the team has been a playoff disappointment, there's nothing wrong with speaking the truth. You're assuming that people who see things objectively are suffering from "never ending misery" so maybe you're taking things a bit too seriously.

It's only hockey, one of many forms of entertainment. No need to get upset if people don't see things the same way you do.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Leafs was favorite because Florida underperformed all year long before finishing 1st in NHL a year ago but leafs was not favorite by much...

Leafs were favored for the same reason any team is favored - they were considered more likely to win than lose. IIRC the line was something like -170 which is actually quite a bit, and I'm sure that out of the 4 series in the 2nd round, the Leafs were a bigger favorite to win their series than anyone else.

Instead, they played like garbage, didn't put up much of a fight at all. All that talent, on paper the best Leaf team in 50+ years and they couldn't even put up a decent fight. Disappointing to say the least, I'd even go so far as to say embarrassing.

It's one thing to lose. But lose because you played nowhere near your potential, that really sucks.

 

[thusk]

Leafs were favored for the same reason any team is favored - they were considered more likely to win than lose. IIRC the line was something like -170 which is actually quite a bit, and I'm sure that out of the 4 series in the 2nd round, the Leafs were a bigger favorite to win their series than anyone else.

Instead, they played like garbage, didn't put up much of a fight at all. All that talent, on paper the best Leaf team in 50+ years and they couldn't even put up a decent fight. Disappointing to say the least, I'd even go so far as to say embarrassing.

It's one thing to lose. But lose because you played nowhere near your potential, that really sucks.

The reality is Toronto was playing a much better hockey vs Florida than he did vs Tampa, the resume of that serie is just Bobrovsky who had been by far best player of both team like he also did next round vs Carolina
tor-fla
SF 174-154
SC 165-157
SC sv% 0,930- 0,958
HDC 84-70
HDC sv% 0,871-0,952
xGF 17,75- 15,8

When we talk about how a good goalie by himself can stole a whole serie by himself

 

[Gary Nylund]

The reality is Toronto was playing a much better hockey vs Florida than he did vs Tampa, the resume of that serie is just Bobrovsky who had been by far best player of both team like he also did next round vs Carolina
tor-fla
SF 174-154
SC 165-157
SC sv% 0,930- 0,958
HDC 84-70
HDC sv% 0,871-0,952
xGF 17,75- 15,8

When we talk about how a good goalie by himself can stole a whole serie by himself

Bobrovsky was great, that's true. But I'm also kind of sick of the "we were outgoalied" excuse. We seem to specialize in making opposing goalies look good, how many times has it been now? What I remember most about that series was how badly we played in game 3, Marner in particular played possibly the worst game of his career.

In any case, this doesn't change what I said - we were big favorites in that series, bigger favorites than any other team in the 2nd round. Not as big favorites as we were against MTL but still, heavy favorites nevertheless.

 

[RomanianLeafs]

They are skidding again this nite...

 

[thusk]

Bobrovsky was great, that's true. But I'm also kind of sick of the "we were outgoalied" excuse. We seem to specialize in making opposing goalies look good, how many times has it been now? What I remember most about that series was how badly we played in game 3, Marner in particular played possibly the worst game of his career.

In any case, this doesn't change what I said - we were big favorites in that series, bigger favorites than any other team in the 2nd round. Not as big favorites as we were against MTL but still, heavy favorites nevertheless.

Watch the serie again and how Bobrovsky was flying... Vs MTL or CBS , yeah leafs made goalie looking good but against Florida its just Bobrovsky who made unbelievable saves after unbelievable save and started to play in leafs head.

At the end whatever how you win, nobody care until you win... its how its working. You can be outplayed majority of the game but fin a way to get the win and people will considerate it like a good game ( or bad if lost)

 

[Gary Nylund]

Watch the serie again and how Bobrovsky was flying... Vs MTL or CBS , yeah leafs made goalie looking good but against Florida its just Bobrovsky who made unbelievable saves after unbelievable save and started to play in leafs head.

At the end whatever how you win, nobody care until you win... its how its working. You can be outplayed majority of the game but fin a way to get the win and people will considerate it like a good game ( or bad if lost)

Watch it again, LOL no thanks. You're right, Bobs was amazing, not going to dispute that point at all. He won the first two games for them but it still sucks that we gave it to them in game 3. But whatever, that's all in the past, our goaltending as of right now looks it's better than it's been at any point with this core so hopefully they'll be good for us. And I agree 100%, if you're outplayed most of the game and win only because of your goalie, who cares? A win is a win, the goalie is the most important player on the team so nothing wrong with him stealing one for you every now and then.

 

[thusk]

Watch it again, LOL no thanks. You're right, Bobs was amazing, not going to dispute that point at all. He won the first two games for them but it still sucks that we gave it to them in game 3. But whatever, that's all in the past, our goaltending as of right now looks it's better than it's been at any point with this core so hopefully they'll be good for us. And I agree 100%, if you're outplayed most of the game and win only because of your goalie, who cares? A win is a win, the goalie is the most important player on the team so nothing wrong with him stealing one for you every now and then.

For one time we totally agree

Goalie are better and D in front a better to protect them more than never. That's why i think everything could be different this season.

Woll took experience against Boston and Florida and the way he's playing right now probably front rumner to start in playoff, Stolarz had been pretty good and could step in at anytime.

 

[Gary Nylund]

For one time we totally agree

Goalie are better and D in front a better to protect them more than never. That's why i think everything could be different this season.

Woll took experience against Boston and Florida and the way he's playing right now probably front rumner to start in playoff, Stolarz had been pretty good and could step in at anytime.

It's hard for me to be very optimistic but anything's possible, playoffs are a new season and so on. I said it a few days ago - whatever reason there is to be optimistic, most of it is because of goaltending. Not sure Woll's the front runner at this point but they're both really good so can't go wrong with either one. I assume whoever looks better over these last games probably gets game 1 but I predict both goalies will play.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Skidding into the playoffs well let's see.

They have won 4 of their last 5 including a 7-2 beat down tonight.

They are tied for the division lead.

And if the season ended today they have the tie breaker.

I don't think you know what a skid is, they are not on one.