Pre-Game Talk: Winnipeg Jets @ our Toronto Maple Leafs, March 31st 7pm

[Sypher04]

Also I don’t see why Blackwell would be the one to sit out of our 4th liners…

 

[AvroArrow]

It's funny that people still don't realize how good Holl is.

Gio-Lilly has been awesome for sure, at around 80xgf% as the lightest used pairing. But the #1 pairing since the deadline, in all of TOI and quality of competition and dzone starts, has been Brodie-Holl....and they've been arguably even more impressive given that tougher usage - at around 65xgf% and 65gf%.

For all the heat Holl got, since January he's been stellar. Better than he was last year. Took him a couple months to get into it, but no complaints from me. He's physical, he's defending well, skating well and even contributing offensively. I personally was shitting on him a lot from October-December, but since then he's been very good. Happy he's proving us wrong.

 

[kb]

It's funny that people still don't realize how good Holl is.

Gio-Lilly has been awesome for sure, at around 80xgf% as the lightest used pairing. But the #1 pairing since the deadline, in all of TOI and quality of competition and dzone starts, has been Brodie-Holl....and they've been arguably even more impressive given that tougher usage - at around 65xgf% and 65gf%.

No, I am a Holl booster too. It's not about Holl the player in this instance. We all saw that Holl got banged up pretty good (head) last game, and it might be a smarter move to limit his 5v5 ice against a cheap-shotting team like the Jets. Run a Rielly - Brodie, Gio - Lily top-4.

He can easily carry a 3rd pairing with Dahlstrom until he's back to 100%

 

[Legion34]

Also I don’t see why Blackwell would be the one to sit out of our 4th liners…

Muscle in case jets try something.

 

[zeke]

 

[ACC1224]

Guessing Keefe doesn't trust Holl with Dahlstrom.
Would have been much simplier and assuming more efffective to just run them out there in sheltered minutes and keep Giordano with Lilligren.

 

[Dion TheFluff]

They’re going Clifford-Spezza-Simmonds fourth line. Love it.

physical but that line will get caved in if caught out against any of the jets top 3 lines

 

[SprDaVE]

 

[Twine Tickler]

looks like Lyubushkin gets a night off.
Wonder why Blackwell is in Grey? Both Clifford and Simmonds in tonight? Slugfest.

Honestly I was going to suggest Simmer and Clifford be in this lineup together tonight. I absolutely love the call by Keefe here. The Jets embarrassed us on the second half of our B2B w/ travel last time around, and they did it in a way that needs retribution IMO. They took liberties at our skilled guys all night long, and were arrogantly proud of it the entire time. We didn't necessarily back down in that game, but they caught us at the right time to expose us. We had Woll in net, and we were gassed from going to a shootout the night prior against a better Wild team, all the while they were waiting at home for us the next day. How eerily similar this scenario is eh? WPG goes to BUF yesterday and goes into a shootout, and then has to travel, albeit not long, to TOR to face a waiting Leafs.

I love how Keefe is throwing out a late 90's style 4th line for this game. Play them like 7 mins tonight, and just send a message to the Jets that if they were hoping for an easy second game on their B2B, guess again. I got a feeling Pionk's pre game nap might be a bit restless today for some reason. Win the game before the puck even drops.

Our boys have shown that they can play in these physical games now. We may not be the toughest team in the league. Far from it actually. But we haven't backed down once this year. I think with Simmer and Clifford in the lineup today it just goes to show that we aren't f***ing around tonight. At the very least, I hope their involvement drags the rest of the team into the fight. If it becomes a special teams battle, we win this game more often than not.

Great call Keefer!

 

[zeke]

TOI since deadline (not including last game where Holl and Boosh were injured halfway):

Even Strength

1. Rielly 19:14
2. Brodie 18:51
3. Holl 17:54
4. Gio 15:58
5. Boosh 15:11
6. Lilly 14:53

Penalty Kill

1. Brodie 2:54
2. Holl 2:04
3. Gio 1:50
4. Boosh 1:29
5. Rielly 1:22
6. Lilly 0:11

it's getting to be pure comedy that so many people still don't understand where Holl ranks in the pecking order.

 

[fahad203]

I still prefer him over Spezza if Simmonds in. Spezza and Simmond are super slow
One of them should be in, not both

Especially since he did score a goal last game. He should have been in

 

[fahad203]

I have such a distaste for so many teams right now. Winnipeg being one of them. Just tired of the non-stop anti Leaf shit coming out of some of these fanbases. Would love nothing more then for us to absolutely smack the Jets in the mouth tonight.

The Jets really should have handled their victory in December with a bit more humility. That type of arrogance usually comes back to bite you at some point. I don't think there will be any reason for our boys to not get up for this game.

Play that dumbass clip of Schiefle saying "is there anything better than beating the Leafs?" right before you take the ice, and remind him exactly why that statement is the way it is. We are the superior franchise in every way and guys like him are just jelly that they are stuck in a second grade organization, dump of a city and going absolutely nowhere anytime soon. It's time to show him and the rest Jets that the only thing better than beating the Leafs is actually to be a Leaf.

