Post-Game Talk: The legendary Maple Leafs win! Game 1 vs tampa

[Drew311]

Maroon has no class; no respect for the code

I hope he broke his f***ing hand punching Rielly's helmet 10 times. What a slob.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I'm happy. Do this 15 more times.

They've reeled you back in, eh?

 

[TheShape]

Cliff has to be back in the first game in Tampa. They’ll try all kinds of nonsense

Yes, people need to understand this. There’s a game within the game, bigger picture.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Yes, people need to understand this. There’s a game within the game, bigger picture.

I’m not thrilled with the hit, but if it happened to our guy, the whole world would call us soft and say “that’s playoff hockey”

 

[fahad203]

Clifford is the guy that transforms leafs from a soft team to a tough team.. He plays a minor role but makes a big difference. He is a smart player and is experienced enough to avoid those dirty hits most of the time.. Hard to tow that line but he can and will stay within the rules...even if he crossed it this time. Cliff in the lineup is a must

Clifford has to play again. He went overboard but playoff games and emotions were running high

I would love nothing moore for him to rag doll McDonagh after Maroon taking cheap shots at Reilly

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Everyone kept losing their mind about how good the Tampa 4th line looks...we absolutely feasted everytime they were on the ice. They were so incredibly slow and couldn't make a breakout pass to save their life. They went way out of position to make a pointless hit.

They were only officially on the ice for 1 goal against, but they were really on for 2 as one goal they all slowly skated off while the Leafs brought the puck up the ice and ended up scoring that same shift.

Fatass goons that can't skate. Keep running them out there Coop, please!

 

[HellasLEAF]

I think if you are Keefe you trust your instincts and roll out the same 4th line.

Surely Clifford will keep a more level head when dishing out the hits. But we all said the same thing about Kadri so...the #43 doesn't usually last all that long on the ice come playoff time lol.

Just keep hitting them. Take penalties, kill them whatever but don't stop hitting them keep the crowd engaged.

 

[theTTC]

If Clifford can't control his own emotions, then there is no need for Leafs dressing a knuckle dragging goon that is out there to injury players, and hurt his own team in the process.

Leafs could no doubt use his physicality to offset TB's 4th line, but I'd rather dress Spezza and hurt them with a potential goal, for then hurt the Leafs with potential goals against.

Had TB lite up the Leafs with a couple of PP goals on that 5 min major, and put Leafs in a deep hole in the 1st 10 minutes, I doubt you would be so willing to give him a second chance.

When Bunting returns there would be no place for Clifford anyways in the starting line-up.

Leafs were being proactive, not reactive, with respect to the "violence". That choice by the coach and team is correct. Your choice of a Leafs passive approach is what the Bolts were counting on, and it didn't happen. Result: we win in impressive fashion.

A coach actually going along with your hypothetical vapid "Had TB lite up the Leafs...", that would stop Leafs hard hitting tone, is what will get Reilly, Matthews, and Marner injured before the series is over (can't believe you forgot what Perry did to Tavares last year). Must have the tough guys from both sides pound on each other, instead of Bolts goons being able to focus on intimidating and smashing our stars.

We were lucky Maroon didn't injure Reilly with those sucker punches. That what you want?

 

[ChurchOfMatthews]

Put me in the camp that doesn’t want Clifford to see the ice again. That boneheaded play could have easily put the team down and that whole game changes.
You can’t dress a guy if you can’t trust him not to be stupid.

Go watch Keefe's presser from last night and you'll understand why Clifford will be playing in the next game... if he isn't suspended.

 

[GrizzLeaf]

Everyone kept losing their mind about how good the Tampa 4th line looks...we absolutely feasted everytime they were on the ice. They were so incredibly slow and couldn't make a breakout pass to save their life. They went way out of position to make a pointless hit.

They were only officially on the ice for 1 goal against, but they were really on for 2 as one goal they all slowly skated off while the Leafs brought the puck up the ice and ended up scoring that same shift.

Fatass goons that can't skate. Keep running them out there Coop, please!

Yeah, the SN commentators kept bringing up all kinds of positive info about Tampa's 4th line. While they did look ok out there, they were always the second best line on the ice. Yet no love for how the Leafs handled them.

 

[zeke]

Clifford does keep taking horrible penalties which will cost us eventually.

