Tampa defeats Toronto 4 games to 3

[Divine]

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.

But did take them 7 games to beat a team that you're arguing needs to be torn apart

 

[DarylO]

Why was interference called against the pick and roll on what would've been the 1st goal for TO but not against the hold on the Tampa 1st goal? Game would've been 1-1 if calls were consistent.

Part of being a veteran playoff team is knowing what you can get away with, and more importantly when you can get away with it. Once TB got the lead they rally locked down the house and Vasi did his thing.

 

[Duodenum]

I feel like if the Leafs get past their round 1 game 7 hump sometime in the next 3 years, they'll win the cup. Just gotta get over that hump though.

 

[Wester]

One thing I forgot to mention, that can be pointed as a main reason for this outcome is the Toronto PP/Tampa PK.

 

[BTO]

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

Boo hoo.

Edit: yes it does. Competition is itself what does that: me vs you rather than we, together. Still, as a sports fan, boo-hoo

 

[WF19]

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.

The difference is, Yzerman didn't sign ant crazy contracts. Stamkos could of been the highest paid player on the Leafs and took less to win.

 

[OurlordAndSaviorKuch]

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.

I see what you are doing and I don’t like it

 

[Bood12]

this was essentially a Conference finals played in the first round, I am rooting against the Leafs but if they played any other team in the 1st and 2nd they would have won, I still don't understand the logic of this format, the old 1-8 2-7 3-6 etc. playoff format worked fine and you more often than not got the best teams still standing at the end, just a stupid format if you want the better teams to advance as far as possible in the playoffs

 

[Devonator]

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.

The problem is with that plan is that you will lose Matthews almost assuredly 2 seasons from now.....and Tavares is no youngster either.....

 

[Frank Drebin]

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.

It took Stamkos 12 years to win a playoff round?

 

[BMOK33]

I feel like if the Leafs get past their round 1 game 7 hump sometime in the next 3 years, they'll win the cup. Just gotta get over that hump though.

Maybe, the east has a ton of good but flawed teams right now. I said earlier I rank the east CAR-TB-TOR then everyone else....FLA and NYR would probably be the next 2 but they have individual weaknesses that make them unlikely to win a cup as currently set up.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I see what you are doing and I don’t like it

No I believe it I think you guys win again Vasi is different

 

[Nikki Potnick]

I see what you are doing and I don’t like it

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

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

Live look at leafs players after game 7 loss

 

[GQS]

I called it from before the series even started that the leafs would get their asses handed to them as usual, and I was right again. They got destroyed in every aspect of the game. All the best to the Bolts moving forward. You deserve the win.

Outside of game 2 and game 4 which was the biggest stinker, the Leafs played great in game 1, 3 and especially in 5 and 6. Game 5 they came back from being down 2 goals to win the game and game 6 they again came back from being down 2 goals to take the game into OT where they had several amazing chances to put the series away and didn't have the puck luck and Tampa was able to capitalize on one of their few real good OT chances.

Game 7 props to Paul for scoring 2, but the Leafs played their hearts out right until the end and were close several times to tying the game. Last year was a massive disappointment losing to the Habs the way they did. This year I'm sad they lost to the Bolts, but I'm much more happier that they played very well if not great in most games this series.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Right when the refs saved the Bolts asses.

It’s amazing how many games have lost the series for the Leafs, right?

Have the Leafs ever been the worse team in their loses?

 

[Hoglander]

Many of us have been holding it in for 2 days now, just waiting to take a fat dump all over the Leafs for choking in the first round yet again.

Feels good man.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Tough series. GG to Toronto. They have a great team, but it came down to depth in the end. Couple of tweaks there and the Leafs should enjoy a playoff series win (and potentially a lot more) very soon.

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

I got exactly what I wanted and yet I still feel... empty. How can this be?

Maybe I'll watch cycles of the series highlights tomorrow and feel better. People just dont understand how hard it is being a non-Leafs fan.

 

[PromisedLand]

Congratulations Bolts fans. Except the bullshit reffing in Game 6 I have no issues. Team that showed up to play won the game tonight. Tampa won it with Point injured and not able to play.

Good luck in the series against Panthers.

Signed,
A pissed off Leafs fan

P.S. I am just rooting for one of 4 teams to win it all

In order of preference

1) Avs
2) Tampa (3peat would be amazing)
3) Panthers
4) Canes

 

[Quickdraw2828]

Nice Career move, pajamas

 

[ThunderRoad]

But did take them 7 games to beat a team that you're arguing needs to be torn apart

Not arguing Toronto would need to be gutted in some knee-jerk reaction, obviously have great players but something is missing. Comment was to fact it took awhile for Tampa to win the Cup, which is true, although TB core showed progress over the years (2019 notwithstanding of course - that was a gutcheck).

 

[SI90]

 

[Bowski]

 

[pcruz]

this was essentially a Conference finals played in the first round, I am rooting against the Leafs but if they played any other team in the 1st and 2nd they would have won, I still don't understand the logic of this format, the old 1-8 2-7 3-6 etc. playoff format worked fine and you more often than not got the best teams still standing at the end, just a stupid format if you want the better teams to advance as far as possible in the playoffs

The league is run by a bunch of lawyers who care about 1 thing: making money.

They have convinced themselves that artificial parity and rivalries generates money, therefore the integrity of the sport can be ignored.

These 2 teams were 3rd and 4th in the east this year. They shouldn't have played each other.

However, you play the opponent you're given and have to find the way to win.