GDT: Stanley Cup Playoffs - Round 1: Leafs Vs Bolts; May 2nd. 7:30 p.m. EST

[ACC1224]

I agree that 30 minutes seems to be a lot because after 10pm I need to not only go to bed, but be asleep. I car pool to work and get picked up at 530 am so up by 430am. Anyway I'll probably listen to the 3rd period on the radio. Go Leafs Go!

I’m up at 5 as well but my biggest issue with the later start is the Leafs and Jays will both finish at the same time which will add considerable time to the drive home.

 

[Sypher04]

I am not going to be happy if we win against Tampa only to lose in the second round. We're at a point where every year is a chance to win it all.

Just because they haven't won in the first round yet doesn't mean my expectation of the team will be lower. Matthews/Marner in their prime with great depth on F and D with a solid goalie? Yeah I think they can win it all.

I just don't want massive changes just for the sake of making changes because we lose in the first round.

Fully agree. This team imo seems like they are on the right track and massive changes could quite easily set us back from the ultimate goal

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Since we're at home, who do you think we try to match up?

I am trying to figure out who we want out against Kuch - Muzz/Brodie with the Kampf line? Or do we put out the Tavares line?

Also, it seems obvious Tampa wants to use Cirelli/Point against the Matthews line...crazy match up. I'd actually like to see us try to get the top line out against the Kuch line, head to head. We can defend better in that match up.

So many question marks! Seems like the 4th line will get very limited ice time.

 

[Pi]

Fully agree. This team imo seems like they are on the right track and massive changes could quite easily set us back from the ultimate goal

Yeah, they have gotten harder to play against, their D looks much better, our third line can actually shut down players on the PK lol and on ES they are on another level.

This team is REALLY good but the team they are facing is also really good so it's a coin toss match up. We just have to hope that home ice advantage means something.

If they get swept and look disinterested in winning, I'll be the first one handing out pitchforks and want the team and management changed but what we've seen from this team is that they care about winning and they play hard every game. They just have not won the elimination game. That's the monkey they need to get off their backs to go on a long run.

Post automatically merged: May 2, 2022

Since we're at home, who do you think we try to match up?

I am trying to figure out who we want out against Kuch - Muzz/Brodie with the Kampf line? Or do we put out the Tavares line?

Also, it seems obvious Tampa wants to use Cirelli/Point against the Matthews line...crazy match up. I'd actually like to see us try to get the top line out against the Kuch line, head to head. We can defend better in that match up.

So many question marks! Seems like the 4th line will get very limited ice time.

Definitely Kampf line against Kuch.

Tavares/Nylander line is the one line I am scared about. They just haven't been good defensively together and constantly get cycled against.

 

[mapleleafs34]

Yeah, they have gotten harder to play against, their D looks much better, our third line can actually shut down players on the PK lol and on ES they are on another level.

This team is REALLY good but the team they are facing is also really good so it's a coin toss match up. We just have to hope that home ice advantage means something.

If they get swept and look disinterested in winning, I'll be the first one handing out pitchforks and want the team and management changed but what we've seen from this team is that they care about winning and they play hard every game. They just have not won the elimination game. That's the monkey they need to get off their backs to go on a long run.

Post automatically merged: May 2, 2022

Definitely Kampf line against Kuch.

Tavares/Nylander line is the one line I am scared about. They just haven't been good defensively together and constantly get cycled against.

Tavares & Nylander aren't on the same line

 

[TorMapleJays]

PUCKS IN DEEP. FORECHECK HARD.

THIS BACK PASS TO HIT THE TRAILING FORWARD WITH SPEED while the other 4 skaters, and the 5 skates of the other team stand up at the blue line to poke check our guys as they try to walk in.

PUCKS IN DEEP, FORECHECK HARD, and guess what happens..... teams stop standing up at the blue line........... AND our own team can enter the zone with speed.

This has been a set play for years beyond Keefe.

So frustrating to watch.

 

[OVO16]

The overreaction to Jason Spezza's scratch in the first game is just so pathetic. He's a one-dimentional player whose play isn't robust enough to be on a 4th line in a playoff series.

