Maybe that’s Muzzin’s one true usefulness? Kick the living poop out of Perry everytime he tries to crash the net lol

Seriously tho… Simmonds or Clifford need to fight that loser non stop and keep him off the ice… he burned the leafs last year in the post season ffs
- Dozzer

Leafs can't win in that type of gutter series IMO. Leafs can win a skill series. Let's face it the motivation to run Campbell for guys like Perry and Maroon will be high. Little chance of a major team penalty, and the Leafs with Kallgren in net would have a very slim chance at winning. Tampa's smallest D-man is Bogosian. Killorn, Paul, Marroon, Perry are all big and really dirty. Kucherov will not hesitate to sneak in a dirty hit or butt end or spear if he thinks he can get away with it. (none of the Leafs star forwards will do this)

Leafs can't win in that type of gutter series IMO. Leafs can win a skill series. Let's face it the motivation to run Campbell for guys like Perry and Maroon will be high. Little chance of a major team penalty, and the Leafs with Kallgren in net would have a very slim chance at winning. Tampa's smallest D-man is Bogosian. Killorn, Paul, Marroon, Perry are all big and really dirty. Kucherov will not hesitate to sneak in a dirty hit or butt end or spear if he thinks he can get away with it. (none of the Leafs star forwards will do this)
- winsix

I think the leafs have to adapt to that. They have to be more of a pesky team. Bunting has definitely helped in that are.


Keefe just said this too.


Sheldon Keefe says he rewatched the recent #TBLightning playoff runs: "When I look at their playoffs, especially their first round last year, they definitely led the league in skirmishes after the whistle and things that they’re trying to do after the whistle."

I think the leafs have to adapt to that. They have to be more of a pesky team. Bunting has definitely helped in that are.


Keefe just said this too.


Sheldon Keefe says he rewatched the recent #TBLightning playoff runs: "When I look at their playoffs, especially their first round last year, they definitely led the league in skirmishes after the whistle and things that they’re trying to do after the whistle."
- bryant

Maroon is a big wuss. Big, but a wuss. He gets his ass handed to him almost every time he throws the mitts.

Leafs will have to stand up to Tampa's dirty BS and do it while staying out of the penalty box.

Maroon is a big wuss. Big, but a wuss. He gets his ass handed to him almost every time he throws the mitts.

Leafs will have to stand up to Tampa's dirty BS and do it while staying out of the penalty box.
- PDO-Speedwagon

loser only has 3 cups

I think the leafs have to adapt to that. They have to be more of a pesky team. Bunting has definitely helped in that are.


Keefe just said this too.


Sheldon Keefe says he rewatched the recent #TBLightning playoff runs: "When I look at their playoffs, especially their first round last year, they definitely led the league in skirmishes after the whistle and things that they’re trying to do after the whistle."
- bryant

It will be up to the officiating as well. Retaliating gets caught more often than the original infraction. Kucherov kicks Marner in the knee with his skate, but two refs didn't see (or call) and league didn't suspend. Super dirty play and an intent to injure. The league did suspend one of the top Hart candidates for retaliating after taking 3 or 4 uncalled cross-checks If this double standard continues, it may have a significant impact.

https://twitter.com/timan...tatus/1517331044759916546

It will be up to the officiating as well. Retaliating gets caught more often than the original infraction. Kucherov kicks Marner in the knee with his skate, but two refs didn't see (or call) and league didn't suspend. Super dirty play and an intent to injure. The league did suspend one of the top Hart candidates for retaliating after taking 3 or 4 uncalled cross-checks If this double standard continues, it may have a significant impact.

https://twitter.com/timan...tatus/1517331044759916546
- winsix

The league should be looking at these plays. That shouldn't be allowed to continue regardless of the names on the back.

Maroon is a big wuss. Big, but a wuss. He gets his ass handed to him almost every time he throws the mitts.

Leafs will have to stand up to Tampa's dirty BS and do it while staying out of the penalty box.
- PDO-Speedwagon

Clifford/Simmonds for game 1 for sure. Mickey will scuffle a bit too.

People have Leafs anxiety.

Its a good narrative and storyline for the fans. They win and Leaf fans are on cloud 9, they lose and anti leaf fans have a hay day. Boom or bust and very high or very low.

In reality the Leafs just had their best season ever and it hinged on Marner/Matthews having their best seasons ever by a stretch, career highs in points by Matthews, Marner, Bunting, Kampf, Kerfoot, Mikheyev, Engvall, Holl, Liljergen, Sandin, Lybushkin

Additions of Kampf, Lily, Gio, Bunting, Kase helped solidify the lineup.

Mikheyev was healthy and the best he has ever been.

A complete D line-up regardless if Muzzin was healthy or not, and in the past if Muzzin was out the Leafs were in trouble.

Inconsistent season by Soupy but finished looking stable.

These players should be confident as (frank) because its the most successful they have ever been individually and as a team.
- Santo_44

The Leafs haven't won a single playoff series since the lockout. They haven't won as favourites and they haven't won as underdogs. There is merit to the anxiety and skepticism.

The Leafs may have had their "best season ever!" but FLA was better and BOS and TBL were on their heels.

Frankly, I think the opening round is a coin flip series with, perhaps, a very slight edge to TBL (experience, maybe the best goalie in the NHL, and a red hot Stammer/Kuch).

