Lily played really well and held his own.. Made some really smart defensive plays.. All three d-pairings were solid.
- PatC80

Ya lily was 3rd in ice time. I thought he was really solid. I was a little surprised boosh only played 10 mins.

Line brawl going on, it’s gonna happen unfortunately. Hopefully someone feeds him his lunch by the end but I have my doubts.
- Garnie

When you clearly have somone outmatched you dont repeatedly feed them punches. Ive seen that time and time again where bigger players take it easy on them. Its cowardly considering he always backs away from Simmonds/Clifford.

I agree. Simmonds shouldn't have to fight for throwing a clean, hard hit.. However, Simmonds reaction though, smiling and laughing as Maroon and Perry are going at him probably made it worse.
- PatC80

It was a clean hit, what can Simmonds do, is he going to apologize for a clean hit or frown when his team is destroying Tampa? Marner was probably the best player on the ice and took several uncalled dirty hits. The officiating was terrible. They lost control of the game.

To me a lot of the toughness was Marner holding onto the puck knowing he’s about to get creamed so he can make the right pass, Mik and and Engvall throwing their bodies around, Willie blocking shots and maybe most importantly, the mental toughness not to make many mistakes in a game where a lot of things had to be in their heads.

Also Marner’s goal was a thing of beauty as was the play Cadbury chocolate creamy drew up for the Matthews goal.
- Canada Cup

The entire sequence leading up to Marner's goal was a thing of beauty, the back hand flip pass to Rielly by Matthews and then the drop pass to Marner.. It was great..

Loved that Marner was willing to take a hard hit to spring the puck loose to give Kampf a breakaway.

They played a great defense first team game.. Campbell didn't really get tested too much and when he did, he responded really well..

I know the stat line showed that Tampa had like 20 more hits than the Leafs did, but they matched Tampa's physical play and didn't back down

When you clearly have somone outmatched you dont repeatedly feed them punches. Ive seen that time and time again where bigger players take it easy on them. Its cowardly considering he always backs away from Simmonds/Clifford.
- Archaic

Maroon is a punk

Disagree, it was dying out. Even the announcers were saying he was doing the right thing, then boosh shoves perry, and things get fired up again.
Once they got fired up again, Simmonds was right in there.
- Fakepartofme

Boosh doesn't get to shove Perry if Simmonds had it handled. That's the thing, it's done and over with. You don't have a goon still out there looking to cause poop. The end result speaks for itself.

The entire sequence leading up to Marner's goal was a thing of beauty, the back hand flip pass to Rielly by Matthews and then the drop pass to Marner.. It was great..

Loved that Marner was willing to take a hard hit to spring the puck loose to give Kampf a breakaway.

They played a great defense first team game.. Campbell didn't really get tested too much and when he did, he responded really well..

I know the stat line showed that Tampa had like 20 more hits than the Leafs did, but they matched Tampa's physical play and didn't back down
- PatC80

Many of those 20 hits can probably be attributed to the fact that Leafs had the puck all night

Maybe, but who knows what they were saying to him at the time. Maybe they were trying to get under his skin, and he wasnt biting. Its hard to say. Either way, you dont get to punch someone in the face because they were smiling.
- Archaic

Agreed.
And if that is the case that they got riled up cause Simmonds was smiling at them, then he absolutely did the right thing. He's now in their heads and hopefully that impacts how they play.

Tampa will come out fast and hard in game 2. Leafs have to weather it, and score the first goal.

But what a game last night....what a game.

To me a lot of the toughness was Marner holding onto the puck knowing he’s about to get creamed so he can make the right pass, Mik and and Engvall throwing their bodies around, Willie blocking shots and maybe most importantly, the mental toughness not to make many mistakes in a game where a lot of things had to be in their heads.

Also Marner’s goal was a thing of beauty as was the play Cadbury chocolate creamy drew up for the Matthews goal.
- Canada Cup

I think it as 4 or 5-0, 3rd period sometime...I noticed someone go down to block a shot...stood out to me, feels like a different mindset, i know its 1 game..but what an effort all around

It was a clean hit, what can Simmonds do, is he going to apologize for a clean hit or frown when his team is destroying Tampa? Marner was probably the best player on the ice and took several uncalled dirty hits. The officiating was terrible. They lost control of the game.
- winsix

The refs started off by calling everything, but then they let a lot go.. I agree, they lost control of the game and Simmonds should not have been tossed from the game. I'm not saying Simmonds should have apologized for the hit, there was no need to, it was a clean hit. I don't think Simmonds laughing and smiling made Perry and Maroon feel all warm and cozy though

Boosh doesn't get to shove Perry if Simmonds had it handled. That's the thing, it's done and over with. You don't have a goon still out there looking to cause poop. The end result speaks for itself.
- joel878

There is no way to know....that tampa line was looking for trouble. Sure simmonds takes on Perry but a brawl still could have broken out. Or maybe Perry dummies Simmonds and it gets Tampa going?
The refs should have had better control.

