Pre-Game Talk: Time to talk Playoffs

[tom leafers]

Yep .. The PP needs to do something.

That being said winning the special teams battle overall can help. So if the penalty kill can be really strong, that can help negative a poor PP. And timely PP goals are just as good as a more consistent PP.

Unfortunately I don't have much confidence in it though. The coaching has been beyond bad in this area. No excuse for this team to have this poor of a PP.

took the words out of my mouth my man

 

[crump]

Denis Malgin has entered the chat.

 

[Zybalto]

Its really on the shooters to fix the PP.

For the season, the Leafs rank 1st in xGF/60 on the PP and 1st for High Danger chances/60 on the PP. The fact they are getting these looks says its probably not a coaching thing.

They should just pretend its even strength as they have no problems finishing there for some reason.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

I’m more worried about the PP than the PK. We’ve got Foligno and Nash incoming to solidify it.

The same really can’t be said for the PP. Who we’ve got is who we got and the continued struggles don’t bode well. A PP goal could be the difference between a win or a loss in a tight playoff game.

 

[Mikeyg]

What are the actual odds of us hitting Montreal in the first rd? Like 90%?

 

[SeenSchenn2]

What are the actual odds of us hitting Montreal in the first rd? Like 90%?

If they win tonight, Moneypuck has them at 3.3% to get 3rd... obviously a lot of moving parts that are long shots.
If they lose both games in regulation and CGY beats VAN 4 times.. CGY is in.

That said, they're like a 97% chance of getting 4th.

 

[7even]

Gonna be goaltending this year boys. Donate any spare knees and groins you got to Jack Campbell, because behind him we've got a cardboard cutout Dave Rittich and the ghost of Frederik Andersen.

 

[Notsince67]

OK new rule - only zeke gets to post line combos.

Only if you add plus/minus

 

[Teeder Keon]

Only if you add plus/minus

No no no
Not after the last ones I saw

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Gonna be goaltending this year boys. Donate any spare knees and groins you got to Jack Campbell, because behind him we've got a cardboard cutout Dave Rittich and the ghost of Frederik Andersen.

He can borrow mine for the playoffs and next season. If he plays well and re-signs under $4.5m he can keep ‘em.

 

[Notsince67]

for sure. at the very least, we will need our PK to be water tight.

i dont understand how a team with such scoring talent like ours is so bad on the PP lol. Stop over coaching and over thinking and just let the boys go out there and make some magic

Pretty sure the leafs have managed something like 19 penalty kills in a row without a goal.

 

[Trapper]

And then you ask them to explain why it's a weak division and they have nothing.

It’s certainly an ideal division, not one to be put together forever. 56 games, only travel to 7 team locations, couple of rebuilding and guaranteed Canadian final 4.

You can argue till the cows come home but the bottom line is this: we have been given a scheduling/division gift. Don’t p**** it away.
No reason we don’t steamroll Montreal and come out of the division. DO NOT waste the golden opportunity. The Cup still counts so use what you have been given. Failure and excuses expose a poor team.

 

[Clark4Ever]

I would go as far as to suggest that if this were a 'normal' season with regular divisional alignment, I think we would be right there battling for the top seed.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

The rest vs getting reps issue is such a conundrum in these last two games. Leafs are in the middle of a three day break so how much rest do they really need? And who gets into the only two games we have left?

Right now, here’s who I want to play in the final two games to get up to speed and be evaluated:

Andersen: Look the guy needs to get a game in. Regardless of how any of us feel he isn’t coming back to be the third guy. He’ll be backing up Campbell and it’s better that he has some time facing NHL shots.

Nash: Just to play and get reps in since Nash has missed significant time and he’s not as familiar with the team or system.

Liljegren: Right now we’ve got 2 for sure solid defensemen ahead of Marincin (an option we do not want to get to) on the depth chart. I think Liljegren is and can be that third guy ahead of him but I’d like him to get in one more game to get fully acclimated and gain a bit more chemistry with the big club.

I know Hyman, Foligno, and Bogosian are all injured too but I’m less concerned about their capabilities and their understanding of their roles.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

I would go as far as to suggest that if this were a 'normal' season with regular divisional alignment, I think we would be right there battling for the top seed.

Yea it matters a lot less than many would have you believe.

 

[zeke]

It’s certainly an ideal division, not one to be put together forever. 56 games, only travel to 7 team locations, couple of rebuilding and guaranteed Canadian final 4.

You can argue till the cows come home but the bottom line is this: we have been given a scheduling/division gift. Don’t p**** it away.
No reason we don’t steamroll Montreal and come out of the division. DO NOT waste the golden opportunity. The Cup still counts so use what you have been given. Failure and excuses expose a poor team.

How is it a gift? Worst travel schedule in hockey.

And no there's not a couple of rebuilding teams - there's one rebuilding team and it's nearing the end of its rebuild full of young good talent.

And what the heck does guaranteed Canadian have anything to do with it?

 

[Gary Nylund]

Right now, here’s who I want to play in the final two games to get up to speed and be evaluated:

Andersen: Look the guy needs to get a game in. Regardless of how any of us feel he isn’t coming back to be the third guy. He’ll be backing up Campbell and it’s better that he has some time facing NHL shots.

