Pre-Game Talk: Ottawa @ Toronto - Game 1 - Sunday 7pm

[ACC1224]

The seasons finally over and we can focus on Game 1 of what should be a great series.

Hopefully McCabe and OEL are good to go, all indications are that they will play game 1.
Stolarz no doubt gets the net.
Guessing no practice today? Should get more updates after they skate tomorrow.

ottawa senators toronto maple leafs

GLG!!

 

[kevsh]

Optional skate today I believe?

In any case, in.

 

[Mess]

The meaningless season is finally over, Leafs secured a playoff spot and home advantage for round #1.

Now all the goals & assists and WINS gets reset back to Zero and the Real season begins.

Leafs should be heavy favourites in this series despite losing all 3 games to Ottawa in the reg season, as Ottawa has not played a meaningful playoff game since they last made the playoffs in 2017.

Leafs have won all 4 previous postseason Battle of Ontario series, but its been a while since Joe Nieuwendyk was beating Sens goalie Patrick Lalime.

I'm expecting a spirited hard hitting series, but I have a lot of confidence that our GM Treliving has for the first time in years, with his choice of coach and system and new player personnel given the Leafs a serious and realistic change to be Cup competitive.

I believe this will be the best Leafs playoff results since the Salary Cap was instituted in 2005 in the past 20 years.

Go Leafs Go !!!

 

[ACC1224]

Optional skate today I believe?

In any case, in.

You'd have to think the whole team would show up for that.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

I think Knies has a huge night on Sunday. Kid has already broken out but I think these playoffs are going to be a statement for him.

 

[Roo]

I think Knies has a huge night on Sunday. Kid has already broken out but I think these playoffs are going to be a statement for him.

Not sure about Sunday specifically, but it does feel like he could be due for a statement playoffs. And he’ll need to have one if we want to go far.

 

[Mess]

I think Knies has a huge night on Sunday. Kid has already broken out but I think these playoffs are going to be a statement for him.

I'm with you I think Matty Knies is going to be a key figure in this series and this years playoffs.

Love how he crashes the net, and not afraid to play near the blue paint and keep both the opposition goalie and defense busy with his net front presence.

Its going to take some dirty goals to win this series.

 

[arso40]

Domi has to work on the second line I just think it’s too much playmaking on the line we need an f1 there and I don’t think that’s domi but it makes all the other lines defensively responsible while sheltering the second line with Robertson out of the 12 of course

 

[BrannigansLaw]

I'm with you I think Matty Knies is going to be a key figure in this series and this years playoffs.

Love how he crashes the net, and not afraid to play near the blue paint and keep both the opposition goalie and defense busy with his net front presence.

Its going to take some dirty goals to win this series.

Without a doubt, net front screens/tips and rebound goals win playoff games. I'm confident Knies will bag a couple of those

 

[rumman]

The meaningless season is finally over, Leafs secured a playoff spot and home advantage for round #1.

Now all the goals & assists and WINS gets reset back to Zero and the Real season begins.

Leafs should be heavy favourites in this series despite losing all 3 games to Ottawa in the reg season, as Ottawa has not played a meaningful playoff game since they last made the playoffs in 2017.

Leafs have won all 4 previous postseason Battle of Ontario series, but its been a while since Joe Nieuwendyk was beating Sens goalie Patrick Lalime.

I'm expecting a spirited hard hitting series, but I have a lot of confidence that our GM Treliving has for the first time in years, with his choice of coach and system and new player personnel given the Leafs a serious and realistic change to be Cup competitive.

I believe this will be the best Leafs playoff results since the Salary Cap was instituted in 2005 in the past 20 years.

Go Leafs Go !!!

Play time is over, we all knew they’d make the playoffs, now they need to prove they’re no longer post season chokers. Anything less than Conference finals is a big fail imo, not convinced they won’t choke and lose to Ottawa, at kast the goaltending has been exceptional, that might save them?

 

[rumman]

I think Knies has a huge night on Sunday. Kid has already broken out but I think these playoffs are going to be a statement for him.

My favourite Leaf, plays the game the way I like……

 

[Cleetus]

 

[3blizzard4]

Usually all weekends fly by super sonic speed.

But Sunday seems so far away. Damn it.

 

[Cleetus]

 

[LeafSteel]

Excellent!!!!

…… now keep him the hell out of the lineup for the entirety of the playoffs and next season.

His time here needs to be over. We have better options available right now.

 

[leafsfan5]

this is the year, let's get it done!!

 

[Sypher04]

Excellent!!!!

…… now keep him the hell out of the lineup for the entirety of the playoffs and next season.

His time here needs to be over. We have better options available right now.

Have him in the room with the guys since that’s allegedly where he brings value and keep him off the ice

 

[Martin Skoula]

Have him in the room with the guys since that’s allegedly where he brings value and keep him off the ice

If that’s the job just hire Tony Robbins or a drill sergeant.

 

[Sypher04]

If that’s the job just hire Tony Robbins or a drill sergeant.

I’m just saying you can have him around and not on the team, so do that if they want

 

[ACC1224]

If that’s the job just hire Tony Robbins or a drill sergeant.

What’s the harm of him being there?

 

[ACC1224]

Have him in the room with the guys since that’s allegedly where he brings value and keep him off the ice

Safe to say he’s not going to play

 

[ToneDog]

Play time is over, we all knew they’d make the playoffs, now they need to prove they’re no longer post season chokers. Anything less than Conference finals is a big fail imo, not convinced they won’t choke and lose to Ottawa, at kast the goaltending has been exceptional, that might save them?

Even Willie was bored with the last couple of weeks of the season. Let's see if he wakes up from his siesta.

 

[Sypher04]

obviously McCabe and OEL both draw back into the lineup for game 1.

The only other change I’d consider is Holmberg out for Kampf. Kampf is arguably more valuable - better center and player, and a clearly better penalty killer.

 

[GlitchMarner]

OTT did sweep TOR, but perhaps too much is being made of that.

The last two games were close in terms of the play and score and could have gone either way. The first of those was decided by a fluky goal. Admittedly, the Leafs did suck in their first game against OTT this year.

I believe the Sens also swept TOR in the season before that 2001 series. The Leafs swept them in the playoffs, though.

OTT is basically FLA lite. If the Leafs can't beat them, they don't deserve to go far and should do some major reconstruction.

But I say they'll win in six.

 

[GlitchMarner]

obviously McCabe and OEL both draw back into the lineup for game 1.

The only other change I’d consider is Holmberg out for Kampf. Kampf is arguably more valuable - better center and player, and a clearly better penalty killer.

I don't know..

When he's with players he clicks with, Holmberg can protect the puck and do quite well in a cycling type of game and get on the scoresheet.

Kampf just seems to do nothing out there offensively. He is solid defensively (better than Holmberg), but I'm tired of the Leafs depth lines basically doing nothing offensively in the playoffs every year. I think I'd rather have Holmberg in the line-up than Kampf.