Round 1 - heroes and zeroes

[Community]

Forwards:
Quite a bit of solid but not spectacular play; however, ill say that Knies was a standout and our "4th line" is playing better than expected.

Big 4 played solid, but not spectacular and need at least a bit more from them overall to beat Florida.

Domi is a very frustrating player that should NOT be taken out of the lineup. The assist to Pacioretty and the OT winner were massive goals for the Leafs this series. However, other than those two plays i really only remember bad plays and misplaced passes.

Really hope McMann can get his scoring touch back, he's supposed to be a 20g scorer and he's been struggling hard offensively.

Defense:
Tanev-McCabe leave me full of confidence when they are on the ice, Benoit has been fantastic in his role, Carlo has been solid, and I think OEL and Rielly can be better. A lot of people jumping on Rielly, but he was good-great in the first 2 games, saved 2 open net goals against in game 5, and is still a key transition guy for us. He needs to be better against Florida, but he definitely wasn't trash like some people are saying.


Goalies:
Stolarz better than average; however, Leafs did a fantastic job overall of keeping slor chances to a minimum and each of those 3rd period goals against the last 3 games were not good goals... Gotta clean those up. I'm a big Woll fan and still think he may be the better playoff goalie, but its still safely Stolarz net at this point.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Bunkis, Bourne and McKee chose
Tavares for the Forwards
Tanev for the D.

Can't disagree...

Also:
Knies and Stollie
+ Benny, OEL and Caber.
Sneaky good as well was Calle Jarnkrok, and we all f***in' hate that guy. Good job battlin' CJ.

 

[WillyC]

Matthew Knies is a heavy load.

 

[Warden of the North]

Stolie went from hero #1 in Toronto to people wanting Woll to start game 1 against Florida.

That honestly breaks my heart

Not me - that f***er's gonna win us that series against Florida - just you watch

We'll need him to be. Hopefully it was jitters, but you must admit the 3rd period goals against are concerning.

 

[SkateSave]

Bunkis, Bourne and McKee chose
Tavares for the Forwards
Tanev for the D.

Can't disagree...

Also:
Knies and Stollie
+ Benny, OEL and Caber.
Sneaky good as well was Calle Jarnkrok, and we all f***in' hate that guy. Good job battlin' CJ.

Agree with Jarnkrok, especially in the last 2 games. No, he's never going to be a difference maker, but he's assuming the identify that Laughton and Lorentz have formed on that line. Fast and tenacious on the puck and actually winning battles. If that line had a little more of nastier edge, we would really have something.

 

[The Shadow]

One thing about Knies - it was his bad pass that led to the tying goal. He needs to clean up his d zone clearings. Other than that he was great and I’m excited to see his growth as a player.

 

[Mitch nylander]

Couple Thoughts
Good

• The 4th line. Jarnkrok was amazing this series. Laughton, had some stellar blocks. Lorentz was amazing on the forecheck. This line made me comfortable every time they were out. Can't really ask for much more.
• Holmberg - Look I know he gets a lot of slack around here. Guy is consistently relentless on the forecheck, thought he was noticeable throughout the series.
• Knies - He's becoming more and more, irreplaceable. Strong on the forecheck. Gritty. Scored some key goals.
• Nylander - 88 was stellar, he was our hero last night. Outside of Game 5 I liked his series.
• Tanev/Mccabe - This was easily our best pairing throughout the Series. That pairing combined for 28 Shot blocks which is incredible.
• Simon Benoit - Key performances on winning goals, showed some grit at the end of game 5, and had a ton of big shot blocks.

Bad

• Bobby McMann - You just expect a lot more from him. He was good in game 6. But I wish we got a little bit more from him.
• Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews (beyond game 4) - They both were equally invisible games 5/6, you just expect more from 26M.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I agree with all the takes on McMann having a bad series...I did think last night was far and away his best game of the series though. He looked a lot more like himself.

 

[CapspaceKiller]

The whole defence core played well. Tanav, OEL and Benoit stood out.

I like what Scott Laughton brought on every shift. He's not going to score a lot, but he brings it and wins his shift.

Tavares and Knies were the 2 best of the big boys. Lots of effort there.

Nylander was all over the place and had a couple of bad games even if his numbers are great. His effort at times was pathetic.

I didn't like what Marner brought at all. Matthews was better, but not by much.

Domi looked good more than he looked bad in this series. More composure than usual.

 

[Tak7]

One thing about Knies - it was his bad pass that led to the tying goal. He needs to clean up his d zone clearings. Other than that he was great and I’m excited to see his growth as a player.

It was one of the only times in the entire series where he really got caught out on an extended shift, too.

Lost in him being an absolute fire truck with amazing hands, is that he makes lots of little chip plays to get the puck out so he and the line can get off.

 

[Funk21]

This is playoff hockey. If you score a series game winner under "next goal wins" settings, you default to good. Get Patches out of meh.

