Tampa defeats Toronto 4 games to 3

[Howboutthempanthers]

This was a bad spot for Toronto. Tampa Bay is the worst team right now in this situation to try to get past the first round against.

 

[Fatass]

If you watched this year and series and came to the conclusion that the GM is the issue, your hockey takes cannot be taken seriously

It might not be, but what’s the reason for the first round losses? Marner? Matthews? Tavares? Goaltending?

This guy ended the Leafs season

View attachment 547259

Isn’t Paul the guy who played so good in Canada’s 2021 WHC Gold win?

 

[PaulD]

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

Florida in six.
Panthers finding their play off game . Giroux became a leader on that team .
In Florida .....it's their time now

It might not be, but what’s the reason for the first round losses? Marner? Matthews? Tavares? Goaltending?


Isn’t Paul the guy who played so good in Canada’s 2021 WHC Gold win?

Yes he is. Big game player!

This was a bad spot for Toronto. Tampa Bay is the worst team right now in this situation to try to get past the first round against.

Yep. The Stanley Cuo champs won't three peat. But they were not going to go out in the first round.
Good effort by Toronto

This was a bad spot for Toronto. Tampa Bay is the worst team right now in this situation to try to get past the first round against.

Yep. The Stanley Cuo champs won't three peat. But they were not going to go out in the first round.
Good effort by Toronto

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

It might not be, but what’s the reason for the first round losses? Marner? Matthews? Tavares? Goaltending?


Isn’t Paul the guy who played so good in Canada’s 2021 WHC Gold win?

Didn’t see refs listed

 

[Transplanted Caper]

It might not be, but what’s the reason for the first round losses? Marner? Matthews? Tavares? Goaltending?

2017-2019: Weak blueline, poor goaltending, lost to a superior team
2020: Choked, and CBJ was a terrible match-up for that team. Not that it was unfair, but they played a style the Leafs couldn't match
2021: Puked all over themselves in G7 and the stars no-showed.
2022: Lost by a hair. That's life.

I think the team is in the right position, philosophically, they just need that extra inch (don't we all). Dubas helped get them this far, and I don't think changing how the team is put together at this point provides you with better odds than continuing on in the direction they're going. Sometimes really good teams don't get it done. Lots of teams have faced similar situations, but doesn't mean the wrong decisions were made, just that it didn't bear fruit.

 

[Fatass]

2017-2019: Weak blueline, poor goaltending, lost to a superior team
2020: Choked, and CBJ was a terrible match-up for that team. Not that it was unfair, but they played a style the Leafs couldn't match
2021: Puked all over themselves in G7 and the stars no-showed.
2022: Lost by a hair. That's life.

I think the team is in the right position, philosophically, they just need that extra inch (don't we all). Dubas helped get them this far, and I don't think changing how the team is put together at this point provides you with better odds than continuing on in the direction they're going. Sometimes really good teams don't get it done. Lots of teams have faced similar situations, but doesn't mean the wrong decisions were made, just that it didn't bear fruit.

Did TBay (Vasi too) play well in this series?
IMO they only played well in game 7.
TO lost this series before game 7.

 

[AvroArrow]

The only reason you think they played good is cause they beat the leafs, but reality is leafs beat themselves.


Watch hockey this isn’t the same tampa team…. Very beatable. You want to know how bad I thought tampa was? I predicted Toronto to win in 6

The only reason you think they didn't play good is because they are the Leafs and you are an open Leafs hater admitting it several times now

 

[SENATOR]

Leafs should have traded Nylander to Ottawa for Paul and first. He is useless during playoffs.
There is still Joseph available and the first. Just do it!!

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

That was a great series. I can honestly say that the Leafs were the best team we've played over the last 3 playoff runs.

 

[Pierre Larouche]

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

This just feels like jingoistic hater nonsense.

 

[AvroArrow]

It might not be, but what’s the reason for the first round losses? Marner? Matthews? Tavares? Goaltending?


Isn’t Paul the guy who played so good in Canada’s 2021 WHC Gold win?

Series against the Caps, we were heavy underdogs and lost a respectable series

Series 1 against Boston, we were slight underdogs lost in 7

Series 2 against Boston, teams were evenly matched, lost in 7, Gardiner had arguably the worst playoff game of all time in game 7

Series against CBJ -Choke job

Series against MTL - Tavares out for the series, Muzzin out, Foligno out, Matthews playing with a destroyed wrist. Still should have won, but that would be like Tampa playing without Point/McDonagh/depth player/Kucherov needing wrist surgery. It was 3-1 still should have won, but context matters, there were significant injuries. Also Montreal made the finals, so why are Winnipeg/Vegas not being held to the same standard for losing their series in a sweep and 6 with a fully healthy roster ?

