the Canadian women win stuff, so id be fine if they played like them also
- senstroll

Yup.
Either the womens hockey team or Soccer team.
All heart, skill, fight and no quit.

When did they move Nylander to LW?

And that 4th line doesn't inspire much confidence does it?

The d pairings to look solid though.
- Scabeh

Meh, the whole team doesnt inspire much confidence.....until they get out of the first round.
Then the cup will be ours.

Surprising.

Spezza was amazing last playoffs for the Leafs.

Sucks for Bunting.
- Scabeh

4th line is to combat the rough stuff.

Once the dust settles I imagine Spezza is in for Cliffy.

Also injuries will happen.

Jonas Siegel
@jonassiegel
· 34m
Leafs projected Game 1 lineup:

Kerfoot — Matthews — Marner
Mikheyev — Tavares — Kase
Nylander — Kampf — Engvall
Clifford — Blackwell — Simmonds

Rielly — Lyubushkin
Muzzin — Brodie
Giordano — Liljegren

Campbell

_____________________________

Spezza has been playing good hockey the past week or so, so it sucks that he's not lacing them up, but it's understandable. Tampa plays like complete poopheads, so Clifford doing the same is probably needed.
- GreatGigInTheSky

True.
But we still needs Spezza's hockey IQ and scoring touch.

I don't need confidence on the 4th line. I need them to hit things.
- Aaron_85

It IS easier to hit when you don't have the puck I guess.

So leafs ended up one overtime loss behind the canes in the final standings, makes you think about how people were singing the canes' praises all season long

No, its a somehwhat understandable take.
Until the leafs win 4 games and close out this series, they really dont deserve any faith.

No excuses.
Leafs have to get past the 1st round, 6 years with Matthews and Marner, its time to accomplish something.
- Fakepartofme

No it's not an understandable take, it's a backhanded troll comment and a joke. To say if they don't win game 1 all is lost and it's a guaranteed easy series win for Tampa is nothing more than that.

You & others can feel free to pin it all on game one, in a seven game series, that's your prerogative. I guess if the Leafs lose tonight there is no point in playing games 2-7.

I'll wait for the entire series to play out and even if they Leafs were to lose tonight you won't convince me they are doomed for a series loss, never mind that it would be an easy one for Tampa.

I'm not at all in agreement with the narrative that Tampa are the Globtrotters and Toronto are the Washington Generals considering how the season series went between these 2 teams and that the Leafs ended up ahead of Tampa in the regular season. The Leafs having not won a playoff series in X amount of time doesn't change my mind on this sorry.

Re: It's been 6 years - so how many years was it acceptable for them to not have playoff success because they were rebuilding? Was it one year? 2 years? 3 Years?

I seem to recall someone like Lou or Babs or Shanny trying to lay out that this was a 5 year plan....mix that in with the pandemic flat cap challenge and how far away are the Leafs from when that rebuild was supposed to put this team into a position where they were real contenders?

Isn't that time right about now?

I don't care about & am immune to 1967, Waffles, Salute-gate, Zamboni driver losses, Boston, Columbus or Montreal.

I care about the 2022 playoffs and the 2022 Toronto Maple Leafs & what they can do and how they play.

If they flop this year and are terrible in the playoffs then I will be happy to join in and by all means judge them harshly against where they should be in relation to the rebuild - but I'm very much hoping that I won't and feeling like I won't.

No it's not an understandable take, it's a backhanded troll comment and a joke. To say if they don't win game 1 all is lost and it's a guaranteed easy series win for Tampa is nothing more than that.

You & others can feel free to pin it all on game one, in a seven game series, that's your prerogative. I guess if the Leafs lose tonight there is no point in playing games 2-7.

I'll wait for the entire series to play out and even if they Leafs were to lose tonight you won't convince me they are doomed for a series loss, never mind that it would be an easy one for Tampa.

I'm not at all in agreement with the narrative that Tampa are the Globtrotters and Toronto are the Washington Generals considering how the season series went between these 2 teams and that the Leafs ended up ahead of Tampa in the regular season. The Leafs having not won a playoff series in X amount of time doesn't change my mind on this sorry.

Re: It's been 6 years - so how many years was it acceptable for them to not have playoff success because they were rebuilding? Was it one year? 2 years? 3 Years?

