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

[garce]

No excuses. But wait, what if we get "outgoalied"?

If we lose the series, what would constitute an overreaction?

Only way to be IMO.

there is no overreaction, immediate granting of a Markham or Mississauga franchise to at least give a ray of hope

 

[Stephen]

Wouldn’t mind seeing a Benoit or Domi drawing BT into a even up penalty situation, Greig and Perron could be candidates for dumbbell over amped starts ala Kadri and Clifford etc,

Yeah something like that but I don't see Perron doing anything too dumb, he's pretty savvy, kind of a greasy accidentally on purpose kind of guy. Grieg will have to be handled like the punk he is.

 

[garce]

Yeah something like that but I don't see Perron doing anything too dumb, he's pretty savvy, kind of a greasy accidentally on purpose kind of guy. Grieg will have to be handled like the punk he is.

Lol Perron runs pretty hot and over retaliates, but yes can be pretty savvy. Nice to have a unflapable like Tanev who won’t be baited into shit. McCabe on the other hand…

 

[Optimist]

Tkachuk will break his back in 3 places in game #1. He will hobble around for half of game #2, and then be out for the season. That's what Tkachuk's do. Always injure themselves in a big series by playing like morons.

 

[Stephen]

Tkachuk will break his back in 3 places in game #1. He will hobble around for half of game #2, and then be out for the season. That's what Tkachuk's do. Always injure themselves in a big series by playing like morons.

Ever the optimist.

Yeah I had that thought as well. Kind of like in the 4 Nations when Matthew went wild man and took himself out for a couple of months.

 

[rumman]

I have been saying this for a while now.

If we lose this series, the overreaction takes that we’ve seen in the past on here is going to be childs play compared to what we will see after that series.

And rightly so………

 

[rumman]

It's not that rare to keep a core together this long.

It's rare that a core make the playoffs from year 1 and never misses.

Ever rarer to continiously lose in the final game of the series.

What a time to be alive.

I’m here for cups, not consecutive playoff appearances, sheesh……..

 

[garce]

Ever the optimist.

Yeah I had that thought as well. Kind of like in the 4 Nations when Matthew went wild man and took himself out for a couple of months.

He certainly should be getting a whole lot of bumps and lumber, BTs problems sure look core related to me, no expert of course. Not sure the Leafs will get the Hab playoff license to cross check treatment but hey, let ‘em play.

 

[rumman]

The path is open. The east is weak. It’s now or never

Heard this too many times before, against Habs in the all Canadian division year, against the Blue Jackets in the playoffs in year, et al………

 

[Jojalu]

I’m here for cups, not consecutive playoff appearances, sheesh……..

Lol. Agreed.

I can't remember if you were blessed enough to see the last one but I havn't.

Watched these boys and the Bills fail for far too many years. Thank God for the 92,, 93 Jays!

 

[rumman]

Lol. Agreed.

I can't remember if you were blessed enough to see the last one but I havn't.

Watched these boys and the Bills fail for far too many years. Thank God for the 92,, 93 Jays!

There last was my first, doubt I’ll see another, that’s more realism than pessimism…….

 

[willmma]

I wonder how long he has been healthy?

My guess is they signed him for just this. To be a warrior in the playoffs.

Load management all year

Both ex Habs Max's are going to come up big this post season

 

[mikeyz]

No excuses. But wait, what if we get "outgoalied"?

If we lose the series, what would constitute an overreaction?

Letting Marner and Tavares walk at the minimum and re tooling the roster?

Possibly fielding the route of trading Matthews and/or Nylander as well?

LMFAO. Okay. I am about as negative as anybody on here minus maybe Shaner. But, even that 2nd point is a bit of an overreaction. But, I would be 100% okay with the 1st point. Especially if we lose to Ottawa and Marner looks the way he has the last 5-6 years of the playoffs sticking to the perimeter.

 

[Jojalu]

There last was my first, doubt I’ll see another, that’s more realism than pessimism…….

Sadly you might be right.

Optimism would say they could catch lightning in a bottle!

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

So my Internet and cable went out for another 10 days and just came back today.

What happened to OEL?

 

[Evilhomer]

Ever the optimist.

Yeah I had that thought as well. Kind of like in the 4 Nations when Matthew went wild man and took himself out for a couple of months.

I'm not convinced that Matthew Tkachuk will be at all useful in the playoffs. I am sure he will play, because that's the kind of guy he is, but I think he had a major injury.

 

[shaner8989]

Better be no f***ing passengers and if there is, sit them the f*** out for series and or season.

This is 100% the final chance for this core. They are lucky to even have another chance. Should have been blown up years ago.

That said….. let’s f***ing go boys

 

[Stephen]

I'm not convinced that Matthew Tkachuk will be at all useful in the playoffs. I am sure he will play, because that's the kind of guy he is, but I think he had a major injury.

Good, screw him.

 

[1specter]

I have been saying this for a while now.

If we lose this series, the overreaction takes that we’ve seen in the past on here is going to be childs play compared to what we will see after that series.

Would that even be considered 'overreaction ' at that point? These guys deserve to be blown up if they choke again.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

There’s no situation that can play out and we lose and we don’t blow this shit up

Yup.

Lose to Ottawa = nuke this shit from orbit

 

[ClarkSittler]

Can we sacrifice Domi to this cause because we win that exchange

Or let’s dress Reaves for Game 1 and the second Tkachuk touches the ice, send him out to wreck him. Beat him senseless, set the tone early. If Reaves gets suspended, who cares message sent, mission accomplished.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Yup.

Lose to Ottawa = nuke this shit from orbit

It's set up for them to make a deep run. Hopefully, TB takes out Florida that would be perfect.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

It's set up for them to make a deep run.

They'll never get a better chance IMO.

Hopefully, TB takes out Florida that would be perfect.

I'd rather them finally overcome Florida than bypass them. They've always been looking for the easy way out but there are no easy Stanley Cups.

 

[Goose]

I 100% forgot Pac was on this team.

Is he going to play?

 

[ClarkSittler]

If the Leafs lose this series, that's it, I'm out.

And unlike Lindsay Graham, I will actually mean it.

Yep, same here. I’ll always be a Leafs fan, but if we don’t at least make the Conference Finals, my fandom's getting scaled back big time. Investing this much energy into a franchise that keeps falling short just isn’t healthy.