Series against Tampa - Outplayed them 5 on 5, lost the special teams, refs threw game 6. Game 7 was extremely close, 1 goal game, ultimately decided by 4 major non-calls. 2 lead to Tampa goals, 2 could have been prime scoring chances for Toronto. Still played with great effort, don't call it a choke job. Very proud of the effort they played with and fwiw no one has beaten Tampa in 3 years, but when the Leafs lose to them in 7 it's all doom and gloom

Now I'm expecting "LOL Excuses, how many years of first round exits??" Instead of an intelligent response to actually discuss hockey.

Proud of the effort, they left it all out there on the ice. And despite the heartbreaking loss, I can feel proud of this team for competing. They will get over the hump, just a matter of time. It would be foolish to blow it up here.

Would you have blown up the Ovi/Backstrom Caps in 2012-2013 ?
Would you have blown up the Lightning circa 2014-16 ?

Rebuilding makes no sense, Leafs were a top 5 team all year and lost to a very strong opponent. You just continue to build from here, all the major pieces are there already. Just need to add a few more solid depth players.

For next season I'd like to see Robertson play full time, Lily/Sandin in the lineup full time and then look for some other players through FA or trades.

Guys that need to be on their way out: Muzzin/Holl/Simmonds/Clifford/Spezza

 

[Fatass]

This just feels like jingoistic hater nonsense.

Had to google that word. If 1 million Canadians love Florida so much they choose to spend a lot of their time there, how is that Jingoism? Isn’t that more showing how connected our two countries truly are?
This is about some Leaf fans, at the game in TO, booing the US Anthem. Those fans’ behaviour (I guess?) could fit your views. But I really don’t see that kind of Nationalism up here. We are a very Americanized people in a great many ways. Heck, our loved sport (hockey) has two teams in Florida!

 

[Fatass]

Series against the Caps, we were heavy underdogs and lost a respectable series

Series 1 against Boston, we were slight underdogs lost in 7

Series 2 against Boston, teams were evenly matched, lost in 7, Gardiner had arguably the worst playoff game of all time in game 7

Series against CBJ -Choke job

Series against MTL - Tavares out for the series, Muzzin out, Foligno out, Matthews playing with a destroyed wrist. Still should have won, but that would be like Tampa playing without Point/McDonagh/depth player/Kucherov needing wrist surgery. It was 3-1 still should have won, but context matters, there were significant injuries. Also Montreal made the finals, so why are Winnipeg/Vegas not being held to the same standard for losing their series in a sweep and 6 with a fully healthy roster ?

Series against Tampa - Outplayed them 5 on 5, lost the special teams, refs threw game 6. Game 7 was extremely close, 1 goal game, ultimately decided by 4 major non-calls. 2 lead to Tampa goals, 2 could have been prime scoring chances for Toronto. Still played with great effort, don't call it a choke job. Very proud of the effort they played with and fwiw no one has beaten Tampa in 3 years, but when the Leafs lose to them in 7 it's all doom and gloom

Now I'm expecting "LOL Excuses, how many years of first round exits??" Instead of an intelligent response to actually discuss hockey.

Proud of the effort, they left it all out there on the ice. And despite the heartbreaking loss, I can feel proud of this team for competing. They will get over the hump, just a matter of time. It would be foolish to blow it up here.

Would you have blown up the Ovi/Backstrom Caps in 2012-2013 ?
Would you have blown up the Lightning circa 2014-16 ?

Rebuilding makes no sense, Leafs were a top 5 team all year and lost to a very strong opponent. You just continue to build from here, all the major pieces are there already. Just need to add a few more solid depth players.

For next season I'd like to see Robertson play full time, Lily/Sandin in the lineup full time and then look for some other players through FA or trades.

Guys that need to be on their way out: Muzzin/Holl/Simmonds/Clifford/Spezza

Why in the heck would the Leafs rebuild? What they should do is replace Shanahan and Dubas. Then the new GM could make necessary changes to the roster so the core can get over the hump.

 

[John Price]

That viral video of the Leafs fans fighting each other after the game SMH

 

[Gaston Gingras]

 

[Rob Brown]

Toronto showed some real class booing the national anthem ... Bolts sent the leafs home after the 1st round and the tradition continues. Best of luck next year! Lets Go Lightning!

I was there and this Absolutely did not happen

 

[John Price]

despite the comedy of a guy shirtless trying to go at it, this really is pathetic. just kids having too much beers tryin' to 'ave a go at it

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

I was there and this Absolutely did not happen

So the TV just added it for ratings ?

despite the comedy of a guy shirtless trying to go at it, this really is pathetic. just kids having too much beers tryin' to 'ave a go at it

They should tryout next year.

 

[Gaston Gingras]

despite the comedy of a guy shirtless trying to go at it, this really is pathetic. just kids having too much beers tryin' to 'ave a go at it

Agree with you on that!

 

[Drytoast]

Congrats on the win in a tight series. Now go get your third cup.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Two time Stanley Cup champion Pat Maroon.

Three time.