Dress Simmer tonight, I don't think he was in for the last game against them. They caught us on the second half of a B2B and played with their chests puffed out all game long. Time to return the favor.

Only Canadian team I like are the Flames. The rest can go to hell

Not to mention Laine is better crap at their arena. That aged so well
This is the city that couldn't hold their first franchise together

 

[napoleon in rags]

Last time they met it was the greatest victory in Jet franchise history.
They are going to be motivated to relive that dream night while the Leafs will be on a bit of a let down after beating two really good teams and now facing one of the bottom barrel teams.

Jet fans will shirley put their teeth in and maybe even bathe before this one, so they'll be shined up for what could be the second greatest night of their lives. Nothing will ever top that December night. Rumour has it the Manitoba government is having Canada Post create a stamp to commemorate that night.

Manitoba? I thought winnipeg was in Saskatchewan?

 

[SprDaVE]

 

[kb]

For all the heat Holl got, since January he's been stellar. Better than he was last year. Took him a couple months to get into it, but no complaints from me. He's physical, he's defending well, skating well and even contributing offensively. I personally was shitting on him a lot from October-December, but since then he's been very good. Happy he's proving us wrong.

I agree with everything here. It's not about Holl's performance.

This issue I have is that Holl was knocked out of the last game with a head injury, and the entire bottom 4 are playing with unfamiliar partners.

 

[kb]

TOI since deadline (not including last game where Holl and Boosh were injured halfway):

Even Strength

1. Rielly 19:14
2. Brodie 18:51
3. Holl 17:54
4. Gio 15:58
5. Boosh 15:11
6. Lilly 14:53

Penalty Kill

1. Brodie 2:54
2. Holl 2:04
3. Gio 1:50
4. Boosh 1:29
5. Rielly 1:22
6. Lilly 0:11

it's getting to be pure comedy that so many people still don't understand where Holl ranks in the pecking order.

A healthy Holl, yes - absolutely.

 

[Cams]

I'm going to try and start a Laine's better chant every time PLD touches the puck. I hope people in 110 will join me

no "Laine's better???" sign?

 

[AuraSphere]

But why are we splitting Gio-Lilje... Let Dahlstrom - Holl do bottom pairing

 

[123offtheglass]

Oh yea here we go Clifford & Simmonds both in for the Logan Stanley Cup Final

 

[Twine Tickler]

I still prefer him over Spezza if Simmonds in. Spezza and Simmond are super slow
One of them should be in, not both

Especially since he did score a goal last game. He should have been in

I am loving these quotes from Keefe lol.

This quote from Keefe is intentional IMO. He's identifying publicly that Blackwell doesn't deserve to be out f the lineup and will be back in the lineup on Saturday regardless of outcome tonight. Essentially telling the media that the only reason Blackwell is out tonight is because he wants to Simmonds and Clifford to make the Jets pay the physical toll they asked for when they played us last.

I agree I think in a vacuum I'd rather sit Spezza when Clifford and Simmonds are playing in the same night. But at the same time I think Spezza has a bone to pick as well. I'm not necessarily expecting him to drop the gloves like he did in the CBJ series, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to, or found himself in a position to answer the bell. I think by HS'ing Spezza it would give off cowardly vibes to that Jets room. Which kind of overshadows us putting in our tough guys.

The message is we are ready to f***ing go, we will not back down from anyone, Spezza included. We want our payback.

I mean Spezza has earned enough respect in the NHL to not have to play tonight's game with his head up constantly, but nothing really would surprise me with the Jets TBH. The inferiority complex is so heightened in that Jets room.

 

[AvroArrow]

Oh yea here we go Clifford & Simmonds both in for the Logan Stanley Cup Final

Over/Under how many times he hides behind the refs in a scrum, 4.5

 

[Twine Tickler]

But why are we splitting Gio-Lilje... Let Dahlstrom - Holl do bottom pairing

This is the one troubling lineup decision I see.

It should be:

Reilly - Brodie
Giordano - Liljegren
Dahlstrom - Holl

 

[AuraSphere]

Can't see Sandin slotting into this line-up even if he does return.

Staples on the left side:
Rielly
Gio
Muzzin

Staples on the right side:
Brodie
Holl
Lybushkin
Liljegren

Going to be tough getting Liljegren into the lineup let alone Sandin - which feels bad because he's been playing like a top 4 d

 

[MattySnipes]

Still on the high from that Bruins ass slapping on Tuesday.

Will miss this one bc of work but hopefully boys got this and rmbr the last game btwn these two teams.

One more thing, f*** pionk.

 

[Maplebeasts]

I get that they're just in to make sure things don't get too out of hand but taking out Blackwell for Simmonds while still having Clifford in is pure stupidity. I like Keefe as a coach but some of his line-up decisions are just horrendous.