GDT: Stanley Cup Playoffs | Round 1: Game 3 - Leafs @ Sens; Apr 24 7:00 p.m. EST

[Mess]

Paid dividends last game with the team on their heels for 2 periods. Bad goaltending means you usually lose those games - but life's a little different when you have a GM who actually knows what goaltending needs to look like.

Stolarz essentially duplicated his stats from the previous year and makes GM BT look like a genius grabbing him from the Stanley Cup champs, which adds the intangible "experience" to the equation.

The fact that Leafs have Lou Lam's boy Joseph Woll who Leafs also have a lot of confidence can carry the load if needed.

Feels SOOOOOOO Good having competent management and now sound goaltending that carry the Leafs team deep into the playoffs.

 

[1specter]

I still don't understand the dudes on the main boards who kept insisting that our goaltending is shaky. Guy has been an absolute stud all year.

That one Sens fan who I won't name but likes to gatekeep everything and is a total douche on the mains, he threw a tantrum yesterday because I responded to another Sens fan who said they would score 4 tonight and I said it would be unlikely since Stolarz has only allowed more than 3 goals twice since November 27th. God forbid you are confident in your players or share stats of them doing well, sensitive clowns.

Same dude pulled out all the advanced stats after game 1 saying if they flipped goaltending they would've won

 

[The Shadow]

Look at the goalies and defense crew that Dubas put together for past runs. It was nothing close to the elite level they are at now.

Dubas was a massive failure here with a few positive things. But overall couldn’t build an actual cup contending team. They are a tough team to play against now

Dubas ruined many years of this core because he was unable to build the right team

 

[Commander Clueless]

I think this is the Sens best chance at a win. Hopefully the Leafs take it to them.

Going up 3-0 would just be awesome.

Let's DO this.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

 

[notbias]

Look at the goalies and defense crew that Dubas put together for past runs. It was nothing close to the elite level they are at now.

Dubas was a massive failure here with a few positive things. But overall couldn’t build an actual cup contending team. They are a tough team to play against now

Dubas ruined many years of this core because he was unable to build the right team

Tampa or Florida will be a cakewalk, no doubt...

 

[1specter]

How the f*** you gonna put Patches in but give neither him or McMann to the second line? I doubt Berube doesn't switch up Holmberg.

 

[notbias]

He's the only one with this short of leash...

That line is pretty much 100% a rush line and nothing more now.

Oh well, hope Pacioretty plays like the first 10 games of the season and not the rest of it.

 

[AvroArrow]

Look at the goalies and defense crew that Dubas put together for past runs. It was nothing close to the elite level they are at now.

Dubas was a massive failure here with a few positive things. But overall couldn’t build an actual cup contending team. They are a tough team to play against now

Dubas ruined many years of this core because he was unable to build the right team

Dubas was garbage overall, but he also got us Knies, who's been so important. Also McCabe.

He did lots of things wrong here, I mean lots. But it wasn't all horrible, then again he tried to trade Knies + for Hagel.

 

[AvroArrow]

He's the only one with this short of leash...

That line is pretty much 100% a rush line and nothing more now.

Oh well, hope Pacioretty plays like the first 10 games of the season and not the rest of it.

Pacioretty is also significantly better defensively and on the forecheck

I think that has more to do with it, than it does with Robertson playing poorly.

5 on 5 play we didn't play great. We don't have last change to throw Matthews line + McCabe/Tanev at Tkachuk, Sens will be looking to get Brady away from them. He'd feast on a third line consisting of Domi/Robertson.

Patches provides more stability to that line and he's a much bigger body, strong on the puck and better defensively.

 

[fahad203]

How the f*** you gonna put Patches in but give neither him or McMann to the second line? I doubt Berube doesn't switch up Holmberg.

Pretty sure he wants a balance attack. Holmberg hasn't looked out of place. He has been a positive add

I would have preferred Kampf. Ottawa is going to play Stutzle line against Domi's. I would have preferred Kampf to be on that line center and Domi on the wing

 

[leafsfan5]

How the f*** you gonna put Patches in but give neither him or McMann to the second line? I doubt Berube doesn't switch up Holmberg.

I thought Holmberg had a great game on Tuesday, don't think that should be switched up

Holmberg doesn't necessarily score, but he does so many little things right. Works as a fit between 2 offensive players who have defensive lapses

 

[Tak7]

How the f*** you gonna put Patches in but give neither him or McMann to the second line? I doubt Berube doesn't switch up Holmberg.

They've really liked Holmberg there.

And to be honest, so have I - thought he had a strong night in game 2. You aren't asking him for offense, but he's defensively pretty reliable, strong on the wall, and seems to be adding a little bit of piss and vinegar into those post whistle scrums

 

[notbias]

Pacioretty is also significantly better defensively and on the forecheck

I think that has more to do with it, than it does with Robertson playing poorly.