The end result is the Leafs won and the leafs players stood up for themselves and eachother.
It all worked out.

Many of those 20 hits can probably be attributed to the fact that Leafs had the puck all night
- TheMussel

Good point..

Hey, whatever happened to Scabby? I thought for sure he'd be here to defend his new favourite team, the Tampa Bay Lightning

Agreed.
And if that is the case that they got riled up cause Simmonds was smiling at them, then he absolutely did the right thing. He's now in their heads and hopefully that impacts how they play.

Tampa will come out fast and hard in game 2. Leafs have to weather it, and score the first goal.

But what a game last night....what a game.
- Fakepartofme

Yep, completely agree.

I think Tampa is definitely going to play very well, and you are absolutely correct the Leafs need to weather the storm for the first 10 minutes. I think Tampa will come out hitting.

There is no way to know....that tampa line was looking for trouble. Sure simmonds takes on Perry but a brawl still could have broken out. Or maybe Perry dummies Simmonds and it gets Tampa going?
The refs should have had better control.

The end result is the Leafs won and the leafs players stood up for themselves and eachother.
It all worked out.
- Fakepartofme

Yes, as long as no one got hurt. Reilly didnt look awesome there, and even mild injuries can impact your play.

He has a phone hearing today. So that could be what, anything from a fine to max 3 games?
- bryant

Phone hearings usually mean a fine, but you know, Leafs.

I think it as 4 or 5-0, 3rd period sometime...I noticed someone go down to block a shot...stood out to me, feels like a different mindset, i know its 1 game..but what an effort all around
- senstroll

25-11 Leafs blocked shots. Haven’t seen possession numbers

https://twitter.com/Chatt...&t=359LtmFj8_55Rl8SkBlErA

tilting the ice much

It was a clean hit, what can Simmonds do, is he going to apologize for a clean hit or frown when his team is destroying Tampa? Marner was probably the best player on the ice and took several uncalled dirty hits. The officiating was terrible. They lost control of the game.
- winsix

Agreed.

Marner was flying last night, the best leaf on the ice for sure.
Creating chances, nice passes, taking hits, finishing plays....just not giving up on anything.

There is no way to know....that tampa line was looking for trouble. Sure simmonds takes on Perry but a brawl still could have broken out. Or maybe Perry dummies Simmonds and it gets Tampa going?
The refs should have had better control.

The end result is the Leafs won and the leafs players stood up for themselves and eachother.
It all worked out.
- Fakepartofme

Right. Unless news breaks today that Rielly is out with a broken hand. Are we good with Perry being left on the ice to light the fuse at that point?

Agreed.

Marner was flying last night, the best leaf on the ice for sure.
Creating chances, nice passes, taking hits, finishing plays....just not giving up on anything.
- Fakepartofme

Tampa lacks the crosschecking skills to scare him off imo.

Not grabbing Chiarot will be their downfall after all.

I honestly didn't think it was that bad.

IMHO, not worthy of five minutes.

Having said that, I have no problem with suspending him, as I don't want him in the lineup.
- Atomic Wedgie

Agree but if we look at precedence for DOPs and its current leadership and Leaf suspensions it's likely that Cliff gets tagged with a game or two. I only want him in the lineup if Perry and Maroon are in Tampa's lineup. There is no depth that Jon Cooper will not sink to win the next game IMO. To that end Campbell will have a big target on his back.

Ya like I said he did take a little poke at the leafs for sure after giving them little compliment while making it known his team didnt play well either.
Vet move.
But I dont think its bulletin board material that the media will talk about until game 2.
Its the playoffs, Coop knows what he is doing.
And hey, if for whatever reason this does spur the leafs to keep playing hard...then perfect.
But IMO it was no big deal. Gamesmanship
- Fakepartofme

IMHO, this is nonsense created and perpetuated by lazy sportswriters.

No professional athlete gets motivated by crap that other coaches or players say.

Agreed.

Marner was flying last night, the best leaf on the ice for sure.
Creating chances, nice passes, taking hits, finishing plays....just not giving up on anything.
- Fakepartofme

Yep, night and day from last year.

Looked tentative and nervous last year to confident and buzzin last night. Really happy Matthews and Marner got on the board 1st game.

He needs to be in the lineup, because Maroon and Perry aren't going away and that entire dressing room already knows what happens if they get Campbell out and Kallgren in net. Going to have to keep them in check every night.
- joel878

Not that I would put anything past anyone, but Tampa hasn't been an "injure the goalie" type of team. They beat every teams first stringer in the past two seasons and didn't try to kill Bob when they got swept.

Tampa lacks the crosschecking skills to scare him off imo.

Not grabbing Chiarot will be their downfall after all.
- Scabeh

There's the new Lightning fan..