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

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Don't like this, Holmberg is not even close to a top 6 forward.

I'd put Jarnkrok, Robertson, pretty much anybody in that spot over Holmberg

 

[Tak7]

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

Im surprised Green went after the officials yesterday.

As the team that has earned the most PPs the last 3 seasons, you'd think Green would want last night's whistle far more than a tightly called game where the whistle went away

 

[PromisedLand]

The Nostalgia is REAL. This is going into the GDT

 

[wingman75]

Hope we play better 5 v 5 tomorrow. Expect them to be more disciplined than in game 1.

I would like to see McMann on the 2nd line. Would really solidify the top six. But I do prefer Holmberg to Domi.

Go leafs go.

Domi is just too undependable on the defensive side. Sure, he backchecks and makes plays here and there, but he had too many turnovers for the coaching staff I'd guess.

Whoever plays in that spot just has to play a relatively clean game. No turnovers at the bluelines.

I think we save the McMann move until we need it, preferrably sometime after Round 1.

 

[leafsfan5]

Hope we play better 5 v 5 tomorrow. Expect them to be more disciplined than in game 1.

I would like to see McMann on the 2nd line. Would really solidify the top six. But I do prefer Holmberg to Domi.

Go leafs go.

Might be crazy but I'd sit Domi. This obviously won't happen off such a dominant win, nor do I think it should given how much the locker room likes Domi

Knies - Matthews - Marner
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Lorentz - Laughton - Jarnkrok
Patches - Holmberg - Robertson

L3 being as good as it is can allow us to shelter L4 for some ideal usage

 

[ITM]

Might be crazy but I'd sit Domi. This obviously won't happen off such a dominant win, nor do I think it should given how much the locker room likes Domi

Knies - Matthews - Marner
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Lorentz - Laughton - Jarnkrok
Patches - Holmberg - Robertson

L3 being as good as it is can allow us to shelter L4 for some ideal usage

I wouldn't. I expect Domi to have a better game next time out. He's streaky, but when you catch a wave of Domi the Good, you ride it. I think he's invested now. I think until the machine breaks you leave it alone.

If I were to tweak anything, it would be reduced minutes for Reilly and maybe pulling Jarnkrok for Patches. Get him on the 4th line and some 2nd PP time and if he happens to slip and brace his stick across Greig's teeth for balance, well then, so be it.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

The Tavares and Nylander line with Holmberg actually had the xGF% of any of their various combinations during the regular season. Holmberg is really bad offensively but he's strong on pucks on the forecheck and he can buy time for Tavares and Nylander, McMann would be the best fit for them but looks like Berube wants him to stabilize the third line.
Domi-Tavares-Nylander however is just not a viable option.

 

[Kurtz]

Don't like this, Holmberg is not even close to a top 6 forward.

I'd put Jarnkrok, Robertson, pretty much anybody in that spot over Holmberg

We were protecting a sizeable lead at that point so from that standpoint it would make sense to reinforce that line defensively.

If we were chasing a goal, I doubt that move would have been made. Maybe Mcmann would come up instead of Holmberg.

 

[Roo]

I'd rather have Holmberg playing center than Domi.

 

[Fogelhund]

Don't like this, Holmberg is not even close to a top 6 forward.

I'd put Jarnkrok, Robertson, pretty much anybody in that spot over Holmberg

We get too worked up about practice lines, or starting lines.

Last game,

Domi-Tavares-Nylander 6:51
Holmberg-Tavares-Nylander 3:09
Knies-Tavares-Nylander 1:01

No line is set in stone, and it depends on what we need at that moment.

The thing is... Robertson-McMann-Domi has been pretty effective this year, and I really liked the Lorentz-Laughton-Jarnkrok line as a fourth line.

Robertson-Domi-McMann had 0.0766 xGF, and 0.05 xGA, 7 shots attempts for, 5 attempts against, 1 goal for, 0 against... they did their job.

Lorentz-Laughton-Jarnkrok were 0.733xGF and 0.575 xGA, 12 shot attempts for, 8 shot attempts against.

The Holmberg-Tavares-Nylander line also won the xGF/xGA game

Knies-Matthews-Marner got destroyed though... 0.322xGF vs 0.693xGA 22 shot attempts against, 6 shot attempts for. They need to be better.

 

[Roo]

Knies-Matthews-Marner got destroyed though... 0.322xGF vs 0.693xGA 22 shot attempts against, 6 shot attempts for. They need to be better.

Did they though? I get the shot disparity but I don't think 'destroyed' is what I saw. Weren't they up against the Stutzle line that did nothing?

 

[Torontonian]

Swapping Holmberg for Domi doesn't bother me too much, I thought the Domi-Tavares-Nylander line isn't strong enough in their own end and wasn't good enough offensively to risk having Domi there, plus Domi didn't have a great game 1. Having Holmberg there allows Nylander to cheat a little more.