Agreed, guy hadn’t played in two months. While he certainly didn’t look great in his first couple of games back we saw if you put him with talented players he can be a difference maker.

Good thing is we now have our lines solidified for the next round.

AM and Reilly need to be better. AM needs to step up and be a difference maker, throw this team on his back. Reilly needs to play his quiet game. 1-3 were great. Everybody else in the top 4 were solid.

 

[1specter]

Couple Thoughts
Good

• The 4th line. Jarnkrok was amazing this series. Laughton, had some stellar blocks. Lorentz was amazing on the forecheck. This line made me comfortable every time they were out. Can't really ask for much more.
• Holmberg - Look I know he gets a lot of slack around here. Guy is consistently relentless on the forecheck, thought he was noticeable throughout the series.
• Knies - He's becoming more and more, irreplaceable. Strong on the forecheck. Gritty. Scored some key goals.
• Nylander - 88 was stellar, he was our hero last night. Outside of Game 5 I liked his series.
• Tanev/Mccabe - This was easily our best pairing throughout the Series. That pairing combined for 28 Shot blocks which is incredible.
• Simon Benoit - Key performances on winning goals, showed some grit at the end of game 5, and had a ton of big shot blocks.

Bad

• Bobby McMann - You just expect a lot more from him. He was good in game 6. But I wish we got a little bit more from him.
• Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews (beyond game 4) - They both were equally invisible games 5/6, you just expect more from 26M.

Matthews was invisible in game 6? Wut?

 

[1specter]

This is playoff hockey. If you score a series game winner under "next goal wins" settings, you default to good. Get Patches out of meh.

It isn't being discussed much but he also made a really solid play to create that 2v1 where Nylander scored. People seem to gloss over that he had the primary assist on it lol.

 

[Da Mash]

I actually thought Domi wasn’t very good most of the series and once again gets a pass because he scored a OT winner

Knies was a beast all series
Laughton surprised me but that whole 4th line has been lights out all series

Stolly made great stops all series.

Tanev, Benoit Carlo were very solid

I thought our core 4 not core 5 with Reilly played well. Reilly continues o be left out of criticism and not included in the core blame even tho. he has been he longer then the core 4. Funny why it’s never called the core 5

Great win and the team better wear neck braces and more armour as the refs have thrown the whistle away concerning the rules towards Florida.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Knies and Tanev stood out to me. Knies has another gear that few teams can handle. Tanev is pure mind and body. The entire 4th Line was a legitimate Stanley Cup winning teams 4th Line. So good that you could see them getting 2nd Line minutes and the matchup might not matter. Just hounds all series That blocked slapshot by Laughton at the end was pure instinct to do whatever is needed to win. That's not something you plan, you do it because you care.

 

[Jojalu]

Couple Thoughts
Good

• The 4th line. Jarnkrok was amazing this series. Laughton, had some stellar blocks. Lorentz was amazing on the forecheck. This line made me comfortable every time they were out. Can't really ask for much more.
• Holmberg - Look I know he gets a lot of slack around here. Guy is consistently relentless on the forecheck, thought he was noticeable throughout the series.
• Knies - He's becoming more and more, irreplaceable. Strong on the forecheck. Gritty. Scored some key goals.
• Nylander - 88 was stellar, he was our hero last night. Outside of Game 5 I liked his series.
• Tanev/Mccabe - This was easily our best pairing throughout the Series. That pairing combined for 28 Shot blocks which is incredible.
• Simon Benoit - Key performances on winning goals, showed some grit at the end of game 5, and had a ton of big shot blocks.

Bad

• Bobby McMann - You just expect a lot more from him. He was good in game 6. But I wish we got a little bit more from him.
• Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews (beyond game 4) - They both were equally invisible games 5/6, you just expect more from 26M.

I was going to write the same thing about Holmberg, but you put it so well I don't need to.

I wish he could contribute some offense because everyrhing else he does is great.

 

[sunstersun]

Mccabe was not great this series. Thought OEL played super well.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Did Bobby McMann contribute on a single meaningful play all series?

Knies is becoming a star player

McMann was awful.

Tanev and Knies are fantabulous.

 

[X66]

I’d say the only disappointing player was McMann.

Patches was trending to be there as well until his monster game 6.

Every single other player had a good series. Even Domi who struggled, had 2 massive plays on game winning goals.

 

[LeafGrief]

MVP - Tanev.

Absolutely outstanding on the backend. His crease defense saved at least three, if not more tap-ins that Sens players were getting their sticks on. Just so, so steady. Then if you consider that the media has reported he's also the leader in the dressing room, he's the man I point to. Guys are looking down the bench at who's going to make the big play, who's going to go out and grab the game by the scruff, and this series it was Tanev's defense that kept us steady on the rudder. He didn't take any games off, he was incredible.