But saying that, he's a great depth piece to have in case of injuries or if we lack on offense in the series. I'm sure he'll get in the series at some point.

Right now, physical play is gonna be crucial. Especially at home where we gonna need our crowd to be ramped up. It's gonna be body check galore

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Yeah, they have gotten harder to play against, their D looks much better, our third line can actually shut down players on the PK lol and on ES they are on another level.

This team is REALLY good but the team they are facing is also really good so it's a coin toss match up. We just have to hope that home ice advantage means something.

If they get swept and look disinterested in winning, I'll be the first one handing out pitchforks and want the team and management changed but what we've seen from this team is that they care about winning and they play hard every game. They just have not won the elimination game. That's the monkey they need to get off their backs to go on a long run.

Post automatically merged: May 2, 2022

Definitely Kampf line against Kuch.

Tavares/Nylander line is the one line I am scared about. They just haven't been good defensively together and constantly get cycled against.

I think Nylander is with Kampf and Engvall. I still like that line against a top line - lots of length and speed, and good puck possession and forechecking qualities. Will need the D to really be stout breaking out, though. It's one of Kampf's weaknesses as a C, from what I can see.

 

[TorMapleJays]

The overreaction to Jason Spezza's scratch in the first game is just so pathetic. He's a one-dimentional player whose play isn't robust enough to be on a 4th line in a playoff series.

But saying that, he's a great depth piece to have in case of injuries or if we lack on offense in the series. I'm sure he'll get in the series at some point.

Right now, physical play is gonna be crucial. Especially at home where we gonna need our crowd to be ramped up. It's gonna be body check galore

Nope. Disagree. He always seems to find the back of the net when games slow down. day in day out.

If Keefe cant see that, I suspect he is getting pressure from higher up to play player X

 

[wingman75]

I dunno what is going on today, but pretty much all my meetings have been cancelled or moved out to later in the week. My work focus was hazy at best... so this is working out sweetly so far!

Assume there is an optional skate this morning? Wonder if we get lineup confirmations then?

 

[Mess]

Yeah, they have gotten harder to play against, their D looks much better, our third line can actually shut down players on the PK lol and on ES they are on another level.

We just have to hope that home ice advantage means something.

Home ice is a fleeting thing.

Leafs played 82 games to earn home ice advantage in the series against TB, but they also had home ice against CBJ and MON the previous years and as a result of dropping game #1 in both series handed home ice to the opposition after that point.

A loss to TB tonight gives home ice to TB in the series.. Takes 82 games to earn it and it can be lost after game #1 of the playoffs.

 

[slozo]

I want to say right off the top . . . I was hurt bad last year. REAL bad.
That was a team with the gifted opportunity of a lifetime, and they raised hopes and then smashed them on the pavement, crushing me with a steel-toed kick to the nuts to end it.

It's something you don't forget easily, if ever . . . and this Leafs team to regain my trust, to get me back my pride and love for the team . . . is literally the point in the story where the main character in Avatar needs to go get the Toruk Makto and ride him back to the village and show everyone the Leafs are boss again.

The Lightning ARE the Toruk Makto in this case, and the only thing that make us Leaf fans - currently huddled around, singing koom-bai-yah to make ourselves feel better as we lick our wounds - is to tame that dragon of a team.

And although the allegory fits to some degree; this is sports, one of the last bastions of reality on any televised entertainment . . . and it's no movie. The Leafs will have to defeat and subdue a real dragon of a team, top of the food chain.

I await the miracle, huddled with my fellow Leafers, holding hands and singing comfort songs to quell ourselves, ready to jump back into battle when a hero arrives.

And I think that hero needs to be Jack Campbell.

 

[Pi]

Home ice is a fleeting thing.

Leafs played 82 games to earn home ice advantage in the series against TB, but they also had home ice against CBJ and MON the previous years and as a result of dropping game #1 in both series handed home ice to the opposition after that point.

A loss to TB tonight gives home ice to TB in the series.. Takes 82 games to earn it and it can be lost after game #1 of the playoffs.

There is no home ice advantage in empty buildings. This will be the first time since 2004 that they actually have home ice advantage.