Doubtful Toronto has that many powerplays in a game again this series, team needs to get better and be better 5 on 5. This is the time where we see if the team has learned anything from the past, Ottawa is going to come out fast and ready in game 2, going up 2-0 in the series means you only have to split games in Ottawa.

 

[Jojalu]

Did they though? I get the shot disparity but I don't think 'destroyed' is what I saw. Weren't they up against the Stutzle line that did nothing?

They kind of did.

But I could care less.

How often have we seen them win the xgf and shot differential in a losing cause.

They scored 1 5v5 and collected points on the PP in a win.

 

[kevsh]

I fail to see how one is a 2 minute roughing and the other is a 5 game suspension.

Kadri chased his target down while Tavares was in the process of checking the guy.
Big difference there.

Same thing with Reilly's suspension: If you go after a guy, especially if it's a "non-hockey play" (after the whistle even worse), then the league will come down hard on you.

Also, there's an argument he hit Tavares' shoulder (upper body) first. From the few angles I saw it wasn't clear to me.

Personally, I thought a 5 was warranted but not to the point I was outraged he didn't get it as I do get the basis for the call.

 

[ZEBROA]

Ffs put mcmann with tavares and nylander.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

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!

Maybe. They seem stuck on the idea they weren’t really crossing the line and only favourable leaf friendly officiating was responsible for their demise. The misconception that anything goes in the playoffs has deep roots with that crew.

 

[AuraSphere]

Mcmann - Domi - Robertson has always been a strong 3rd line - dont get the hate. Worst case scenario swap Mcmann with holmberg

 

[BayStBullies]

That game was far too easy. Ottawa also folded hard. The Leafs need to be prepared to bring a new level, as the Sens will for sure step it up. Lock this next game down and don't give them confidence, then cheer "Brady Sucks!" in their own home and we are cruising.

 

[conFABulator]

That game was far too easy. Ottawa also folded hard. The Leafs need to be prepared to bring a new level, as the Sens will for sure step it up. Lock this next game down and don't give them confidence, then cheer "Brady Sucks!" in their own home and we are cruising.

Yes, Ottawa was bad and Ullmark didn't make any big saves. The goals might not have been weak but he didn't seem to make any tough saves either.

I am curious to see how Ottawa balances "needing to bring it to a new level" with not taking six penalties again. I know those are not the same thing but you have to think they might be a bit tentative because our PP was so good.

They need to play a better game.
A smarter game.
A more disciplined game.
...and they need better goaltending.

All of which would make the next game more competitive and does not guarantee a win against a team with better forwards, defense, goaltending, special teams and coaching.

 

[stats1]

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

The issue with the hitting numbers is… it’s kind of hard to hit when you always have the puck. Ottawa was going out of their way to get hits, and we all know what the score ended up being. Ottawa can fly around get hits all they want, we’ll own puck possession and create high scoring chances.

 

[stats1]

That game was far too easy. Ottawa also folded hard. The Leafs need to be prepared to bring a new level, as the Sens will for sure step it up. Lock this next game down and don't give them confidence, then cheer "Brady Sucks!" in their own home and we are cruising.

Tbh I hope the Leafs do whatever they did last night. I thought the top 6 were flying around, bottom 6 added some sandpaper, Stolarz was solid, D was awesome

 

[stats1]

Massive game tomorrow if they can go up 2-0 all the pressure is on Ottawa. Just gotta take 1 in Scotiabank arena East and we got them on the ropes

 

[Donnie740]

There’s not a chance in hell of Berube sitting out Domi in Game 2 - - this is the Stanley Cup playoffs, not the Corsi Cup playoffs.

 

[Donnie740]

Yes, Ottawa was bad and Ullmark didn't make any big saves. The goals might not have been weak but he didn't seem to make any tough saves either.

I am curious to see how Ottawa balances "needing to bring it to a new level" with not taking six penalties again. I know those are not the same thing but you have to think they might be a bit tentative because our PP was so good.

They need to play a better game.
A smarter game.
A more disciplined game.
...and they need better goaltending.

All of which would make the next game more competitive and does not guarantee a win against a team with better forwards, defense, goaltending, special teams and coaching.

Maybe go to a Senators forum - - or a Penguins forum - - this is a Leafs one.

 

[HellasLEAF]

Greig for me with intent to injure on Stolarz. When you watch it you see he has no real angle to cut in, Marner almost disengages, and then he immediately slides out and goes right into the net pretty much on his own. Clearly not good enough to attempt that, and barrels into Stolarz.

And on the ice Tavares with a flyby, Marner, Matthews, Knies and Nylander. Someone has to go up to him. It was on the pp yes, you want to get the puck up ice to score, but Stolarz was clearly shaken by that hit. Nothing happened there that's disappointing. Doesn't bode well going forward seeing that. The worst moment from the team in an otherwise strong game.