Pre-Game Talk: Time to talk Playoffs

[zeke]

Foligno - Matthews - Marner
Galchenyuk - Tavares - Nylander
Mikheyev - Nash - Hyman
Thornton/Simmonds - Kerfoot - Spezza​

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Foligno - Matthews - Marner
Galchenyuk - Tavares - Nylander
Mikheyev - Nash - Hyman
Thornton/Simmonds - Kerfoot - Spezza​

I think this is it. And if we're struggling for offense, Robertson's gotta be on deck as well as an option in Chucky's spot, with Chucky moving down to 4th line to give Joe and Simmonds a rest.

 

[BudForLife]

Ive been watching since '68...imagine that...I missed the cup by 1 year!

During all these years the Leafs have broken my heart time over time

I'll stay positive but man it's pretty terrifying just thinking about losing to any of the North teams in the playoffs (Especially Habs).

I'll be happy if we can at least just get to the final 4

Go LEAFS Go

 

[crump]

Ive been watching since '68...imagine that...I missed the cup by 1 year!

During all these years the Leafs have broken my heart time over time

I'll stay positive but man it's pretty terrifying just thinking about losing to any of the North teams in the playoffs (Especially Habs).

I'll be happy if we can at least just get to the final 4

Go LEAFS Go

I’m spoiled, been alive for 2 cups, missed a third (63) by a day, it probably induced my mother’s labour, barely remember watching the last with my family being super excited. I need to see one I can remember before I go senile.

 

[jaric1862]

if we're playing the Canadiens, I don't think it really matters if we have a "shutdown" line because their talent is dispersed throughout their lineup.

 

[Stephen]

I think this is it. And if we're struggling for offense, Robertson's gotta be on deck as well as an option in Chucky's spot, with Chucky moving down to 4th line to give Joe and Simmonds a rest.

Robertson doesn't really look ready to provide an offensive boost yet. Everything about his game feels so labored and underpowered and he doesn't have the wheels to separate himself to get clean looks. Of course he scored vs CBJ in the bubble but maybe shouldn't be counting on him for a boost if the offense is misfiring...

 

[Cecithepylon]

Why don’t we try
Spezza-Matthews-Marner
Gally-Tavares-nylander
Foglino-kerfoot-Hyman
Thorton-nash/brooks-Simmonds/mikeyev

honestly surprised we don’t try Spezza up with Matthews and Marner. Money says he would look better than Thorton. Sub Hyman in to keep Spezza a minutes down.

2nd line stays the same

3rd line is a potent line that can shut down or score

the 4th can either be fast by adding mik or more physical by adding Simmonds

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Robertson doesn't really look ready to provide an offensive boost yet. Everything about his game feels so labored and underpowered and he doesn't have the wheels to separate himself to get clean looks. Of course he scored vs CBJ in the bubble but maybe shouldn't be counting on him for a boost if the offense is misfiring...

Agreed, probably why I didn't put him in the starting line-up.

 

[3blizzard4]

I’m spoiled, been alive for 2 cups, missed a third (63) by a day, it probably induced my mother’s labour, barely remember watching the last with my family being super excited. I need to see one I can remember before I go senile.

Ive been watching since '68...imagine that...I missed the cup by 1 year!

During all these years the Leafs have broken my heart time over time

I'll stay positive but man it's pretty terrifying just thinking about losing to any of the North teams in the playoffs (Especially Habs).

I'll be happy if we can at least just get to the final 4

Go LEAFS Go

Wow i feel for you guys. I have been watching since ‘92 and I feel fatigued. But this puts it into context.

 

[mccabe2424]

Any idea when game 1 will be ? Will they start playoffs and let the canucks finish their games off same time? I don't think teams would want to wait an extra week to start

 

[ShaneFalco]

if we're playing the Canadiens, I don't think it really matters if we have a "shutdown" line because their talent is dispersed throughout their lineup.

"talent"

 

[Stephen]

Agreed, probably why I didn't put him in the starting line-up.

I mean as a guy on deck to replace someone in the top six. Would be nice if he could get some reps in the last couple of games of the regular season to build some confidence and momentum, if cap allows.

 

[leafsfan5]

if we're playing the Canadiens, I don't think it really matters if we have a "shutdown" line because their talent is dispersed throughout their lineup.

Yeah our lineup will be dependant on who we play throughout the playoffs. If we make the second round and face Edmonton we'll need a shutdown line for sure imo

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

I mean as a guy on deck to replace someone in the top six. Would be nice if he could get some reps in the last couple of games of the regular season to build some confidence and momentum, if cap allows.

Leafs have still managed to save both of their recalls, I assumed one was ear-marked for Robertson after we clinch the division. We shall see.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Has anyone heard of what the NHL will do if a team has a Vancouver like Covid breakout, and team to quarantine for 2 weeks. I can’t see them holding up a full round of playoffs. Hopefully never comes to that.

 

[kb]

I'm sure glad our path is not going through Boston and Tampa Bay to the final 4.

Why? It's nice to face inferior competition.

 

[Notsince67]

Why don’t we try
Spezza-Matthews-Marner
Gally-Tavares-nylander
Foglino-kerfoot-Hyman
Thorton-nash/brooks-Simmonds/mikeyev

honestly surprised we don’t try Spezza up with Matthews and Marner. Money says he would look better than Thorton. Sub Hyman in to keep Spezza a minutes down.