5 on 5 play we didn't play great. We don't have last change to throw Matthews line + McCabe/Tanev at Tkachuk, Sens will be looking to get Brady away from them. He'd feast on a third line consisting of Domi/Robertson.

Patches provides more stability to that line and he's a much bigger body, strong on the puck and better defensively.

Is he better on the forecheck? He hits harder but is much less agile.

Any line with Domi as C will be bad defensively, I guess this limits it a little.

I don't agree he is much better defensively.

Just for reference, Robertson has the lowest expected goals again per 60 out of all forwards right now, he's been hustling and giving good back pressure.

I don't think it is a big difference to change them out, but Robertson has been noticeably good away from the puck.

It likely is a high stick that caused this, not his play.

 

[AvroArrow]

Is he better on the forecheck? He hits harder but is much less agile.

Any line with Domi as C will be bad defensively, I guess this limits it a little.

I don't agree he is much better defensively.

Just for reference, Robertson has the lowest expected goals again per 60 out of all forwards right now, he's been hustling and giving good back pressure.

I don't think it is a big difference to change them out, but Robertson has been noticeably good away from the puck.

It likely is a high stick that caused this, not his play.

He is so strong in board battles lol I didn't realize until we got him on our team.

 

[Suntouchable13]

The Laughton line plays more than the supposed 3rd line anyway, do they not?

 

[notbias]

He is so strong in board battles lol I didn't realize until we got him on our team.

Robertson is better with stick work and getting to the puck quicker...

It's like saying Jarnkrok is bad on the forecheck because he isn't strong.

He gets there quickly and forces a play.

I just don't think the difference in some of these areas is as big as others, but they are different players and the 3rd line hasn't been great, change is fine.

 

[tuckerintensity]

Pretty sure he wants a balance attack. Holmberg hasn't looked out of place. He has been a positive add

I would have preferred Kampf. Ottawa is going to play Stutzle line against Domi's. I would have preferred Kampf to be on that line center and Domi on the wing

The second part is why I think they make a switch mid game with Holmberg moving onto the third line. I agree with the first part, he looked just fine there, but without last change, that third line is still gonna look a bit dicey, I think (happy to be wrong).

 

[1specter]

Apparently a ton of tickets up for sale on StubHub and elsewhere lol. Think a lot of the Sens 'fans' gave up and decided to make a profit instead after going down 2-0 Expect a blue wave tonight baby

 

[wingman75]

I think Nicky coming out was pretty obvious.

I thought they might have gone with Kampf. Hopefully Patches comes in hungry and lays some of those bone crusing hits... and actually makes it through the game.

 

[wingman75]

Apparently a ton of tickets up for sale on StubHub and elsewhere lol. Think a lot of the Sens 'fans' gave up and decided to make a profit instead after going down 2-0 Expect a blue wave tonight baby

There are a TON of non-Sens fans in the Ottawa region. Don't be surprised if it is Habs, Leafs and Bruins fans who got tickets with the purpose to resell them.

 

[The Shadow]

Tampa or Florida will be a cakewalk, no doubt...

That’s completely wrong

 

[Primary Assist]

I thought Holmberg had a great game on Tuesday, don't think that should be switched up

Holmberg doesn't necessarily score, but he does so many little things right. Works as a fit between 2 offensive players who have defensive lapses

+1 my fellow Leafs fan

Holmberg had a rush early in game 2 before we opened the scoring where a more "traditional" second line winger probably could have scored, but he's looked great on that line and his speed pairs well with Willy. A slower player would expose holes in JT's game, and Tavares has been a stud through the first two games (albeit primarily on the PP) so Holmberg allows him to play his game. A truly balanced lineup

 

[Tak7]

There are a TON of non-Sens fans in the Ottawa region. Don't be surprised if it is Habs, Leafs and Bruins fans who got tickets with the purpose to resell them.

Tickets were restricted to season ticket holders - only a handful were released to the general public.

You had to be a season ticket holder, and buy a full ticket package, in order to get tickets to Sens home games. They then released more tickets for season ticket holders.

Highly unlikely any tickets were picked up by Habs and Bruins fans for the purpose of selling. Very likely that a lot of those ST holders resold their tickets to help pay off their original seats - after all, very few people need more than 2 or 4 playoff tickets per home game.

 

[thusk]

How the f*** you gonna put Patches in but give neither him or McMann to the second line? I doubt Berube doesn't switch up Holmberg.

Patch for robertson reason #1 is to bring someone more responsible in the defensive side especially now Berube didn't had the last change