You are not wrong. It's just your path to the cup is Boston....tampa....hopefully Pitts.. ..then maybe nash/Winn. I just don't see them running that gauntlet with a 80% matthews and let's not forget no captain. Has a team ever won without one....dont think so.
- taleisyreXIII

I think your last statement is irrelevant, but everything else is pretty spot on.

Starting to look a lil sluggish now... Hold on there boys...

Starting to look a lil sluggish now... Hold on there boys...
- MattStrat

Yeah, they're slipping a bit. They need to go for the coffin nail.

Not really man. Is that what you got from all that? High horse?...ive been a fan 30 years.. Stretches of being worst team in league. Crosby and Malkin obviously tourned it around. It's been fun. Their time will come much sooner then I'd like but at the same time there's been four finals appearances and 3 cups not to mention all the individual awards and seasons. They have accomplished alot, so when the fall does come, it's going to be cushioned by a F load of achievements and great memories. Even if they bow out first or second round this bear it doesn't mean they've fallen. It'll be several years yet.
- MattStrat

I like your optimism.. and you'll all just go back to pretending hockey doesn't exist and cheer on your steelers. Sid will chase records later in his career and is a freak in the gym.. he won't be slowing down for at least another 5 years.

This game seems to be following the same script as the last 2 against Dallas.

Wait a minute, a guy driving the net with the puck is a penalty on the offensive player, right? Let's ask Brian Dumoulin.

I think your last statement is irrelevant, but everything else is pretty spot on.
- Rinosaur

I don't think it is. I think having a leader is massive. I think denying matthews the c this year did nothing for him. But giving it to him could have done more positive than anything. I've watched many leafs games this year as most of my friends are card carrying leafsnation members. Matthews doesn't see first pp duty. He sits on the bench waiting to go out second. He is their best player and future captain...i think he could have been even more lethal this season if he had the c and the pressure. He's that good and his confidence would have been through the roof.

Where I was born haha.
- MattStrat

It's a beautiful city.. clean, modern, the mountains.. all summer long I just go fly fishing in all the glacier fed rivers in the foothills.. way better than my old life in Ontario.

Putting biased aside, I think they'll pull it off.. No team got that good that fast other than PIT and CHI.. Toews/Keith/Kane Sid/Malkin/flower/Letang...

Matthews/Marner/Nylander/Freddy.. they have the peices.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Not sure you can win anything except a season game against the Pens without a Dman that has more ability than what you have currently. See those 2 names you wrote - Letang & Keith?

And yes we won last year without Letang for the playoffs, but (frank) man, we are just the BEST!!

Yeah. Boston is just too good IMO.
- Rinosaur

We'll see.. if bergy comes back..

Matthews = Bergeron (debatable)
Kadri and Marchy will probably cancel each other out. You wanna be a rat vs TO, we have our very own poophead who'll do the same and would (frank) Marchy up in a fight. Nylander = Pasternak. Marner >>>> than any remaining fwd. Bozak = Krejci. Gardiner = Krug. Big Z there's no answer for but Polak is pretty violent and slow like Chara. Rielly = McAvoy.. then we have Hyman, Brown, Kapanen who are all super speedy. Marleau could be very useful in the playoffs. Freddy>>Rask..

All depending on how they're playing going into the post season, but on paper the Leafs have advantage imo.

We'll see.. if bergy comes back..

Matthews = Bergeron (debatable)
Kadri and Marchy will probably cancel each other out. You wanna be a rat vs TO, we have our very own poophead who'll do the same and would (frank) Marchy up in a fight. Nylander = Pasternak. Marner >>>> than any remaining fwd. Bozak = Krejci. Gardiner = Krug. Big Z there's no answer for but Polak is pretty violent and slow like Chara. Rielly = McAvoy.. then we have Hyman, Brown, Kapanen who are all super speedy. Marleau could be very useful in the playoffs. Freddy>>Rask..

All depending on how they're playing going into the post season, but on paper the Leafs have advantage imo.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

No way...those r blue glasses. Boston is your worst matchup. The leafs could beat Tampa.. .I honestly think that is a better match.

Not sure you can win anything except a season game against the Pens without a Dman that has more ability than what you have currently. See those 2 names you wrote - Letang & Keith?