When Bunting comes back you figure one of Simmonds or Clifford comes out anyways.

Thing i think Keefe likes Clifford ahead of Simmonds simply due to footspeed.

 

[bax]

Exactly. You know Keefe will put him on the ice again right away though because he’s got his guys that he leans on.

I wouldn’t put him on the ice because the refs will give him absolutely no benefit of the doubt. If it’s close call and he’s involved, it’s a penalty.

Listening to Keefe post game it seems almost a guarantee Clifford plays the rest of the series.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Clifford is the toughest guy on either team. If he’s on the ice, and that’s on him for not being there, Rielly doesn’t eat punches from Maroon

 

[al secord]

Is there any update on Bunting? He'll add even more of what we need, especially if the refs continue to be whistle happy.

 

[Havoc]

If you want grit in the playoffs you have to expect there will be the odd game it goes a bit too far. Even the days we had domi roberts corson tucker these guys threw some questionable hits that would be 10 game suspensions today. You can't just run away from grit because one bad thing happened.

We followed up the 5 minute major with 5 goals. Move on and onto the next one. Cliffords playoff PIMS are under control, look at his history numbers.

 

[ULF_55]

It was good.

Wish it wasn't a blow-out though, and I don't think it was a 5-0 game.

Leafs were the better team . <=== period

 

[Sypher04]

It was good.

Wish it wasn't a blow-out though, and I don't think it was a 5-0 game.

Leafs were the better team . <=== period

I agree. It was a 6-0 game as Liljegren’s goal should have counted

 

[Havoc]

It was good.

Wish it wasn't a blow-out though, and I don't think it was a 5-0 game.

Leafs were the better team . <=== period

Agree. Looked like it should have been 10-0. Could have had 5 in the 1st period alone.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

It was good.

Wish it wasn't a blow-out though, and I don't think it was a 5-0 game.

Leafs were the better team . <=== period

Can I ask why you think that?

To me, it wasn't a close game, and the scoreboard pretty accurately reflects what was happening on a shift by shift basis. It definitely could have been 6-1 (Lilly goal and Stamkos miss) but other than that, score seemed a pretty good representation from my eyes.

 

[67leafs]

I love Morgan’s fight…….that’s a big difference this year IMO

 

[TopCheese]

Clifford does keep taking horrible penalties which will cost us eventually.

When Bunting comes back you figure one of Simmonds or Clifford comes out anyways.

Thing i think Keefe likes Clifford ahead of Simmonds simply due to footspeed.

Agreed. Simmonds is meaner, more of a shite disturber than clifford. But Clifford is a better player. He is average defensively as well, which is more than simmonds can say. Those guys are out there to distract the opponent anywayand after cliffords hit he will be drawing plenty of attention

 

[Nineteen67]

Great start. They’ve proved they won’t back down, and boy they better be prepared to stand up and fight them, because Tampa will get dirty in game two. It’s who they are.

Willy, no more fly-bys when you have a chance to put a bruise on their D. Clifford and Simmonds will take care of any retaliation.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I love Morgan’s fight…….that’s a big difference this year IMO

He's a man this year. Fed a larger Ruutta pretty good. I don't blame him for taking a few shots from that Fatass Maroon who ambushed him. Mo will play more minutes in a period than Maroon will play in most games.

 

[Mess]

It was good.

Wish it wasn't a blow-out though, and I don't think it was a 5-0 game.

Leafs were the better team . <=== period

Great game by the Leafs, but I agree with your thoughts on the blow-out. I was having similar thoughts in the 3rd period, as everything seemed to be going right, and at times toooooo easy as a result.

One of 2 possible outcomes from this dominating game #1 win.

1) Leafs confidence now at an all time high and they steamroll through the series.
or
2) Because it seemed like an overly easy win, that Leafs game now has the potential to allow some complacency from overconfidence to creep into their game and then TB puts the pedal down and we let up.

Our Leafs tend to play to the level of their competition and I agree had this been a more competitive game as opposed to a blowout with Leafs still posting a well deserved win by a pair of goals it would have set the stage better for the series going forward. IMO

Good teams tend to come roaring back next game after an embarrassing loss.

 

[mydnyte]

I agree. It was a 6-0 game as Liljegren’s goal should have counted

it would have if the league could afford to use decent high def cameras ...a blurry zoom-in is why they could see the puck 100% over the line.