Tampa defeats Toronto 4 games to 3

[jcs0218]

As much as I love to get on the leafs and watch them lose and go another year without winning a round, I think they actually played a good overall series.

To me that’s worse for them though. You can’t really blame it on them getting outmatched or in over their head. They had a great regular and thier best players played well. They got solid goaltending too. Where the hell do you go from here?

The Maple Leafs played a very good series. They have a very good core.

But I just don't see the championship-calibre depth within their current roster.

Their big guns came to play this series. The statistics show that.

But the statistics also show that their 5-12 forwards did nothing the last 4 games of this series.

Bunting, Kampf, Kase, Mikheyev, Engvall, Kerfoot, Blackwell, etc.

All complete zeroes for the last 4 games of the series.

This doesn't even mention the negative impacts Simmonds and Clifford caused.

This is what happens when you spend half of your entire salary-cap space on 4 players.

How many bargain-bin forwards can one team have and expect to win?

I don't think Kyle Dubas is a good General Manager.

 

[Sniperberg]

Haha. The Leafs suck.

 

[Zarao71]

Feel awful for the leafs. Facing Tampa in the first round is a joke for a team with 115 points.
I think they would've faired better if they faced them in round 2.

 

[Backcheckmonster3]

 

[Fan from AK]

Tampa was hanging on by a thread in that game. Can’t wait for battle of Florida.

That's one take by someone who fell asleep waiting for the Leafs to score the equalizer.

 

[king89]

But but the Panthers but but this year is different ahaha

 

[TheNumber4]

Happy Leafs Elimination Day Canada!

 

[c9777666]

Why do the hockey gods smile on salary cap cheaters?

 

[JoVel]

Why do the hockey gods smile on salary cap cheaters?

You're on a solid run here. Might give zeke a run for his money as my favorite Leaf fan here.

 

[c9777666]

Tampa basically has to buy a cup with payroll and all that garbage

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

The Leaves spent all their time planning the parade instead of actually becoming a better team...

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Apparently being a cheapskate GM is the way to go

Going with this narrative? What happened to 18M over the cap? It's not like Tampa spends the league max every year for the last decade.

 

[Sockosensei]

The Lightning have dents in their armor. Still, they're the two-time defending champs until dethroned.

This was a tough loss for the Leafs, but far from a choke job. I feel for the Leafs fans but they don't need to hang their heads in shame.

 

[Backcheckmonster3]

Tampa basically has to buy a cup with payroll and all that garbage

What´s your excuse when the Panthers knock them out in the 2nd round?

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Apparently being a cheapskate GM is the way to go

Why do the hockey gods smile on salary cap cheaters?

So what is it?

 

[KUUUUUUUUCH]

Tampa basically has to buy a cup with payroll and all that garbage

Leafs should try it.

 

[c9777666]

What´s your excuse when the Panthers knock them out in the 2nd round?

Nothing left in the tank

The Lightning have chinks in their armor. Still, they're the two-time defending champs until dethroned.

they are running on fumes and flopping Russian luck

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Tampa basically has to buy a cup with payroll and all that garbage

You can't even keep your story straight.

 

[TheNumber4]

god forbid ONE year the leafs win

But no the hockey gods have to smile on all 20 TB fans

Maybe hockey gods just hate Toronto fans.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

The Lightning have chinks in their armor. Still, they're the two-time defending champs until dethroned.

This was a tough loss for the Leafs, but far from a choke job. I feel for the Leafs fans but they don't need to hang their heads in shame.

The first few words just don't sound right...

 

[TheNumber4]

Still think the Leafs took huge steps this year. Last year Matthews and Keefe cried in the post game. This year only Marner. #progress

 

[Bob and 200 others]

I don't like the disallowed goal, not because it's the wrong call, but because But I can digest it because in a vacuum it is the right call.

However, the officials did just what I have been begging for these playoffs, allow the players to be the story.

Vasi stole the game.

Tampa was holding on for much of the game.

A 7 game series where the officiating is exactly like tonight and Toronto wins it 9/10 times.

Kerfoot, Engvall, Mikheyev cost the team the series, nobody else.

It wasn't a disallowed goal, the penalty was called before the Tavares play.

"the same play wasn't called all series long"

Really? I don't remember a single "pick play" like that happening the entire series? This is hockey not basketball.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Hard to build depth when paying 40 mil for four forwards. And when trading away top picks in hopes of winning now.

Trading the pick is a good strategy in Toronto's case, since they are competing right now.

Tavares isn't a great contract, but there's no escape from this one.

Other than that, 115 pts isn't bad lol

 

[SimpleJack]

Tampa basically has to buy a cup with payroll and all that garbage

You’re the reason why this is so awesome. Cuz of fans like you. YOU make this a moment to relish, and i thank you for that.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Probably should have traded for Manson and Rakell