Tampa defeats Toronto 4 games to 3

[The90]

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.

Jimmy, you think you’re some big brained hero here. You’re not. The leafs went toe to toe with the cup champs and lost. I have no issue with this year. To be the best you have to beat the best. This year they lost, but they put up a hell of a fight. You run that back 10 times and they each win 5. I feel like most level headed fans would agree with that. There’s been a bunch of Tampa fans saying that was the hardest fight they’ve had in 2 years. It is what it is.

Your victory lap on a team that you just don’t like comes off as extremely immature and petty.

 

[SnakeIdol]

Imho Toronto would be making a mistake trading anything from their core unless Tavares waives(he won't). Best case scenario for the Leafs would be landing Trotz and trading for Martin and Mayfield.

 

[Rschmitz]

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.

The Isles have been our toughest out IMO

 

[HuGo Sham]

Has Kennedy been fired for his handshake line parody quote yet?
habs didn't give him enough respect but TB shook his hand firmly
and respectfully?
He needs to go.
Leafs aren't winning with a comedian behind the bench

 

[boytoy314]

Jimmy, you think you’re some big brained hero here. You’re not. The leafs went toe to toe with the cup champs and lost. I have no issue with this year. To be the best you have to beat the best. This year they lost, but they put up a hell of a fight. You run that back 10 times and they each win 5. I feel like most level headed fans would agree with that. There’s been a bunch of Tampa fans saying that was the hardest fight they’ve had in 2 years. It is what it is.

Your victory lap on a team that you just don’t like comes off as extremely immature and petty.

What a stupid post. It doesn’t mean anything that they put up a fight. They lost. They own a terrible record now. They’re not learning from their mistakes. Do you think the players care if they put up a fight. They lost. We deal in absolutes over here not what ifs

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Who on the Leafs is only there because "stat sheets" that other GMs wouldn't want on their team?

The thing is you need to surround those stat guys with gutsy players thst do all those intangibles that win hockey games. Like nick Paul.

Dubas just loads up on players that meet whatever stats metric that gets him hard in the morning.

He's in a position where vets like Spezza will sign for nothing to play there, yet he still can't add thr glue guys he needs to make his team successful.

It wasn't kucherov or Stamkos who won game 7 for Tampa. It was big dick nick Paul. Dubas could definitely go after thst sort of player, but he lacks the actual hockey knowledge to do it.

Of course the argument can be made that he doesn't have much room to maneuver because of the massive contracts to his big time players who consistently fail to deliver when it really matters.

But then he is also yo blame for giving Tavares the contract he did.

So no matter how you slice it, dubas consistently f***s up.

And all that being said I sincerely hope the leafs keep him around for a while longer.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

The Isles have been our toughest out IMO

It's close. Islanders would be my number two, but they never had the offensive threats that the Leafs had. They were much better defensively and were frustrating to play against. In this series there were more long stretches where we were stuck in our own zone. As much as people will point out that Vasilevskiy wasn't on his A-game, I think you have to attribute some of that to the Leafs.

 

[HSF]

maybe the leafs just arent that good?

 

[Mr Bill Waters]

I thought it was a great series and really enjoyed it. It's never fun to see your team eliminated, but no team beats Tampa in the playoffs these days. I'd rather have Toronto's season ended by this team than by Boston or Montreal.

I wouldn't make too many changes to the lineup. Do some tinkering and try again next year. I wouldn't rush to trade Nylander, but he should get a very good return if he is moved after the season he had and another productive playoffs.

Agreed. Nylander is becoming a playoff bull.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

maybe the leafs just arent that good?

cmon it was anyones game. Stop trolling.

Anyways Good Morning Toronto fans

 

[Hoek]

I was there and this Absolutely did not happen

Well there was a lot of shouting and other nonsense going on regardless that the TV broadcast picked up. Still disrespectful.

 

[Mr Bill Waters]

cmon it was anyones game. Stop trolling.

Anyways Good Morning Toronto fans

Your back! Best user name on hF.

 

[JimmyApples]

Well there was a lot of shouting and other nonsense going on regardless that the TV broadcast picked up. Still disrespectful.

I heard it too - every game. Lots of screaming and Go Leafs Go during the US anthems.

 

[Mr Positive]

If Tampa wins the cup, this might have been their toughest series

It's just unfortunate that the Leafs were in that division. They were 4th in the whole league but probably had the toughest opponent that any team with home ice got, and perhaps the toughest opponent, period

 

[JimmyApples]

Jimmy, you think you’re some big brained hero here. You’re not. The leafs went toe to toe with the cup champs and lost. I have no issue with this year. To be the best you have to beat the best. This year they lost, but they put up a hell of a fight. You run that back 10 times and they each win 5. I feel like most level headed fans would agree with that. There’s been a bunch of Tampa fans saying that was the hardest fight they’ve had in 2 years. It is what it is.

Your victory lap on a team that you just don’t like comes off as extremely immature and petty.

I’m sorry that you don’t like the fact I’m right, and correctly predict the easiest thing in sports to predict.

They put up a hell of a fight, sure. They do every series they’re in…that remains consistent. As does them losing.

 

[MoreMogilny]

If Tampa wins the cup, this might have been their toughest series

It's just unfortunate that the Leafs were in that division. They were 4th in the whole league but probably had the toughest opponent that any team with home ice got, and perhaps the toughest opponent, period

Any team in the playoffs that gets to choose their opponent, likely had the back to back defending champs last on their list.

Unfortunate draw for the Leafs. Im upset, but not completely gutted. They played a good series overall and the difference was a one goal game 7

Hopefully Point is okay

 

[Bradely]

I am starting to feel for Toronto fans. This might be extremely annoying losing game 7 like this and never crossing the 1 st round.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

This was not the same type of loss as the previous two years. The Leafs played well against a great opponent and lost a heartbreaker. That’s hockey.
But I thought the series was there for the taking in Game 6 with Tampa looking gassed and Toronto holding a one goal lead and coming on. I think that’s where they lost the series. They had the champs on the ropes but let them off. They need to develop that killer instinct that all great teams have.

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

Another classic

 

[Power Surge]

Maybe get her next year??

 

[BrockLobster]

maybe the leafs just arent that good?

Theyre pretty good. Just gutless.

 

[BrockLobster]

This guy ended the Leafs season

View attachment 547259

I love mr bean

 

[sampollock]

TSN and SN are forced now to showcase other Canadian teams in the playoffs... funny

 

[Sustrcarry]

leafs have incredible roster, but lack the mentality, experience and team spirit, those things make the difference

 

[zeke]

5v5

4v4

5v4

5v3

Tight series 5v5 but Toronto with the edge.

Toronto with a big advantage 4v4.

PPs similarly effective but TB just got more of them - and of course, most especially, the series saving laughable late game 2 minute 2 man advantage for the Bolts.


The favorable whistle and bonus PP time for the Bolts allowed them to make up for the even strength disadvantage and make it a near dead even series overall at all strengths: