Who would you prefer in the first round?

[TML1967]

Dispelling the Boston cure would be nice.
Who do I think will be the best matchup for us?

New York. Their G is the only reason they are where they are, and I think we can beat him 4 of 7.
A combination of better and deeper F's, better and deeper D, and a G who has shown to be a good playoff performer. Sadly, their size and anger in the bottom 6 does worry me a little in the playoffs where you can literally lick people faces without consequences.

 

[makbeer]

1. Boston - Got more holes than past year especially in net and on D, and I am hungry for revenge.
2. Florida - Offensive powerhouse but no idea what you are getting in net - i like how our offense matches up too.
3. New York - Worried about Igor, but I think they are still figuring out how to win in the post-season and i think their D lacks depth.
   
4. Pittsburgh - Playoff with Crosby scares me, but i'm not sold on Jarry yet.
5. Washington - I just don't want a 6-7 game series with Tom Wilson i am worried we lose players.
6. Tampa - Vasi + Hedman + knowing how to win I am not a big fan of this matchup
   
   
7. Carolina - Best all-around team, no real weaknesses I think they will be a matchup nightmare for every team.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Tampa.

 

[Morbo]

the last 2 times have shown that the problem is not strength of opponent.

it really doesn't matter who they face.

 

[wingman75]

I picked Carolina because if Freddy is the starter I feel he has a mental collapse vs his old team. I think we could have the same collapse vs Boston ffs.

Regardless, we want to play the weakest opponent to at least get some mojo going, then we are going to have to beat a lot of good teams to get any further.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Doesn't matter we'll win the expected goals/wins series

 

[Madap]

1. Boston - Got more holes than past year especially in net and on D, and I am hungry for revenge.
2. Florida - Offensive powerhouse but no idea what you are getting in net - i like how our offense matches up too.
3. New York - Worried about Igor, but I think they are still figuring out how to win in the post-season and i think their D lacks depth.
   
4. Pittsburgh - Playoff with Crosby scares me, but i'm not sold on Jarry yet.
5. Washington - I just don't want a 6-7 game series with Tom Wilson i am worried we lose players.
6. Tampa - Vasi + Hedman + knowing how to win I am not a big fan of this matchup
   
   
7. Carolina - Best all-around team, no real weaknesses I think they will be a matchup nightmare for every team.

Carolina has one weakness and we know him very well.

Although as long as he’s not playing us, I really hope he does well in the playoffs. Toronto is just not easy to play in for everyone, so I can see him doing better in Carolina.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Don't care, need to figure out how to win regardless of opponent. It definitely won't be a Metro team though.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Florida not getting enough respect IMO. They're 3rd overall with the best goal differential in the NHL, seems like an extremely dangerous team to me.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Don't care, need to figure out how to win regardless of opponent. It definitely won't be a Metro team though.

If they wanted an easier path, they should have beat the Habs last year.

 

[Havoc]

Take the best of the best round 1. No team is touching us if we survive that one. It will make warriors out of them and if you want to be the best you gotta be the best.

There's no easy opponent so don't have to worry too much about the "what if we use all we have on round 1 and have nothing left". Every team will be half dead after round 1.

 

[leafsfan5]

Florida not getting enough respect IMO. They're 3rd overall with the best goal differential in the NHL, seems like an extremely dangerous team to me.

They’re definitely dangerous but I think people see them as a good stylistic fit. FLA pushes the pace offensively and gives up a lot of chances. A game like that can play into our hands since we have elite offensive talent. If Soup returns to his elite level that type of game will favour us as I trust him to make more saves then Bob

 

[Menzinger]

Florida is a very good team. But they also come with some questions about stability of goaltending, some forwards outperforming what they are normally, and as with the Leafs a recent history of falling short in the playoffs.

So respect them, but I don't see a team that's earned more than the Leafs or is in any better position

 

[Nylander88]

I selected Boston. At this point, it's personal.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Losing to the toilet seats is not a lack of luck, it is a lack of mental fortitude.

It’s neither, they lost because Carey price had the month of his life starting game 5.

 

[JayfromNB1219]

Boston...if we are doing this right we have a major demon to slay in the Bruins before we sorry about anyone else

 

[Enniskillen]

It’s neither, they lost because Carey price had the month of his life starting game 5.

And CBJ goalies and Tuuka before that? Don’t want to hear that song again.

 

[Ashdown2]

florida...
also itll be a really high scoring series , very entertaining

 

[Nylanderthal]

And CBJ goalies and Tuuka before that? Don’t want to hear that song again.

So then the team should add some extra offensive power to avoid being goalied again.

 

[ShaneFalco]

So then the team should add some extra offensive power to avoid being goalied again.

Yes because the team should spend more on people who can score

 

[LeafGrief]

The Leafs have playoff demons and the demon's name is Boston Bruins. I want them to look their boogeyman in the eyes and make him blink.

This is the year that Dubas doubled down on the core. They win this year or big changes are coming, regardless of who they lose to in the first round. If they beat the Bruins, I think they can go on a real run. And if they can't, well then I'll look forward to the blockbusters.

 

[Voodoo Child]

As much as it’s the playoffs and anything can happen, the Leafs are a deep team and would wear Boston and Washington down in a seven game series.

Boston rolling a Swayman-Ullmark tandem with no Chara or Krug and everyone besides Ovi on Washington is past their primes.

The Rangers aren’t playing like a .681 team at five on five and I think will ‘correct’ a little in the second half, they’ll make it but not with the 112 points they’re pacing for. Shesterkin looks capable of goalieing a superior team.

Pittsburgh hasn’t done anything since they won, but you never know with Crosby and Malkin.

I would feel a very apprehensive confidence going into any of these series.

(And I think the Leafs easily beat Minnesota, St. Louis and Vegas in 7).

Florida is good but just as unproven, and Jack has been better than Bob for two years now. But they’re deep, skilled and have good blue line size, a very impressive team.

We know all about Tampa, but they haven’t looked as dominant this year, you still don’t want to play them because they have the games best goalie, D and a top-5 forward group. I don’t see Tampa threepeating regardless.

Carolina is a well balanced team, great speed and very skilled, great D, but they have Freddy in the nets.

The Leafs could beat anyone, or lose in the first round again, I suppose from most desired to least I’d have…

1. Boston
2. Washington
3. New York
4. Pittsburgh
5. Carolina
6. Tampa
7. Florida

 

[RunItBackAgain]

Make it an unbearable place to play. In 2004 we had people storming the other teams hotel in Calgary blasting horns and pulling alarms. Not to mention the atmosphere in the arena, something the leafs have always lacked. Get in their heads, fans in Toronto can do more.

 

[ACC1224]

Make it an unbearable place to play. In 2004 we had people storming the other teams hotel in Calgary blasting horns and pulling alarms. Not to mention the atmosphere in the arena, something the leafs have always lacked. Get in their heads, fans in Toronto can do more.

How many playoff games have you been to? I don't think anyone who's attended would make such a statement.

 

[TMLAM34]

Boston. But we’ll probably end up playing either Florida or Tampa.