Pre-Game Talk: Ottawa @ Toronto - Game 2 - Tuesday 7:30

[ACC1224]

As great a win as last night was, it will mean little without another win here to go up 2-0.

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I assume the team will have a light practice today and I wouldn't expect any lineup changes for Game 2 from the winning side.

With the Sens panicking already, calling a closed door meeting for 12, presumably to address their lack of leadership, we can expect a few changes to their lineup.

GLG!

 

[Smif]

We certainly don't need to wonder who's starting this one for us like we would in the reg season.

 

[SprDaVE]

Holmberg has been greasy and solid but if Berube reverts back to using Domi on the 3rd line, maybe you look at trying out Pacioretty on the 2nd line. Early in the season that line was great with Pacioretty.

Making a line change right now though is probably not wise.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

More of what we got last night please.

Top 6 went off.

Bottom 6 opened the scoring.

PP and PK were clicking all night.

Stolarz was rock solid after that 1st goal.

Only thing I want to see engage more in is hitting.

They were out hit 56-30
.

Breakaway aside I thought Tkachuk was real quiet last night keep that going

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Holmberg has been greasy and solid but if Berube reverts back to using Domi on the 3rd line, maybe you look at trying out Pacioretty on the 2nd line. Early in the season that line was great with Pacioretty.

Making a line change right now though is probably not wise.

They won last night.

Baring injury you don't touch the lineup

 

[Fogelhund]

They were out hit 56-30
.

The thing about this Stat, is that Ottawa was more focused on hitting, and emotions, than they were at playing hockey. It really comes down to a lack of experience on their part. Sure, I'd like to see more pushback, but not at the cost of the dumb penalties that Ottawa took.

 

[leafsfan5]

Go up 2-0 and give them no hope

 

[Commander Clueless]

Sens will adjust after that last game. I expect less powerplay opportunities.

Leafs will need to be prepared. Tighten it up, play our game.

Go Leafs Go!

 

[ToneDog]

Sens better stay out of the box or figure out how to PK or Evil will be right and this will be a short series. Sens do not have a shutdown dman or goalie which begs the question, how did they sweep the Leafs and outscore them 9-3 in 3 games?

 

[Community]

More of what we got last night please.

Top 6 went off.

Bottom 6 opened the scoring.

PP and PK were clicking all night.

Stolarz was rock solid after that 1st goal.

Only thing I want to see engage more in is hitting.

They were out hit 56-30
.

Breakaway aside I thought Tkachuk was real quiet last night keep that going

Don't worry about raw hit numbers. The Leafs laid the body more than enough and had quite a few big, CLEAN hits which is what you want.

Ottawa was going for hits that put them out of position defensively more than a few times which the Leafs capitalized on most times by inviting the hit and moving the puck out of the area where Ottawa was overextended.

The Leafs physicality was pretty closw to what you want. Too much more and we likely get a penalty or two directly because of it.

Like I said before (along with plenty of other people), Ottawa was playing as if the whistle go away on all penalties when in fact they usually just go away for interference, light hooks/slashes, low (non head contact) cross checks and potentially roughing... not boarding, high sticking, and high cross checks.

I expect Ottawa to be much cleaner with less reckless hitting and tighter defensively tomorrow which will likely result in a decrease in total hits too... hopefully they dial it back too much and are overly hesitant offensively.

 

[Evilhomer]

Sens better stay out of the box or figure out how to PK or Evil will be right and this will be a short series. Sens do not have a shutdown dman or goalie which begs the question, how did they sweep the Leafs and outscore them 9-3 in 3 games?

I hate to be repetitive, but it's because the regular season is meaningless when it comes to predictive value. We will see more of the same in game 2. The Leafs will capitalize on their power play opportunities, Ullmark will be ordinary, and Ottawa will struggle to create meaningful offense (and, no, number of shots really does not matter).

 

[ToneDog]

I hate to be repetitive, but it's because the regular season is meaningless when it comes to predictive value. We will see more of the same in game 2. The Leafs will capitalize on their power play opportunities, Ullmark will be ordinary, and Ottawa will struggle to create meaningful offense (and, no, number of shots really does not matter).