Nash: Just to play and get reps in since Nash has missed significant time and he’s not as familiar with the team or system.

Liljegren: Right now we’ve got 2 for sure solid defensemen ahead of Marincin (an option we do not want to get to) on the depth chart. I think Liljegren is and can be that third guy ahead of him but I’d like him to get in one more game to get fully acclimated and gain a bit more chemistry with the big club.

I know Hyman, Foligno, and Bogosian are all injured too but I’m less concerned about their capabilities and their understanding of their roles.

News to me, I'm skeptical. Source?

Before getting injured, he was having his worst season as an NHL goalie. He hasn't even played in the NHL in some time due to injury. The coach said today that he's not even cleared to play in the NHL. Why would anyone possibly think it's a given that he'll be in our lineup when the playoffs start?

 

[Gary Nylund]

How is it a gift? Worst travel schedule in hockey.

And no there's not a couple of rebuilding teams - there's one rebuilding team and it's nearing the end of its rebuild full of young good talent.

And what the heck does guaranteed Canadian have anything to do with it?

With the divisions the way they were, we'd be playing a very good team in the 1st round and then probably an even better team in the second round. Instead we get to play possibly the worst team to qualify for the playoffs in the 1st round and after that, our worst case scenario is that our 2nd round opponent is a team that is currently 11th overall. That is indeed a gift.

Any more questions?

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

News to me, I'm skeptical. Source?

Before getting injured, he was having his worst season as an NHL goalie. He hasn't even played in the NHL in some time due to injury. The coach said today that he's not even cleared to play in the NHL. Why would anyone possibly think it's a given that he'll be in our lineup when the playoffs start?

No source. I'd just be genuinely shocked if the Leafs didn't have Andersen with the team in that capacity come playoff time. Granted the Keefe quote is quite ominous for the chances of Andersen being with the team.

I really don't care either way if Fred is on the bench or not come playoff time. I'm just assuming that the team has been building towards him eventually returning to the club but who knows.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

With the divisions the way they were, we'd be playing a very good team in the 1st round and then probably an even better team in the second round. Instead we get to play possibly the worst team to qualify for the playoffs in the 1st round and after that, our worst case scenario is that our 2nd round opponent is a team that is currently 11th overall. That is indeed a gift.

Any more questions?

the system was very flawed when the Leafs finished 6th in the league and faced the #4 ranked Bruins in round one. It's not suddenly a gift when the Leafs are a top 5 team and going up against a mediocre opponent, it's how it should be

 

[Gary Nylund]

No source. I'd just be genuinely shocked if the Leafs didn't have Andersen with the team in that capacity come playoff time. Granted the Keefe quote is quite ominous for the chances of Andersen being with the team.

I really don't care either way if Fred is on the bench or not come playoff time. I'm just assuming that the team has been building towards him eventually returning to the club but who knows.

That may have been the plan at first, I doubt it's still the plan though. Things change every day ...

You may turn out to be right, nobody knows for sure. We'll see.

the system was very flawed when the Leafs finished 6th in the league and faced the #4 ranked Bruins in round one. It's not suddenly a gift when the Leafs are a top 5 team and going up against a mediocre opponent, it's how it should be

Not sure "flawed" is the right word. No matter what the divisions are, historically it's always been that some teams benefit from the way they are while others are in a tough spot (as has been the case with us lately). No matter how much we cry about it though it is what it is and if you are good enough to win the cup, then you win your division and play a weak opponent anyway in round one so that should be the goal for us.

Next season, we go back to the way is was. This season things are only different because of ... external circumstances ... which could certainly be viewed as a gift.

You should also consider what I said about us being guaranteed a mediocre opponent not just in round one, but also in round two. No other team in the league can say this, we can. It's a gift, and a pretty sweet one at that IMHO and that is the main reason that we have every reason to expect to win at least two rounds this season.

When was the last time a team was in the position that we're in right now - we're guaranteed not to face a top 10 team for the first two playoff rounds? Hell I'm not even sure this has ever happened before.

Golden opportunity!

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Yep .. The PP needs to do something.

That being said winning the special teams battle overall can help. So if the penalty kill can be really strong, that can help negative a poor PP. And timely PP goals are just as good as a more consistent PP.

Unfortunately I don't have much confidence in it though. The coaching has been beyond bad in this area. No excuse for this team to have this poor of a PP.

I'm almost at the point where I think we should split them up again. Run two balanced units, maybe keep Matthews and Marner out the majority of the time, but that first unit loaded up isn't getting it done.

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

We can't screw this up. First 2 rounds are ideal matchups with us having home ice advantage in a division that has been favorable. No more screw ups. I want to dance on the corpse of Carey Price as the habs exit stage right and we keep pur post season alive.

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

I wish they'd go back to the 1-8 in the Conference playoff seeding post-Covid.

 

[fahad203]

I don't want to imagine a first round loss. It would be too much to take.

However, i do not believe the Jets make it to the 2nd round. I think it's destined for McDavid and Matthews to clash in round 2.

I have a feeling Wheeler(although, not a hitter)Schiefle, Copp, Dubois and Lewis hit the crap out of McDavid
Especially Dubois. I am not betting on McDavid getting any space or easy lanes