I seem to recall someone like Lou or Babs or Shanny trying to lay out that this was a 5 year plan....mix that in with the pandemic flat cap challenge and how far away are the Leafs from when that rebuild was supposed to put this team into a position where they were real contenders?

Isn't that time right about now?

I don't care about & am immune to 1967, Waffles, Salute-gate, Zamboni driver losses, Boston, Columbus or Montreal.

I care about the 2022 playoffs and the 2022 Toronto Maple Leafs & what they can do and how they play.

If they flop this year and are terrible in the playoffs then I will be happy to join in and by all means judge them harshly against where they should be in relation to the rebuild - but I'm very much hoping that I won't and feeling like I won't.
- Cush29

Some just can not shake their leafs anxiety, that's all it is

This is a fantastic team and the best we have seen in decades. If they want to dull their fandom experience like that let them.

Their loss

So leafs ended up one overtime loss behind the canes in the final standings, makes you think about how people were singing the canes' praises all season long
- TheMussel

Also Freddy is hurt.

If there is one team I am not confident in its the Canes. Its all about being healthy and they just lost a massive piece.

Also Freddy is hurt.

If there is one team I am not confident in its the Canes. Its all about being healthy and they just lost a massive piece.
- Santo_44

Are both goaltenders still hurt?

I might have to change my predictions.

Are both goaltenders still hurt?

I might have to change my predictions.

- Scabeh

Freddy is for sure, not sure about the other one.

But we all know how Freddy plays when he is injured so...best to stay away from Carolina right now

Also Freddy is hurt.

If there is one team I am not confident in its the Canes. Its all about being healthy and they just lost a massive piece.
- Santo_44

The Canes play a solid defensive game so I don't think Andy's loss is actually all that massive.

The only reason to panic for the Canes is that Raanta has been a fragile goalie in the past as well. If they lose him too, they're truly in a bad spot.

The Canes play a solid defensive game so I don't think Andy's loss is actually all that massive.

The only reason to panic for the Canes is that Raanta has been a fragile goalie in the past as well. If they lose him too, they're truly in a bad spot.
- mjones242

I think any time a starter gets injured it is a massive loss.

Leafs were behind the 8 ball without JC.

Boston is a good team and for the reason I am out on the Canes.

Meh, the whole team doesnt inspire much confidence.....until they get out of the first round.
Then the cup will be ours.
- Fakepartofme

Anyone who doesn't have, at least, a healthy dose of skepticism about this Leafs team needs to lower their Kool-Aid intake.

I have no doubt they have the skill and ability to win the Cup. But actions speak louder than words.

A first round victory over the 2x defending Stanley Cup champs instantly gives this team Cup favourites credibility.

I dont know about not playing Spezza...I thought about it.

I undserstand Keefe's thinking but Spezza is my plan A for game 1 and Clifford and Simmonds playing is my plan B. Not the other way around.

I think any time a starter gets injured it is a massive loss.

Leafs were behind the 8 ball without JC.

Boston is a good team and for the reason I am out on the Canes.
- Santo_44

Raanta has proven to be a very capable backup. Andersen will be back. No need for the Canes to panic.

Anyone who doesn't have, at least, a healthy dose of skepticism about this Leafs team needs to lower their Kool-Aid intake.

I have no doubt they have the skill and ability to win the Cup. But actions speak louder than words.

A first round victory over the 2x defending Stanley Cup champs instantly gives this team Cup favourites credibility.
- mjones242

You just have a different perspective on sports.

Nothing wrong with the thinking that past results do not weigh heavily.

You just said its no biggie that the Canes lost their starter and can work around that...I say the Leafs past results do not matter and its all about the present day.

I dont know about not playing Spezza...I thought about it.

I undserstand Keefe's thinking but Spezza is my plan A for game 1 and Clifford and Simmonds playing is my plan B. Not the other way around.
- Santo_44

Keefe's "borderline violent" prediction says it all: he thinks Cliffy is a necessary cog in the wheel tonight.

I'm with you though: I'd rather have Spezza in there.

Raanta has proven to be a very capable backup. Andersen will be back. No need for the Canes to panic.
- mjones242

Okay? Kerfoot is a capable backup to JT at 2C. It doesnt mean that it makes the Leafs worse if it happens.

No it's not an understandable take, it's a backhanded troll comment and a joke. To say if they don't win game 1 all is lost and it's a guaranteed easy series win for Tampa is nothing more than that.

