Ya that was my main takeaway from the one Bruins Leafs matchup we’ve gotten this year. Toronto played a stifling Defense that night, gave the Bruins nothing.
Predict the Atlantic Standings
- Thread starter ucanthanzalthetruth
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Ya that was my main takeaway from the one Bruins Leafs matchup we’ve gotten this year. Toronto played a stifling Defense that night, gave the Bruins nothing.
The fact that you even took 30 seconds out of your day to give me a response means it got to you lol
Have a great day!
Yeah most games have been that way this year for the Leafs. This is why if they can keep this change up I'm not worried about them this year in the first round. The only Atlantic team I worry about is Boston because they've been fantastic.
I think the next month is going to decide the Atlantic.
Boston's Schedule for the most part is brutal.
In the next 5 games alone they have Colorado twice, Vegas twice and Arizona.
Yes Arizona is in that clump of games but Colorado and Vegas twice each is brutal and then you have the NYI as the 6th game that's just the start.
You look at Toronto next 7.
You got SJ, TB, Dallas,LA, Calgary, NYR, Washington.
Tampa aside that's not the same and December as a whole is like that for both teams.
I think December is a BIG month in deciding the Atlantic
Boston's Schedule for the most part is brutal.
In the next 5 games alone they have Colorado twice, Vegas twice and Arizona.
Yes Arizona is in that clump of games but Colorado and Vegas twice each is brutal and then you have the NYI as the 6th game that's just the start.
You look at Toronto next 7.
You got SJ, TB, Dallas,LA, Calgary, NYR, Washington.
Tampa aside that's not the same and December as a whole is like that for both teams.
I think December is a BIG month in deciding the Atlantic
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Blowfish
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Blowfish
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Thinking you're jumping the gun on some of your comments...End of January will be more reflective versus only 22 of 82 games November 30 2022.
Your entitled to your opinion but by American Thanksgiving over 80% of the teams currently in the playoffs in regards to standings stay their. So which team out of Boston , Toronto, Tampa. Fall off so hard that Buffalo actually catches and passes them ?
Sure. If you to re word everything - then call it HF logic.
I jokingly said they are better with out full line up.
Have they lost a game without Reilly? Muzzin was playing lousey before he went down.
But in all seriousness, they have done great without the top 3 D. Good on them and the coaching staff.
One of The two wild card spots are what the Sabres will be shooting for.
I doubt they make it. This season.
Me too. No worries
I don't think so either but I wouldn't rule them out entirely. They have a lot of talent on that team.
Blowfish
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- One or two serious injuries to top players can impact all those teams. Marner? Bergeron? Hedman?
- Sabres getting healthy
- Sabres Detroit Montreal and Ottawa have the cap space and player prospects/picks to improve their teams significantly...this can't be said for Boston Toronto and Tampa.
- Don't forget about Florida
Leafs have already been without their top 3 defenders for a good chunk of the season and two of them should be back within the next 30 days. Injuries can happen but I wouldn't bank on that to aid the Sabres in their wildcard hunt.
Yeah as that team grows and gains experience they will become a real problem in an already top end Atlantic. That doesn't even take into consideration that Ottawa and Detroit are going to be really good soon as well. What a bloodbath the Atlantic will be.
Blowfish
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IMO the Leafs don't have good defenders (including those who are out and I don't consider any of them significant /// maybe Reilly).
I do agree they have changed their style to involve forwards which is helping signigicantly.
Who would hurt the team more being out with injury? Marner or Muzzin?
It's not like they are trying to can't one team, they need to pass 6 teams. And those teams are also playing and winning games.
But let's use one team, Detroit. They are on pace for 102 points. You think buffalo can maintain a 0.722 win% (114 point pace) over 60 games? They have never hit 114 points in a season, so you think this team is the best Sabers team of all time?
Marner 100 %, but brodie is their best shutdown defender and Reilly is their best point producer on the backend. That's an entire top pair gone. Leafs this entire year have been getting used to a new team defensive system that is working and have also been a bit lucky with how Sandin and Liljegren have progressed as well as Gio playing great in a bigger role.
Bruins have won game consistently major players out.
Yes, anyone can get injured , not exactly a reason to try and correct a prediction though.
End of November snap shot -
Wings have a shot a Wildcard. Sabres slim chance.
Florida , Ottawa , Habs are not in the first round this season.
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TheBeastCoast
Registered User
I mean Brodie is to me an objectively good defender. He is better defending in his own zone then Rielly is most of the time. Rielly is obviously much better offensively and in transition but not having Brodie is absolutely a significant injury for us. As for your last question, obviously Marner. I do think we are a lot better situated to deal with the Muzzin injury then we have been in years past. Liljegren has taken a step forward and looks like a top 4 defensemen. In the last couple years when Muzzin has gotten hurt in the playoffs....it has left a hole we couldn't fill.
As a Bruins fan, at this point in the season I still think they cool down enough to have the Leafs eventually pass them in the Atlantic standings. Through all the drama in Leafland over the last month they're still 14-5-5, and have done so without Matthews exploding offensively yet. And if Murray manages to stay healthy (both mentally and physically), that will only reinforce my opinion.
I hope I'm wrong, of course.
Buffalo has missed the playoffs 11 straight years they don't get the benefit of the doubt
Blowfish
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I try to focus on the roster / prospects / farm system ... cap space. Buffalo is well positioned.
wintersej
Registered User
Yup. Bruins have started their big rough part of the schedule. 3-1 against Tampa x 2, Carolina and Florida and it only gets harder from here. They have had one of the easier schedules in October and November.