It is especially meaningless when their goalie turns into a pumpkin in the playoffs.

 

[Evilhomer]

It is especially meaningless when their goalie turns into a pumpkin in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, for Ottawa, as he always does. I also wouldn't be surprised if he suddenly comes down with an "injury".

 

[robertmac43]

Coffee tastes so good today - I want that same feeling Wednesday.

Go out and get the second win.

 

[Tak7]

Expecting a completely different game on Tuesday - thought the Sens looked completely out of character, which won't be the case in game 2.

Leafs will need to be better 5 on 5. Powerplays pushed them through in game 1, but given the piss and vinegar being spewed out of the Sens dressing room, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a completely different officiating standard moving forward. There's never any consistency.

 

[Sypher04]

Raw hit numbers are notoriously unreliable.
There’s no possible way they doubled us in hits in the game to anyone who watched.
Also there’s no possible way we only had like 10 hits in the 2nd and 3rd periods.
None.

 

[1specter]

Holmberg has been greasy and solid but if Berube reverts back to using Domi on the 3rd line, maybe you look at trying out Pacioretty on the 2nd line. Early in the season that line was great with Pacioretty.

Making a line change right now though is probably not wise.

I'd still do it. It became clear that Domi-JT-Nylander was a mess defensively and Berube quickly went away from it for line matching purposes. I also feel like McMann is getting wasted on a sheltered line that won't receive many minutes - adding in Patches balances the lineup and maybe you can shift Holmberg to 3C then. But yeah, it's tough to mess with a winning lineup right now. The Laughton line is also clicking and basically our 3rd line a way so you don't want to mess with that either.

 

[1specter]

Expecting a completely different game on Tuesday - thought the Sens looked completely out of character, which won't be the case in game 2.

Leafs will need to be better 5 on 5. Powerplays pushed them through in game 1, but given the piss and vinegar being spewed out of the Sens dressing room, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a completely different officiating standard moving forward. There's never any consistency.

Whistles always disappear as series go on. Definitely won't get used to that many PPs going forward.

 

[slozo]

More of what we got last night please.

Top 6 went off.

Bottom 6 opened the scoring.

PP and PK were clicking all night.

Stolarz was rock solid after that 1st goal.

Only thing I want to see engage more in is hitting.

They were out hit 56-30
.

Breakaway aside I thought Tkachuk was real quiet last night keep that going

I actually thought the Leafs were great with their hits, and I highly question the stats guys on both SOG (missed at least 5 or 6 shots for the Leafs) and hits. Almost to the point that I wouldn't put it past the management team to make sure from a psychological standpoint, they do that on purpose to further motivate the players to do more. Probably not, but last night they missed 2 obvious shots in the 1st that weren't counted. The hits I didn't count, but it sounds way off from what I watched.

Nylander had some hits! He checked and rubbed out a couple of guys on the boards in a way that I have literally never seen before . . . I really had a good impression of the Leafs controlled physicality to be honest.

But sure - make them think they were outhit 2 to 1 (no bloody way) and get them motivated to do even better! I'm all for it.

 

[1specter]

Unfortunately, for Ottawa, as he always does. I also wouldn't be surprised if he suddenly comes down with an "injury".

You're not the only one who noticed that eh? He has a bit of that Freddy mentality where when stuff goes south he starts feigning being hurt.

 

[Epictetus]

Did anyone else notice Ottawa had Highmore in for Cousins?

 

[1specter]

Go up 2-0 and give them no hope

There hope is to go 'home', where their building will be flooded with Leafs fans. There is no escape lol

Did anyone else notice Ottawa had Highmore in for Cousins?

Cousins will probably draw back in.

 

[Sypher04]

Not gonna lie, I’m looking forward to the Brady sucks chants in his own building lmao

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Men vs Boys... pull out the daggers gentlemen.

 

[Stephen]

Did anyone else notice Ottawa had Highmore in for Cousins?

I imagine we'll see that dirtbag Cousins in this series, and if he goes near our goalie, hopefully he eats a face full of blocker and gets a chop a la Potvin on Ciccarelli.