Tampa defeats Toronto 4 games to 3

[EdJovanovski]

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

That's not an excuse.
That is just a fact.
They were indeed 3rd and 4th in the East.


"Why are your shoes wet?"
"It's raining"
"Don't give me excuses!!!"

Come on.

They were 3rd and 5th. The Rangers were fourth.

And what "facts" explain their losses against Columbus (small consolation, they did not lose in the 1st round) and especially Montréal?

 

[Dirty Dan]

In Tampa?

Habs and Leaf fans do attend games, but are hardly in the majority.

Some fans are a bit over the top though, I was surprised they did not cheer points injury to be honest because its happeed in Toronto for other teams

 

[Eggtimer]

I think these are the two best teams in the East. I like Toronto jokes as much as the next guy, but they have nothing to be ashamed of here. TB barely pulled this off. By far, FAR, our toughest series of the cup runs.

Leags might be the second best but we will never know. At the end of the day they lost. You don’t usually hang banners in the rafters for “I think we are the second best team in the conference 2022, maybe. At least we tried”

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Happy to see a long-suffering franchise and finally get the monkey off their back. Tampa Bay also gets to knock Toronto out of the 1st round.

 

[summer tooth]

Tavares won't be traded. No movement clause. No chance he waives it after purposely choosing Toronto.

Well, perhaps not, but I would imagine something big will happen in the offseason. I don't think there is any big problem with the current core, but they are under a lot of pressure. Maybe Dubas is gone.

 

[saffronleaf]

the failingest organization in ALL of North American pro sports. laughingstock of not just hockey, but sports in this continent.

 

[AMDZen]

Could you imagine the whining from Canadian media if Tampa fans had booed Oh Canada?

You think that the Florida media won't pounce on this? If they notice that is, it will be whined about for sure.

Fun. Fun is cool.

I just know that Tampa fans wouldn't boo the Canadian Anthem. It would be classless.

Maybe stop taking nationalism so seriously? The anthem is bullshit anyway and all of that stupid nationalist propaganda should be taken out of sports entirely but it won't because the military industrial complex won't stand for it.

 

[Zwui21]

Kudos to the Leafs, this was a well played series by them. Wasn't confident at all going in tonight's game.

But this Bolts team have developed an incredible mindset when it comes to elimination/clinching games.

And let me add: once again, JBB proves to be the best GM in the NHL. I swear he doesn't f***ing miss with his deadline acquisitions. Hagel was huge in game 6, Paul has been great all series long but today he really was everywhere. Guy's a gamer, hope we can extend him this offseason.

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

Leafs highlights are just an afterthought for SN/CBC after the loss. Would have dominated the Oilers/Kings intermission talk under normal circumstances but is now just an easy "earlier today" segment. In and out, make no eye contact lmao

Pathetic

 

[pcruz]

They were 3rd and 5th. The Rangers were fourth.

And what "facts" explain their losses against Columbus (small consolation, they did not lose in the 1st round) and especially Montréal?

Their goalies outplayed the Leafs forwards.
Plain and simple.

Didn't Montreal lose less games in rounds 2 and 3 combined than they lost in round 1?
Montreal was massively outplayed last year, but won 2 OT games while Price stole the games just like Vasi did tonight.

Columbus was less dominant for Toronto, but the goaltending duel was lop-sided in favour of Columbus.

Didn't that same Columbus team sweep Tampa Bay recently as well?

As for the seedings, well NYR and Tampa Bay both ended the year with 110 points.
NYR had 1 more win and 1 more loss and allowed less goals.
Tampa had 2 more OT losses (loser points), 1 more ROW, scored more goals, and had a better goal differential.

Really splitting hairs on which is better, but the first tie-breaker is wins I guess. Doesn't hurt NY that the Atlantic is superior to the Metro division though.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

You think that the Florida media won't pounce on this? If they notice that is, it will be whined about for sure.


Maybe stop taking nationalism so seriously? The anthem is bullshit anyway and all of that stupid nationalist propaganda should be taken out of sports entirely but it won't because the military industrial complex won't stand for it.

I hope you sit and boo every anthem then.

 

[The Panther]

I've little interest in the current version of the Maple Leafs, but after all these devastating losses in game 6's and 7's, I'm at the point where I now feel a kind of pity for that suffering fanbase. Was just What's-App-ing to my best pal in Toronto. His kid is 17 and has never seen a Leafs' series win.