Nylander, Benoit, Knies, and Tavares were all heroic IMO. Willy played great (except for game 5, which was an absolute stinker for everyone other than Tanev+the other three heroes) and put up big goals. Tavares was an absolute machine every time he stepped on the ice, and along with Knies was the only forward with any jam in game 5.

Knies was our best forward this series. Looked like the best player on either team most of the time. He reached out and grabbed the game by the collar whenever he could, and imposed his will on the puck. Goals, details, forecheck, physicality? He's got it all, baby! I'm absolutely baffled at how he only had three points in this series, he was electric.

BEENNNNNNNNYYYYYYYYYY. Just a phenomenal depth contribution. Those two OT points mean that he will never have to pay for a drink in Toronto ever again. He was terrific defensively too, stapling guys to the boards and calmly defending the rush. I have absolutely zero fear when he's out there, he plays simple, solid defence, and is gaining confidence in the offensive zone. Well done, lad.

"4th line" was great the whole series. Really impressed by Laughton, who was trying his absolute best to come up with a moment of individual brilliance to get on the scoreboard, and then grinding his bag off the rest of the time. Love the hustle, love the courage to impose himself on the game.

Shout out to the rest of the defensive core and Stolarz, who were all varying degrees of terrific. Stolarz let in the backbreaker near the end of game 6 and Rielly had some gaffes, but even these two were generally quite good.

Similar shout out to Pacioretty, who's heroics in Game 6 are the reason I'm typing this instead of a rant about blowing the team up. Forecheck created Nylander's first goal. Scored the winner. Created multiple other chances. Punishing physical presence. Singularly brilliant game.

Berube - Nice work coach.

Zeroes: McMann, Robertson, Game 5. Saw signs of life from McMann in Game 6 there. Not Bobby the Man yet, but he looked shades of himself there. Robertson will get back in the lineup at some point, but he wasn't any good in the first two games and then Pacioretty ate his lunch last night.

 

[KAWAIlllI]

Bunkis, Bourne and McKee chose
Tavares for the Forwards
Tanev for the D.

Can't disagree...

Also:
Knies and Stollie
+ Benny, OEL and Caber.
Sneaky good as well was Calle Jarnkrok, and we all f***in' hate that guy. Good job battlin' CJ.

Says a lot about their knowledge as well - it's lacking for sure!

 

[Nineteen67]

Nobody was particularly good, but Matthews can barely skate and is a shell of himself. Sad watching him try to play.

 

[tuckerintensity]

There were no zeroes in this series and there was so much good.

The core four are our top four leading scorers (9 goals, 29 points), and all were working their tails off in both ends.

Goaltending was great, Stolarz made some key saves throughout the series to keep games in check.

The defense was awesome, top to bottom, and kept going no matter how hard the forecheck was. Honestly, they were mostly waiting for it, ready to take the hit to make the play.

Laughton line was unreal.

The only two guys that I thought struggled for large parts of the series were Domi and Pacioretty... and they both scored incredibly massive goals/made key plays when it mattered most. They never stopped pushing.

Everyone pulled on the rope and no one was a passenger. We never looked panicked. And outside of game five, where we played far better than the score suggests, we were in control for the majority of the action. We were a post away from ending it in four.

A great effort overall.

 

[kevsh]

Also, should mention Tavares.

He was competing every game. Constantly got in deep trying to force turnovers and had no problem getting involved physically.

Even though Berube couldn't find a suitable linemate for him & Willy all year that could stick, those two needed to deliver this series and they did.

 

[BraveCanadian]

The whole defence core played well. Tanav, OEL and Benoit stood out.

Agreed. I think this is the best core defensively and physically that we've had in a long time. They should be able to stand up to the Florida's and Vegas kind of teams much better than in the recent past.

I like what Scott Laughton brought on every shift. He's not going to score a lot, but he brings it and wins his shift.

He's definitely growing on me. His line has been great cycling and killing time in the offensive zone. Was a big block (that must have hurt) which caused the Nylander empty net chance. Just hope he and his line can generate some actual offense occasionally too.

Tavares and Knies were the 2 best of the big boys. Lots of effort there.

Their effort and willingness to go to the net front and boards is so good for this team.

Nylander was all over the place and had a couple of bad games even if his numbers are great. His effort at times was pathetic.

Yeah recency bias makes him the hero but he was absolutely horrible during a good chunk of the series. If he isn't producing he's an automatic net negative because he's a defensive train wreck and his poor effort is contagious.

I didn't like what Marner brought at all. Matthews was better, but not by much.

Both of them were good two-ways overall but they need to be better to beat Florida for sure.

Domi looked good more than he looked bad in this series. More composure than usual.

He only had the one really dumb penalty that I can remember but Domi was bad defensively and got walked several times in his own zone and was mostly a non-factor. Needs to be much better too.