Pre-Game Talk: Playoffs (monday) game 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning

[wingman75]

Interesting. I am surprised by a couple of these decisions.

1 - Holl out = pleasantly surprised
2 - Spezza out = not sure I like Blackwell more than Spezza to be honest
3 - Kase back = great! how ready is he to play?
4 - Bunting out = sad face, I think we miss his intensity and shit-disturbury
5 - Tavares and Nylander split = means no Mik on the 3rd line, which I thought we would see... very easy swap if needed

 

[Coachcorner]

Coach Keefe is waiting for "borderline violent playoff series" against tampa per tsn: Keefe expecting 'borderline violent' playoff series against Lightning
Here's the full story. :violence: :history: :history of violence: :italy: :war: :gunshot: :gunfight: :never:

 

[PromisedLand]

hands up who is not sleeping tonight

Dude I am ready to rock and roll. Lets GO

 

[PromisedLand]

Interesting. I am surprised by a couple of these decisions.

1 - Holl out = pleasantly surprised
2 - Spezza out = not sure I like Blackwell more than Spezza to be honest
3 - Kase back = great! how ready is he to play?
4 - Bunting out = sad face, I think we miss his intensity and shit-disturbury
5 - Tavares and Nylander split = means no Mik on the 3rd line, which I thought we would see... very easy swap if needed

I would also play Spezza over Blackwell. Getting caught on icing need to win a faceoff or laying a body; I'd trust Spezza over Blackwell. Also, Spezza usually brings it in the playoffs anyway

 

[leafsfan5]

hands up who is not sleeping tonight

Nothing productive will be getting done tomorrow lol

 

[DarkKnight]

Rather Spezza than Blackwell to be honest.

Well, it’s the grittiest playoff team we’ve iced for playoffs, that’s for sure.

I can’t wait, the last six weeks of this season have been torture waiting for the inevitable.

 

[robertmac43]

The fourth line is interesting. Keefe clearly wants a sand paper line to bring some physicality and intensity. I'm fine with it to start but definitely want Spezza to draw in at some point as well.

 

[ToneDog]

I would also play Spezza over Blackwell. Getting caught on icing need to win a faceoff or laying a body; I'd trust Spezza over Blackwell. Also, Spezza usually brings it in the playoffs anyway

We have Tavares to take key draws. The 4th line should not be on the ice in key moments one would hope.

 

[3blizzard4]

Kase being in is a red flag and smells of desperation. Dude should call it quits and focus on his health. Too may head shots. Is he really an appropriate fit on the second line?

 

[SprDaVE]

Kase being in is a red flag and smells of desperation. Dude should call it quits and focus on his health. Too may head shots. Is he really an appropriate fit on the second line?

He's an adult making his choices. He wants to play and he's healthy.

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

Are the Tampa Bays divorced men?

 

[The Masters]

Kase will help
take all u can get here

 

[HolyCrap]

I am already yelling and cursing at my kids. God help me tomorrow.

Channeling your inner Keefe? Haha.

 

[robertmac43]

Nothing productive will be getting done tomorrow lol

Why even have a work day tomorrow? Just call it off across the province lol

 

[123offtheglass]

I hope Kase is indeed ready, if not I could see Blackwell sliding to the 2nd line with Spezza taking his spot on the 4th.

 

[DarkKnight]

I hope Kase is indeed ready, if not I could see Blackwell sliding to the 2nd line with Spezza taking his spot on the 4th.

I really don’t see a Blackwell as a good option playing 16 minutes a night.

 

[123offtheglass]

I really don’t see a Blackwell as a good option playing 16 minutes a night.

I don't think he would even if he's "on the 2nd". Keefe juggles lines enough that he finds guys their minutes.

Ritchie started the year on the 1st line but he wasn't playing 20+ minutes a night, they were kept pretty low (but not low enough).

 

[danron1376]

Coach Keefe is waiting for "borderline violent playoff series" against tampa per tsn: Keefe expecting 'borderline violent' playoff series against Lightning
Here's the full story. :violence: :history: :history of violence: :italy: :war: :gunshot: :gunfight: :never:

keefe channeling his inner Cersei Lannister ('i choose violence!')

 

[JKG33]

Keefe is right for once, this will be a violent physical series. Probably the most physical series anyone on this team (other than Muzzin and Clifford) has ever seen. I hope Matthews and Marner have their big boy pants on.

I still hate that 4th line tho. If Clifford and Simmonds are together for games 3 and 4 in Tampa that'll be a nightmare scenario for the Leafs when Tampa throws any offence on the ice against that line.

 

[Budz22]

 

[123offtheglass]

Are the Tampa Bays divorced men?

- We're playing divorced guys. - Yeah.

Goon (2011) clip with quote - We're playing divorced guys. - Yeah. Yarn is the best search for video clips by quote. Find the exact moment in a TV show, movie, or music video you want to share. Easily move forward or backward to get to the perfect clip.

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[leafsfan5]

Keefe is right for once, this will be a violent physical series. Probably the most physical series anyone on this team (other than Muzzin and Clifford) has ever seen. I hope Matthews and Marner have their big boy pants on.

I still hate that 4th line tho. If Clifford and Simmonds are together for games 3 and 4 in Tampa that'll be a nightmare scenario for the Leafs when Tampa throws any offence on the ice against that line.

By then Bunting is probably back and one of Clifford/Simmonds is pushed out of the lineup

 

[SprDaVE]

It'll come down to the star players, not really the depth guys. They are all pretty good in their own way and offer something a little different. I'd probably play Spezza over Blackwell and Simmonds though I agree.

 

[LeafsFan89]

Should we just sit Kase out tbh? I feel injecting a "new" player into the lineup will mess something up... I recall this same thing with Johansson a few years back and benching a good playing Robertson.

 

[notbias]

Why am I seeing Spezza > Blackwell.

At this point, Clifford/Simmonds > Spezza.

Blackwell is better than all 3 of those players.

Should we just sit Kase out tbh? I feel injecting a "new" player into the lineup will mess something up... I recall this same thing with Johansson a few years back and benching a good playing Robertson.

Johnsson played well coming back and Robertson didn't do much that series.

Also, Kase is a legit middle 6 (maybe 2nd line) player, the drop to the next best player is big.