 

[OVO16]

Nope. Disagree. He always seems to find the back of the net when games slow down. day in day out.

If Keefe cant see that, I suspect he is getting pressure from higher up to play player X

Lmao no he's not. Spezza isn't some game-changer. Stop this stupid narrative. The man is a 4th line rotational player and treated as such. In no way has his play this year meant a mandatory lineup spot.

Tampa has Corey Perry, Bellemare, and Maroon in their 4th line. This is Keefe trying to match the physicality in game 1 and seeing how we stand. We've clearly never empathized physical play like this in prior years, so this was due.

If it doesn't work out then it doesn't work out. You need players on the 4th line who are robust and can finish their checks hard on the opposition players. The idea is to wear them out because its a long series. Spezza is only ever a threat on the 2nd powerlay unit

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

 

[Pi]

Lmao no he's not. Spezza isn't some game-changer. Stop this stupid narrative. The man is a 4th line rotational player and treated as such. In no way has his play this year meant a mandatory lineup spot.

Tampa has Corey Perry, Bellemare, and Maroon in their 4th line. This is Keefe trying to match the physicality in game 1 and seeing how we stand. We've clearly never empathized physical play like this in prior years, so this was due.

If it doesn't work out then it doesn't work out. You need players on the 4th line who are robust and can finish their checks hard on the opposition players. The idea is to wear them out because its a long series. Spezza is only ever a threat on the 2nd powerlay unit

I think Spezza should play above Clifford but in the end it shouldn't impact the outcome of the game. 4th line doesn't play much in the playoffs and if we're up by a goal or two, they will be stapled to the bench outside of Blackwell who can be slotted up and down the lineup to give Bunting (if he plays) and Kerfoot a breather.

Only time they will play much is when the score is tied.

 

[SprDaVE]

 

[fahad203]

It will be nice for once if we are the team that dictates the play. That comes out guns and blazing
We always seemed to be the team that's just reacting

I really hope we come out the gates with full speed.

 

[OVO16]

Im gonna pray for Kase in a physical series like this.

Dude is one open-ice hit away from retirement

 

[Scion]

I wish I had as much confidence in our Leafs like you do. What am I supposed to think when last year we were all thinking that this is the time we'll at least make it to the conference finals, JT or not. We don't need JT to beate the lowly Habs. The Leafs just die, I mean just DIE in game 7's (game 5 against CLB). They can't score in that game, they just DIE.

As badly as I want to feel confident this year because of how great of a season we had, but this all happened last year also, the only difference was that we weren't playing the 2 time Cup champs. So how can I feel any sort of comfort, even if they take a 3-0 lead in games. Oh and that 8-1 thrashing we took from them doesn't help the confidence.

The reality is that it doesn't matter what any of us feel or think. This thing is going to play out the way its going to play out. All we can do as fans is cheer and hope that the bounces go our way for a change.

 

[ShaneFalco]

If they lose
Lost to the 2 time SC champs (insert an assortment of other reasons - ie goalied, expected blah blah blah)
Last year - lost to the Cup finalists
Year before that - lost to a team tied with us in the standings (but who beat TB)

f*** the excuses. Just go to war and win

Post automatically merged: May 2, 2022

I don’t think there is even a shred of truth to that claim.

I think it's true for a couple of posters

 

[IPS]

It will be nice for once if we are the team that dictates the play. That comes out guns and blazing
We always seemed to be the team that's just reacting

I really hope we come out the gates with full speed.

I posted the other day that in all our series since 2017 - only once have we scored the 1st goal of the series, and that was against Washington.

Dead bang on when you say it's always the Leafs reacting to how the opposing team comes out, never them dictating.

 

[ShaneFalco]

It will be nice for once if we are the team that dictates the play. That comes out guns and blazing
We always seemed to be the team that's just reacting

I really hope we come out the gates with full speed.

"We didn't start on time"
Heard that way too many times

 

[D00bis]

Going to the game, gonna head down early check out the festivities. Fingers crossed holl sits tonight.

 

[egd27]

I wore my Blue Tavares game 1 last year... I think that is cursed, go with the AM34.

If you actually believe in that stuff, you may want to think through wearing the Matthews jersey.