GDT: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | Game #1 Tuesday @ 7:30pm | Legacy

[LeafSteel]

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Great GDT

Now...for puck drop.

 

[GoonieFace]

Haven't spent a dime on this league or team in years.

Me either, and all sports have objectively terrible officiating and a fan of any team can attest to that. It’s just a built in excuse for people that are looking for one in case of failure

 

[IPS]

Me either, and all sports have objectively terrible officiating and a fan of any team can attest to that. It’s just a built in excuse for people that are looking for one in case of failure

What makes you think I have any interest in making excuses for the team?

 

[Teeder Keon]

 

[egd27]

11:30 AM and my stomach is in knots. Boys I’m nervous. I can’t take another 1st round loss.

Relax, the series won't be won or lost tonight.

 

[Burnie97]

The only choice is the Leafs.

 

[IPS]

For anyone unaware @AvroArrow gave the skinny on the David Frost (now Jim McCauley) story with Keefe.

A lot of people don't seem to know this but Wes McCauley is the brother in law of David Frost

David Frost sexually abused Sheldon Keefe when he was a minor, as well as several other minors. They testified against Frost in court. David Frost legally changed his last name and took his wifes name, McCauley. He goes by like Jim McCauley or something now.

Coincidentally McCauley has been absolutely hosing the Leafs every single time he officiates against us in the Keefe era. He also officiated the controversial game 7 from last year.

But I'm sure there's no conflict of interest here, just Leafs fans and their conspiracy theories. It's an absolute joke that the NHL has him calling any of our games. It's total horse shit that the league allows this nonsense.

He f***ed us earlier on in the year as well, Keefe got fined for calling him out, but NHL is gonna NHL !

For some reason it's too much of a task to give the Leafs another ref - preferably one who's not a family member of a scumbag who sexually abused our coach.

 

[thewave]

Two french refs and one with a personal history with the coach involving his family. What could go wrong

Conspiracy theorist Leafs fans. The Leafs have never had a single poorly officiated playoff game ever. It just does not happen, the league would never do anything like that.

 

[Teeder Keon]

 

[Burnie97]

Hmmmmm

 

[leafsfan5]

It's genuinely insane that the NHL has a diverse set of options for refs yet they somehow keep picking the guy who has an obvious conflict of interest with our coach

Bush league

 

[Burnie97]

Holy... for a team and it's fans that keeps saying they aren't the under dog I'm hearing a lot of this talk.

Probably just Tampa playing games.

Leafs just need to ignore any of that shit and crush them. Every shift guys need to be laying hits and throwing pucks at the net for rebounds. Need those garbage goals in the playoffs.

 

[Twine Tickler]

I think O'Reilly will be a difference maker in this regard.

Could not agree more.

The core 4 stepped up huge last year in the playoffs. They all played great. Unfortunately we didn't get the timely save and depth scoring that we needed when it mattered the most. That said, the core 4 stepping up in the fashion that they did is not a trend that we've grown accustomed to over the past 6 years. In fact, that was the first time that we saw them step up in that fashion, save for the 1 series against MTL where Willy showed up in JT's absence.

This core group has historically shown a tendency to look down the bench when the going gets tough. It is why they insulated them with Vets like Spezz, Patty, Jumbo, Simmer, Foligno...etc. The problem is that those 4 players just didn't have what it took at those points in their careers to push them over the hump in those game defining moments. When we acquired Gio last season, that was the first vet acquisition that not only played a calming presence in the room and on the bench, but also was able to eat heavy and meaningful minutes. Fast forward a year later and now we have ROR who can do the same.

I do believe the core 4 are not looking down the bench nearly as much as they once did, but it is really comforting to know we have that level of experience and ability down the lineup should they deviate to old habits.

You can also add the likes of Acciari and Schenn to the mix as guys who know how to change the momentum of a game without putting the puck in the back of the cage. ALl these things make us more ready then ever to compete. I truly believe that

 

[leafsfan5]

Super psyched for this game and playoff hockey in general...