I don't want to crap on a club while it's down, but this is what I'm thinking about:

-- Nadem Kadri: I know he was expensive, but trading him for what is essentially Kerfoot (now) is tough. Yeah, Kerfoot had a good season, but I think the Leafs need a guy like Kadri in the post-season. Tough + score.

-- Mitch Marner's contract: It's always going to get brought up when they lose, but Marner was over-paid. I don't really blame Marner himself who, like most young players, does whatever his agent says, but that contract is on the Leafs' management. An extra mill or two freed up could have turned the tide in game 6 or 7.


Anyway... Nothing huge the Leafs need to do now. Just stay the course. Maybe add a little toughness.

 

[Fatass]

That's like saying aren't most of the fans at the leafs game just corporate ticketd and not real fans?


Shhhh. Don't let their ignorance get in the way of facts. Tampa bad, supported by Canada! Leafs best team ever! Won every expected cup since 1927!

Maybe that’s partly why Florida can have two teams? Lots of Canadians down there supporting those clubs. Booing another anthem is classless.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Leafs highlights are just an afterthought for SN/CBC after the loss. Would have dominated the Oilers/Kings intermission talk under normal circumstances but is now just an easy "earlier today" segment. In and out, make no eye contact lmao

Pathetic

Quick sweep it under the rug with the last 60 years.

 

[AllDay28]

only the Leafs could lose to the back to back stanley cup champs and get ripped apart for it. Apparently Tampa is a shit team or something... .... ....

 

[OurlordAndSaviorKuch]

I guess this poverty franchise is better after all

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

This year nobody choked. They were beaten.

There’s a big difference.

I think TO beats any other team in the East.

I dunno, they had the Lightening dead to rights. A goal up in game 6, a period away from the second round. Austin Matthews scored the game winning goal in game 5, huge comeback. Team looked like they finally found their mojo.

Then they turned back into the same old Leafs.

 

[Ducer]

I'm just watchin the Foote sell job on the high stick from game 6 again...

 

[DistantThunderRep]

I've little interest in the current version of the Maple Leafs, but after all these devastating losses in game 6's and 7's, I'm at the point where I now feel a kind of pity for that suffering fanbase. Was just What's-App-ing to my best pal in Toronto. His kid is 17 and has never seen a Leafs' series win.

I don't want to crap on a club while it's down, but this is what I'm thinking about:

-- Nadem Kadri: I know he was expensive, but trading him for what is essentially Kerfoot (now) is tough. Yeah, Kerfoot had a good season, but I think the Leafs need a guy like Kadri in the post-season. Tough + score.

-- Mitch Marner's contract: It's always going to get brought up when they lose, but Marner was over-paid. I don't really blame Marner himself who, like most young players, does whatever his agent says, but that contract is on the Leafs' management. An extra mill or two freed up could have turned the tide in game 6 or 7.


Anyway... Nothing huge the Leafs need to do now. Just stay the course. Maybe add a little toughness.

Contract aside, Marner was a beast this series. Did everything. Everytime he was in Hedman's kitchen, you could see Hedman's frustration. I don't know what more you could ask from him.

If you want to bitch about overpaid for anything, you point no further than Tavares. $11M AAV for what he brings is laughable. Him at $8.5M would be slightly overpaid but at least arguable.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Disagree. I think the media overhyped him cause he threw his body around a bit. Was never scared of him all game. Marner is the real play driver on that line.

I agree. Even on the big game winning goal Matthews scored, that was all Marner.

Marner is the real deal. If I could scoop anyone off the Leafs roster and drop them into the Senators it would be him.

 

[U55]

I'm just watchin the Foote sell job on the high stick from game 6 again...

Watch the 5 on 3 again. That was nice wasn't it?

 

[DistantThunderRep]

I'm just watchin the Foote sell job on the high stick from game 6 again...

I'm also watch Matthews escape suspension for the flying boarding check to Sergachev.

 

[KUUUUUUUUCH]

Some fans are a bit over the top though, I was surprised they did not cheer points injury to be honest because its happeed in Toronto for other teams.

So, they're classless like Philadelphia Eagles fans?

 

[King Woodballs]

Let’s be honest. This is the best result that could have happened.