And yes we won last year without Letang for the playoffs, but (frank) man, we are just the BEST!!
- Aussiepenguin

Just goes to show that the defence isn't as important in the playoffs.. Devil made the finals like decade ago with absolute poop on the backend. Tbh, I'd take our D over yours any day.. Gardiner is more offensive than Shultz this season and Rielly is Babs workhorse.. Dermott also has been a great addition. We're fine.

I don't think it is. I think having a leader is massive. I think denying matthews the c this year did nothing for him. But giving it to him could have done more positive than anything. I've watched many leafs games this year as most of my friends are card carrying leafsnation members. Matthews doesn't see first pp duty. He sits on the bench waiting to go out second. He is their best player and future captain...i think he could have been even more lethal this season if he had the c and the pressure. He's that good and his confidence would have been through the roof.
- taleisyreXIII

he gets first unit now, Babs changed that. Also Matthews 5vs5 relative to TOI is by far the best in the league and it isn't even close... That's because Babs won't wear him out.. Kadri is a very good C and can handle a lot of time.

he gets first unit now, Babs changed that. Also Matthews 5vs5 relative to TOI is by far the best in the league and it isn't even close... That's because Babs won't wear him out.. Kadri is a very good C and can handle a lot of time.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He was absolutely not getting first unit the 5 or 6 games prior to injury. I watched them all. Y best friend and I would actually u sit here dumbfounded how u could make him ride pine at the beginning of all pps

He was absolutely not getting first into the 5 or 6 games prior to injury. I watched them all.
- taleisyreXIII

If you watched the games you'd remember when they finally put Marner with Kadri and Marleau and things really picked up. That's when Auston started getting first unit pp time. He's not our best PP guy anyways, Marner is.

Nice! Big win.

If you watched the games you'd remember when they finally put Marner with Kadri and Marleau and things really picked up. That's when Auston started getting first unit pp time. He's not our best PP guy anyways, Marner is.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Babs has that team trying the 2 scary units approach..but it leave your best player in the bench. I want my best players licking their chops for pps. That's what the best pp team in the league does.

No way...those r blue glasses. Boston is your worst matchup. The leafs could beat Tampa.. .I honestly think that is a better match.
- taleisyreXIII

We're Boston's worst matchup.

Seriously was JR abducted by aliens and skinned and returned. He is an entirely different analyst tonight. A good one even.

Nice! Big win.
- Thorny87

Nice win. Kind of played a steady road game.

HitchCOCK looks like he eats 24/7. I didn't think it was possible for that guy to get any fatter. I bet he had a stash of wings behind the bench and piece of cake in his pocket.

We'll see.. if bergy comes back..

Matthews = Bergeron (debatable)
Kadri and Marchy will probably cancel each other out. You wanna be a rat vs TO, we have our very own poophead who'll do the same and would (frank) Marchy up in a fight. Nylander = Pasternak. Marner >>>> than any remaining fwd. Bozak = Krejci. Gardiner = Krug. Big Z there's no answer for but Polak is pretty violent and slow like Chara. Rielly = McAvoy.. then we have Hyman, Brown, Kapanen who are all super speedy. Marleau could be very useful in the playoffs. Freddy>>Rask..

All depending on how they're playing going into the post season, but on paper the Leafs have advantage imo.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Rick Nash has been playing good for them

Babs has that team trying the 2 scary units approach..but it leave your best player in the bench. I want my best players licking their chops for pps. That's what the best pp team in the league does.
- taleisyreXIII

I agree.. And Matthews knows he'll get more time.. and if it was a crucial pp and they needed to score he'd be out there.. But if you throw Marner, Matthews, Nylander, Kadri, and Gards all out together there just inst enough puck to go around. Nylanders zone enteries are just stupefying.. makes it look so easy.. Marner's vision is McDavidesque.. Matthews just wants to fire the puck.. might as well spread it out.

We're Boston's worst matchup.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Bostons worst matchup...im afraid they may not have one this season. But they seem to handle speed with ease. I think Tampa Toronto and Pittsburgh are all in tough with Boston . One of those teams needs someone huge to step up.

We're Boston's worst matchup.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I don't understand how there's any merit for arrogance regarding the Leafs right now. They have a good upcoming term, never argue that, but they haven't done jack sh!t yet.