2nd line stays the same

3rd line is a potent line that can shut down or score

the 4th can either be fast by adding mik or more physical by adding Simmonds

Spezza cant handle the minutes.

 

[Stonehands1990]

Robertson doesn't really look ready to provide an offensive boost yet. Everything about his game feels so labored and underpowered and he doesn't have the wheels to separate himself to get clean looks. Of course he scored vs CBJ in the bubble but maybe shouldn't be counting on him for a boost if the offense is misfiring...

Robertson is at the games played threshold for ELC slide. He won’t see another NHL game this season

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'm pretty excited about this series also, however what worries me about this Leafs team is not the one-game chokes (losing to the Sens after leading 5-1, losing twice to the Nucks after their Covid) or even how they have a hard time handling Ottawa, but how in the world do they lose 4 straight games to Vancouver (outscored 16-8) after whipping them in the first 3. This is the scary part, I just feel that they take their foot off the gas pedal when they shouldn't, just like when they were up 3-2 in games over the Bruins 2 years ago.

Sure, they beat Vancouver the last 2 games but they still lost 4 straight to that basement dwelling team. I don't mean to sound so pessimistic but this Leafs team does have the ability to lose 4 straight games to the same crappy team. There's a lot to be optimistic about also but after 4 straight 1st round losses and how the Habs booted the Pens out last play-ins, it's hard to be over confident.

I'm not worried at all. Every team has their down moments and we've had very few this season.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I love your optimism but here’s a cautionary note from a 65 year old die hard:
Assuming it’s Montreal in round 1:
*Jake Allen has looked unbeatable against us-he may already be inside our heads! That alone accounts for more than anything else in the playoffs. Look at what Korpisalo did to us (we won our last game because mainly of terrible goaltending by the Habs)
*Montreal will hit us at every turn (last game we were pummelled with the hits like 37-14 for the Habs). And without Weber to boot. How will we stand up to this in already tight playoff quarters?
*Montreal is no slouch, add Caufield to the improvements of Anderson and Toffoli

lots here for trouble

Caufield has not been dangerous at all. He scored a couple of 3-on-3 goals, but he hasn't done anything at 5-on-5.

Korpisalo did not just play well against us. He also played well against Tampa.

Allen also has not looked "unbeatable" against us. He is 2-2 with a .911 save percentage against us. That is nowhere near the .970+ save percentage Korpisalo sported against us in our CBJ series. It may be enough to win them a game or two, but it won't be close if that is his quality of play and Campbell doesn't totally crap the bed himself.

 

[BudForLife]

I’m spoiled, been alive for 2 cups, missed a third (63) by a day, it probably induced my mother’s labour, barely remember watching the last with my family being super excited. I need to see one I can remember before I go senile.

I'm soooo jealous man

But hey, things are looking promising in Leaf Nation...hopefully I'll be spoiled soon too

 

[BudForLife]

Wow i feel for you guys. I have been watching since ‘92 and I feel fatigued. But this puts it into context.

Ya a long long time. We've had a lot of disappointments since '92 as well.

Imagine having lived through the real ugly days of Ballard.

Anyway, the cup will be so much sweeter for it

Go LEAFS Go!!

 

[TopCheese]

4C by what? He's a terrific shutdown center. Exactly the type of player we need in the bottom 6.

You quote me to say he’s not a fourth line player and back it up with a tweet that says he’s a great 4th liner?

 

[moon111]

Think I'm way off from the typical Leaf fan because I've deemed their chances in the playoffs in recent years as not a chance.
Last season I wanted them to learn the lessons they gained in the 2nd round, but it is what it is.
My grades from last year's playoffs (players still on roster) This is also based on them and their position. You can't compare
what you'd expect out of a third line forward as that of a first line.
B+ Matthews
B Kerfoot
B Muzzin
B Hyman
B Spezza
D Mikheyev
D- Marner
D- Dermott
D- Tavares
F+ Rielly
F Holl
F Marincin
F Engvall
F Robertson

I'm going to say the Leafs defense looked particularly bad when put under pressure. That being said, fair fights are for
suckers and it's up to the Leaf forwards to know when and how to help out. I'd say the biggest surprise last year was
how much Kerfoot elevated his game. He was out-hitting and out-scoring almost everyone. Think we're going to see
even more from Matthews. Marner has to play smart. Rielly has to show the opposition some damn respect. It's
great to seem him play rover and all, but do we really want to see Engvall filling in as a defenseman when he can't
even play a forward position? I have big hopes and dreams from Tavares.... think he's going to be playing much
smarter than last year.

 

[Nylander88]

When it comes to leadership, grit, and the intangibles that they bring...it's safe to say that Thornton, Spezza, Simmonds will all be in the lineup at full health in the playoffs. If Nash gets healthy, he is a heck of a shutdown centreman over the course of his career. So who comes out? The weakest link remaining could be Mikheyev tbh. We all like him, and this could be an unpopular opinion, but especially this year...it seems like he is where offence goes to die. Skates fast and is a heck of a PKer. That's about where it ends. Nash is a heck of a PKer, shutdown center, plays with more bite, and has plenty of leadership and playoff experience. That all said, here is my lineup at full health:

Foligno-Matthews-Marner
Galchenyuk-Tavares-Nylander
Kerfoot-Nash-Hyman
Thornton-Spezza-Simmonds
Mikheyev

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Sandin-Bogosian
Dermott

Campbell
Andersen/Rittich

That shutdown line would be able to matchup against anyone