Tampa defeats Toronto 4 games to 3

[The90]

The Toronto hockey media herd is already pushing the narrative that the boys fought hard and no big changes are needed.

That is one of Dubas's greatest strengths as a GM: self-preservation. He treats the hacks well and as a result they rarely criticize him.

Think it’s because they’re fresh off going toe to toe with the back to back cup champs and a 115 point season?

What would you suggest they do oh enlightened one?

Obviously disappointed the leafs lost, as they do. But what can you do? Dubas has literally revamped the entire team to an extremely good product. He brought depth in, changed the D core, made good signings and trades. Sure they ultimately didn’t win. But there’s a good chance that if Dubas gets canned, the leafs next GM gets to reap the benefits of the work Dubas has put in. He’s given this team every opportunity to win. I’m not sure what the answer is, but I don’t think firing Dubas is it.

Congrats Tampa, great series.

 

[TheDizee]

As much as I dislike the Leafs. I think there fanbase deserves to finally get out of the first round.

No.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

I don't like the disallowed goal, not because it's the wrong call, but because the same play wasn't called all series long. 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.

Care to point to other times the exact pick happened throughout the series? Not finding anything.

 

[Koivu11]

 

[jetsforever]

That was a tough one, easily could have gone either way

 

[Devonator]

Honestly Leaf fans I thought you would win today....you had a great season and Tampa bay with the lost of some of their depth, it just seemed this was your time.....I am surprised.....

 

[Shane Diesel]

Better than sex.

 

[Commander Clueless]

It's not quite to the point where it's no longer funny and it's just sad, but we're getting there.

I actually think we've come full around as a Leafs fan.

It's no longer sad, it's just funny.




Good game to the defending champs. Definitely an entertaining series, obviously a great team that more than earned it.

 

[NigerianNightmare]

Nick Paul. What an unexpected hero!

 

[Devonator]

That's the narrative for every Leafs loss in regular season and playoffs for a huge percentage of Leafs fans. It's really quite pitiful to witness.

To be fair, after reading a myriad of posts over the years here at FB, that seems to be the case for every team.

 

[MikeyMike01]

I don't like the disallowed goal, not because it's the wrong call, but because the same play wasn't called all series long. 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. That goal simply didn’t happen. It was an eternity after the whistle for the penalty. You don’t get credit for firing the puck into the net after the whistle.

 

[johnnybbadd]

Leafs. Hahahahaha

 

[Ducer]

meh the leaf's core is in year 6 it took 12 year's for Stamko's and Tampa to get over the hump and win the cup.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Tavares since joining Toronto: 7 goals and 14 points in 20 playoff games while being a -8

Definitely a great decision to sign him for $11 million a year. I'd almost feel bad for the Leafs if it wasn't entirely self inflicted by signing Tavares to a retirement deal just because he was a Leafs fan growing up.

 

[JimmyApples]

But i thought this year was different

“This year just feels different man”

 

[stonecold316]

f***ing losers.

 

[toothlessgoon]

Sorry Leafs fans. Matthews is just not that guy.

 

[U55]

meh the leaf's core is in year 6 it took 12 year's for Stamko's and Tampa to get over the hump and win the cup.

this is true but stammer made the finals when he was 25. He isn't a strong playoff performer but he's a great leader.

 

[BTO]

We're not!

 

[Foppberg]

I don't see why people are laughing at this. Sports really does remove the idea that they're still humans.

 

[ThunderRoad]

meh the leaf's core is in year 6 it took 12 year's for Stamko's and Tampa to get over the hump and win the cup.

Didn't take them 6 (or 12) years to win a playoff series though.

But thank goodness for Vasy and Paul or Toronto may have done so tonight. Sure hope Point can make it back sometime this playoff season. Tampa needs him.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I don’t believe him.

I bet with those big checks dubas handed all of them, they actually love the long off season. They prob hate the fact they even make the playoffs…. They certainly play that way

 

[TheDizee]

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Tampa will win their 3rd straight cup this was the hardest series that they will have bit was the 2 best teams in the east going at it and TB won.

They will be the 2022 Stanley cup Champions.

a then teams will take aim and try to take them down in 2023.

 

[pcruz]

I'm all for banter mid-series, but here is few of my actual thoughts of the series:

This Toronto was good. Like really good. This was an Islanders level threat where I was actually not sure we will win in the end.

I don't think you can or should find a clear scapegoat here for the Leafs, there top line produced, Campbell didn't lost them the series, Tavares came alive. It was hard-fought hockey where we came out on top in the end by inches.

As for what to do in Toronto, I think this tweet perfectly sums it up.


P.S. : All those guys who cried dive and acting on Point injury, go f*** yourselves. Peace

Toronto needed Perry.
Simmonds was a penalty magnet for some unknown reasons, so he couldn't play.

Nylander, at the top of his game is nearly as good as Kucherov, but at the bottom of his game is barely a 4th line player.
Tonight he was bad for all but 1 shift.

We don't have a Vasi who can lock down a game.

The team is good, but there will be changes and I'd would be incensed if Kerfoot and Engvall and Nylander are still here next year.

Hedman is unbelievable.
And Point is a disgusting loss. Just a real shame he looks finished this year. The guy deserves better.

If Nylander had the same drive as Point, he would be a top 10 player in the game.