You & others can feel free to pin it all on game one, in a seven game series, that's your prerogative. I guess if the Leafs lose tonight there is no point in playing games 2-7.

I'll wait for the entire series to play out and even if they Leafs were to lose tonight you won't convince me they are doomed for a series loss, never mind that it would be an easy one for Tampa.

I'm not at all in agreement with the narrative that Tampa are the Globtrotters and Toronto are the Washington Generals considering how the season series went between these 2 teams and that the Leafs ended up ahead of Tampa in the regular season. The Leafs having not won a playoff series in X amount of time doesn't change my mind on this sorry.

Re: It's been 6 years - so how many years was it acceptable for them to not have playoff success because they were rebuilding? Was it one year? 2 years? 3 Years?

I seem to recall someone like Lou or Babs or Shanny trying to lay out that this was a 5 year plan....mix that in with the pandemic flat cap challenge and how far away are the Leafs from when that rebuild was supposed to put this team into a position where they were real contenders?

Isn't that time right about now?

I don't care about & am immune to 1967, Waffles, Salute-gate, Zamboni driver losses, Boston, Columbus or Montreal.

I care about the 2022 playoffs and the 2022 Toronto Maple Leafs & what they can do and how they play.

If they flop this year and are terrible in the playoffs then I will be happy to join in and by all means judge them harshly against where they should be in relation to the rebuild - but I'm very much hoping that I won't and feeling like I won't.
- Cush29

Cool.
All isnt lost for sure, but game 1 is crucial for the leafs, better for them not to get behind the 8 ball against Tampa...and yes I (and most) have more confidence in tampa coming back to win the series than the leafs after being down 1-0. But that's not to say the Leafs cant do the same, they totally could. But the core of the teams hasnt proved anything in the playoffs yet.

The shanaplan began 8 years ago.
The leafs have had the 3 out 4 past seasons of 100 + plus points (2019 is the outlier), and played two inferior teams in the first round.
Rebuild was over years ago.

You just have a different perspective on sports.

Nothing wrong with the thinking that past results do not weigh heavily.

You just said its no biggie that the Canes lost their starter and can work around that...I say the Leafs past results do not matter and its all about the present day.
- Santo_44

Unfortunately it is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

If the Leafs lose the first game, the media - and especially the social media - will roll out the crushing negativity.

Players can say all they want that they don't pay attention to the noise, but if they are anything like all the other 20-somethings in North America, they are on their phones 24/7.

At the risk of being called a troll for having a non-popular opinion, I agree that the importance of tonight's game is greater than any other first round series.

Tampa's the franking 2-time defending Stanley Cup champions. They have built a reputation of not giving 100% during the regular season because they feel they can beat anyone in the playoffs.

I'm scared poopless. Let's hope Johnny T and the boys still have some poop.

You just have a different perspective on sports.

Nothing wrong with the thinking that past results do not weigh heavily.

You just said its no biggie that the Canes lost their starter and can work around that...I say the Leafs past results do not matter and its all about the present day.
- Santo_44

I have a different perspective on sports because I said that losing Andy may not be as "massive" a loss as you do? Carolina is a very, very solid defensive-minded team. I don't believe the Canes rely as much on Andersen bailing them out as some other teams rely on their starter.

The Canes are certainly in a perilous position if they also lose Raanta... but Andersen is due back on Wednesday, so how "massive" is missing him for Game 1?

Per the Leafs, my argument about past results is specific to said results informing the anxiety of a good deal of the fanbase. I'm not suggesting that the Leafs players are necessarily haunted by the ghosts of playoffs past and that it will inform their actual play.

There's a poop-ton of seats still available for tonight on Ticketmaster.

Interesting.

Who’s in for Engvall, I member that some said he wouldn’t be on the playoff roster.

Anyone else member?

Anyone who doesn't have, at least, a healthy dose of skepticism about this Leafs team needs to lower their Kool-Aid intake.

I have no doubt they have the skill and ability to win the Cup. But actions speak louder than words.

A first round victory over the 2x defending Stanley Cup champs instantly gives this team Cup favourites credibility.
- mjones242

Exactly.
Win and you've earned the cup contender title.
Lose....and you're still nothing. A good reg season team and playoff bust...similar to the Ottawa senators from 2000 - 2003/2004

Go leafs go.