I will be heartbroken if the Leafs lose, but I'm not going to be nearly as anxious watching this year's playoffs as I was last -- as long as they aren't embarrassed, of course.

Let the chips fall where they may. GLG!

Clifford/Simmonds for game 1 for sure. Mickey will scuffle a bit too.
- Aaron_85

Really, really wish the Leafs had more speed on the 4th line. We can't have everything though.

Really, really wish the Leafs had more speed on the 4th line. We can't have everything though.
- mjones242

Sportsnet says it’s Clifford, Simmonds, and Blackwell.

Also Boosh and Lilly in, Holl out.

Sportsnet says it’s Clifford, Simmonds, and Blackwell.

Also Boosh and Lilly in, Holl out.
- shack67

Once Bunting is back I imagine Blackwell may be the only forward on the 4th line that will be stapled in the lineup.

Once Bunting is back I imagine Blackwell may be the only forward on the 4th line that will be stapled in the lineup.
- mjones242

For sure.

Maybe that’s Muzzin’s one true usefulness? Kick the living poop out of Perry everytime he tries to crash the net lol

Seriously tho… Simmonds or Clifford need to fight that loser non stop and keep him off the ice… he burned the leafs last year in the post season ffs
- Dozzer

This is why i still think of him being usefull..His physicality.

Simmonds doesn’t worry me at all but I fear that Clifford could lose it and take some bad penalties.

I think the leafs have to adapt to that. They have to be more of a pesky team. Bunting has definitely helped in that are.


Keefe just said this too.


Sheldon Keefe says he rewatched the recent #TBLightning playoff runs: "When I look at their playoffs, especially their first round last year, they definitely led the league in skirmishes after the whistle and things that they’re trying to do after the whistle."
- bryant

Oh yeah, they poke and instigate all kinds of stuff, then turn around and cry like a baby when you turn around and smack them back. Cooper works the refs the entire series with his strategic whining, too. He’s damm near a master at it.

Appreciate that.

I was so sleepy when I posted part of that article from the Athletic.. Siegel is the cats name that wrote about Holl being better than Boosh and has to be in.. blah blah..

I went back an reread it and I'm still stunned by it.

I still am very intrigued by what Keefe is going to do on the backend.
Can't see him going with the Rooks in game 1. Lilly or Sandin.
- dozerD10

Every time he's on OverDrive I love/hate it. Hate it because he's got horrible opinions and love it because they just rip on him the entire time.

As it stands, it looks like the D pairings will actually make sense for game 1. Rielly/Boosh, Muzzin/Brodie, and Gio/Liljegren.

Let’s watch Willy crank it up again for the playoffs and make the haters eat hair gel.

Let’s watch Willy crank it up again for the playoffs and make the haters eat hair gel.
- Woderwick

Let’s watch Willy crank it up again for the playoffs and make the haters eat hair gel.
- Woderwick

Conn Smythe Bill Ny! Like I predicted in the predictions thread.

Simmonds doesn’t worry me at all but I fear that Clifford could lose it and take some bad penalties.
- shack67

I'm wondering is Keefe is thinking of actually taking more penalties. I know that sounds dumb, but teams that get a lot of power play opportunities generally take a lot too, so lots of game management calls that end up being timely or at least something you can count on every period.

So like get Cliffy out there when it's tied or lopsided, it may steer in our favour as the series goes on.

I mean, the whole thing is (frank)ing stupid: just call the rules night in night out, regular season or playoffs, and let them learn and adapt.

Every time he's on OverDrive I love/hate it. Hate it because he's got horrible opinions and love it because they just rip on him the entire time.

As it stands, it looks like the D pairings will actually make sense for game 1. Rielly/Boosh, Muzzin/Brodie, and Gio/Liljegren.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Makes sense to me as well. Not having Bunting hurts though. Hoping the Leafs can stay out of the box, dirty POS Perry will be will be running into Campbell every opportunity.

I'm wondering is Keefe is thinking of actually taking more penalties. I know that sounds dumb, but teams that get a lot of power play opportunities generally take a lot too, so lots of game management calls that end up being timely or at least something you can count on every period.

So like get Cliffy out there when it's tied or lopsided, it may steer in our favour as the series goes on.

I mean, the whole thing is (frank)ing stupid: just call the rules night in night out, regular season or playoffs, and let them learn and adapt.
- gravyface

If the zebras call it the way it has gone in the past few seasons, with cross-checking and interference non-calls, the Leafs will have to forget about taking penalties and keep their feet moving IMO. Laser beams high blocker side is my recommendation, every PP they get.

Conn Smythe Bill Ny! Like I predicted in the predictions thread.
- GreatGigInTheSky

My prediction as well! Although my prediction that he would score 40 goals fell 7 short.

My prediction as well! Although my prediction that he would score 40 goals fell 7 short.
- Zezel

Only 6 zez

He scored 2 against the Bruins and ended up with 34 goals and 46 assists.

Every time he's on OverDrive I love/hate it. Hate it because he's got horrible opinions and love it because they just rip on him the entire time.

As it stands, it looks like the D pairings will actually make sense for game 1. Rielly/Boosh, Muzzin/Brodie, and Gio/Liljegren.
- GreatGigInTheSky

I just wonder how long he can actually last on the 2nd pair... Point can absolutely Jet...And having Bolts on the PP isn't a great strategy... at least it wasn't a week ago..