But I still hate this matchup. I hate it so much. It's not an excuse, as I'm POSITIVE Columbus and Montreal hated their matchup with the leafs but they both still won. Their core forwards put up identical points for WAY lower aav's. And one of the best goalies in the world famous for being amazing in the playoffs. I just hate the matchup.

But hopefully we pull through. I think we're just f***ing due for some good luck.

This team is good enough that we should fear no team nor any matchup

Get it done, it's time

 

[Twine Tickler]

Holy... for a team and it's fans that keeps saying they aren't the under dog I'm hearing a lot of this talk.

Probably just Tampa playing games.

Leafs just need to ignore any of that shit and crush them. Every shift guys need to be laying hits and throwing pucks at the net for rebounds. Need those garbage goals in the playoffs.

Coop being Coop. He's one of the best for a reason. It's the exact move I'd be doing too if I were in his shoes. Unfortunately I don't think anyone is buying what he is selling. No one is underestimating the B2B2B SC finalists. We all know what they are capable of. No one more so then Sheldon and the boys in that room.

Nice try Coop, but all you're doing is talking that outcome into existence. Self fulfilling prophecy

 

[dangomon]

"Good teams are built from the goalie out".

Goaltending will be a key to the series and pointing out that Vasilevskiy is one of the best in the world and that Sammy will need to beat and be better than in 4 of the 7 games for Leafs to advance, isn't an anti Leaf sentiment its stating the obvious. Doesn't mean Sammy can't do it, but he will need to outperform Vas for Leafs to win games.

The goalie that gives up the less goals against in a game wins it for his team and that seems like basic common knowledge.

If Sammy stands on his head makes many key saves and stops 37 of 40 shots on net allowing 3 goals and posts a .925 sv% that's great, but I got news for you regardless how many shots Vas faces he MUST give up 4 goals against for Toronto to win the game. So as I stated not only does Sammy need to be good he has to be better than the opposition goalie and allow less goals against.

What Samsonov does personally is only 1/2 the equation to determine who wins the game.

If we win 2-1 but the shots are 50-10 for TOR (i.e., Vas makes 48 saves and Samsonov makes 9) do you honestly believe in your heart that Sam was the 'better goalie'?

Samsonov just needs to play as he has and our TEAM needs to score more goals than they concede.

 

[Fogelhund]

We have some good players, and some very good role players now... but this is the time that our best players, show why they are our best players. It's time for Matthews and Marner to take their games to Tampa and dominate. That's not to say we don't need everyone else, we absolutely do.. but these are the two that need to will this team to victory.

 

[Chief Leaf]

I Love The Leafs and Van Halen!!

This song suits the storyline!



(gotta work tonight but I will be working hard knowing that Our team will too)
GO TEAM GO!!

 

[egd27]

and L'Ecuyer is literally THE ref who went after Bunting in the last Tampa game, giving him the only penalty in a scrum

this league man

Leafs went 5-0-1 with McCauley and 3-2 with L’Ecuyer as refs.

 

[stats1]

This league is so full of ****. Out of all the refs available for this series the league of course has to give us Wes McCauley. This guy will game manage the F*** out of Toronto.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

It's genuinely insane that the NHL has a diverse set of options for refs yet they somehow keep picking the guy who has an obvious conflict of interest with our coach

Bush league

Unfortunately we really just have a diverse array of referees who can screw things up in a multitude of different ways. Having Wes officiate Leaf games is inexcusable though, and goes way beyond typical complaints about officiating

 

[ACC1224]

Leafs went 5-0-1 with McCauley and 3-2 with L’Ecuyer as refs.

It's a trap!!

 

[Steven1562]

Will be interesting if the Refs let them play or set the tone early with a parade to the penalty box. I have a feeling the intensity will be on full blast tonight.

 

[Enga Olly]

Haven't spent a dime on this league or team in years.

I invest my time and they get a viewer on their tv broadcast. So that's not nothing but hard dollars? nope