 

[JimmyApples]

Series against the Caps, we were heavy underdogs and lost a respectable series

Series 1 against Boston, we were slight underdogs lost in 7

Series 2 against Boston, teams were evenly matched, lost in 7, Gardiner had arguably the worst playoff game of all time in game 7

Series against CBJ -Choke job

Series against MTL - Tavares out for the series, Muzzin out, Foligno out, Matthews playing with a destroyed wrist. Still should have won, but that would be like Tampa playing without Point/McDonagh/depth player/Kucherov needing wrist surgery. It was 3-1 still should have won, but context matters, there were significant injuries. Also Montreal made the finals, so why are Winnipeg/Vegas not being held to the same standard for losing their series in a sweep and 6 with a fully healthy roster ?

Series against Tampa - Outplayed them 5 on 5, lost the special teams, refs threw game 6. Game 7 was extremely close, 1 goal game, ultimately decided by 4 major non-calls. 2 lead to Tampa goals, 2 could have been prime scoring chances for Toronto. Still played with great effort, don't call it a choke job. Very proud of the effort they played with and fwiw no one has beaten Tampa in 3 years, but when the Leafs lose to them in 7 it's all doom and gloom

Now I'm expecting "LOL Excuses, how many years of first round exits??" Instead of an intelligent response to actually discuss hockey.

Proud of the effort, they left it all out there on the ice. And despite the heartbreaking loss, I can feel proud of this team for competing. They will get over the hump, just a matter of time. It would be foolish to blow it up here.

Would you have blown up the Ovi/Backstrom Caps in 2012-2013 ?
Would you have blown up the Lightning circa 2014-16 ?

Rebuilding makes no sense, Leafs were a top 5 team all year and lost to a very strong opponent. You just continue to build from here, all the major pieces are there already. Just need to add a few more solid depth players.

For next season I'd like to see Robertson play full time, Lily/Sandin in the lineup full time and then look for some other players through FA or trades.

Guys that need to be on their way out: Muzzin/Holl/Simmonds/Clifford/Spezza

You realize every team has injuries, right? Teams in the playoffs lose guys like Muzzin and Foligno every playoff run, and their stars play injured. It's the name of the game. Look at the injuries Montreal was playing through, too. Really weak excuse. Easily a choke.

The refs is a terrible excuse, especially in a series where so many calls went Toronto's way. The Paul embellishment (when it went uncalled on Matthews, Marner, Kerfoot, etc), the Paul trip, Paul being held and pushed into Campbell (probably saved a goal), missed high-stick Stamkos took late in Game 5, the famous "crowd makes the call" in Game 5. And those are just the things that came to me in 5 seconds. There were missed calls and weak calls both ways, but I'd say at the end, the Leafs benefited from the refs more than Tampa. And they had a series lead, and game lead, in the 3rd period of Game 6, and blew it. And then multiple stars didn't show up for Game 7 on home ice, once again. Easily a choke.

Again, these teams all had success in a way the Leafs didn't. The Capitals had won playoff rounds. The Lightning went to the ECF and SCF in 2012 and 2015. It's a huge difference between these two teams and losing FIVE years in a row in all-or-nothing games - something no team in any of the major four sports leagues has ever done. The Leafs situation is incomparable, because teams have realized their mistakes and problems and made necessary changes way before it got that far. And signing Nick Ritchie isn't a good 'necessary change'.

I told you, I told all Leaf fans exactly what was going to happen to this series. "This team is just different, man", was the response I would get. After Game 5, I told you all, the first five games are never the problem - it's closing out the series. It doesn't take anything special to see the wrong formula will keep producing the same results. I hope the Leafs don't blow it up. I hope their roster remains generally the same, and Keefe and Dubas and Shanahan stick around - because I want to see the Leafs keep failing. I don't think the Leafs owners will be stupid enough to grant my wish, but I do hope it stays the same. Because if it does, I'll tell you what will happen next year just as I told you what would happen this year - Leafs will lose in the first round. You just got JimmyApple'd.

 

[The90]

2017-2019: Weak blueline, poor goaltending, lost to a superior team
2020: Choked, and CBJ was a terrible match-up for that team. Not that it was unfair, but they played a style the Leafs couldn't match
2021: Puked all over themselves in G7 and the stars no-showed.
2022: Lost by a hair. That's life.

I think the team is in the right position, philosophically, they just need that extra inch (don't we all). Dubas helped get them this far, and I don't think changing how the team is put together at this point provides you with better odds than continuing on in the direction they're going. Sometimes really good teams don't get it done. Lots of teams have faced similar situations, but doesn't mean the wrong decisions were made, just that it didn't bear fruit.

Can I get a little girth as well as the extra inch? lol

 

[DFC]

It's incredible the Leafs just happen to lose to the only team better then them every post season. What are the odds?

No, Montreal was a bad team last year. Cbj wasnt the best team the year before. Not sure where you're getting this.

 

[U55]

No, Montreal was a bad team last year. Cbj wasnt the best team the year before. Not sure where you're getting this.

hopefully sarcasm.