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.
- bryant

I said yesterday it was very important, especially for Marner, to get that monkey off his back early.

If he has another strong performance tomorrow, Tampa is in trouble.

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

Its the playoffs, players get injured. Hopefully he is ok or its something he play through.

There's the new Lightning fan..
- PatC80

Believe it or not, I was actually cheering for the Leafs yesterday.

Everyone in the Habs thread gave full props to Toronto for a strong perforamance.

Probably had flashbacks of last years finals and how much I despised the bumholes on Tampa's side.

Tampa lacks the crosschecking skills to scare him off imo.

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

Yes because in the true spirit of sportsmanship, why reward skill and effort when you can throw a couple of knuckledraggers over the boards to remove skill from the game.

Yes because in the true spirit of sportsmanship, why reward skill and effort when you can throw a couple of knuckledraggers over the boards to remove skill from the game.
- winsix

Is that how you kids say "puck over the glass" these days?

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.
- AdamFrench

They didn't have Corey Perry then, who is an injure anyone if it gives his team the win type.

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?
- joel878

That would suck.
But it is what it is. At the time it was the right thing to do by Simmonds.
And who's to say a line brawl doesnt break out even if Simmonds turns around and fights for no reason.
He simply had to reason to fight, it was a clean hit.

I think Zezel is still trapped under all his sticky crusty tissues from the post game party.

That would suck.
But it is what it is. At the time it was the right thing to do by Simmonds.
And who's to say a line brawl doesnt break out even if Simmonds turns around and fights for no reason.
He simply had to reason to fight, it was a clean hit.
- Fakepartofme

I've said it for years. Players looking for a fight after a strong, clean hit on one of their teamates is annoying as hell.

Look for payback when there's a cheapshot or something illegal/dangerous.... not when someone plays strong hard hockey.

Believe it or not, I was actually cheering for the Leafs yesterday.

Everyone in the Habs thread gave full props to Toronto for a strong perforamance.

Probably had flashbacks of last years finals and how much I despised the bumholes on Tampa's side.

- Scabeh

It was a great game.. Probably, the best they've played since.. Well, ever.


The core 4 were really good.. The supporting cast was the difference.. Mikheyev, Kampf, Engvall, Kase, Liljegren, all played really well..

Muzzin, just shows up and says "Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and score now"

I've said it for years. Players looking for a fight after a strong, clean hit on one of their teamates is annoying as hell.

Look for payback when there's a cheapshot or something illegal/dangerous.... not when someone plays strong hard hockey.
- Scabeh

Exactly. Simmonds laid a hard, clean hit on Rutta.. There was no need for both Perry and Maroon to circle around him.. Take the number and get him next chance you get.

Is that how you kids say "puck over the glass" these days?
- Scabeh

lol, I'm sure that was the loudest crowd for a Leaf game in decades. I am also confident that those same fans paying ridiculously high prices to watch the Leafs (a nice portion of those funds going to money losing Tampa to cover spending they can't afford) were there to see Matthews and Marner do magic, not Chewbacca and his antics.

It was a great game.. Probably, the best they've played since.. Well, ever.


The core 4 were really good.. The supporting cast was the difference.. Mikheyev, Kampf, Engvall, Kase, Liljegren, all played really well..

Muzzin, just shows up and says "Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and score now"
- PatC80

It was the best game Ive seen them play all year or in a long while for sure.
Everyone was great.
Muzz looked like the Muzz we traded for.

That would suck.
But it is what it is. At the time it was the right thing to do by Simmonds.
And who's to say a line brawl doesnt break out even if Simmonds turns around and fights for no reason.
He simply had to reason to fight, it was a clean hit.
- Fakepartofme

Disagree. Simmonds keeping the other team in check is literally what he gets a paycheque for. If he handles Perry there Perry is off the ice. The chances of that powder keg being emptied are significantly increased with Perry gone, and one of our key players isn't in a situation where they're breaking hands on goons.

This is the NHL playoffs, his reason to fight is that not letting the other teams goons run wild is literally his job.

That was probably the best 60 minutes of hockey I've seen the Leafs play in 20 years. Also the worst I've seen Kucherov play in 12. Wow he was BAAAAAAAAAAD.

I've said it for years. Players looking for a fight after a strong, clean hit on one of their teamates is annoying as hell.

Look for payback when there's a cheapshot or something illegal/dangerous.... not when someone plays strong hard hockey.
- Scabeh

One could argue that it's (frank)ing annoying when your snowblower breaks but you still need to get rid of the snow.

Keefe on Clifford

“He made a poor decision in that instance. When I go back and look at our past 20 games, our fourth line is at its best - and I am talking about playing the game, skating, forechecking, defending - it is with Clifford in it. It’s really as simple as that.”
- Canada Cup

Oh great, wait till the DOPS here's this. See ya Clifford.

Disagree. Simmonds keeping the other team in check is literally what he gets a paycheque for. If he handles Perry there Perry is off the ice. The chances of that powder keg being emptied are significantly increased with Perry gone, and one of our key players isn't in a situation where they're breaking hands on goons.

This is the NHL playoffs, his reason to fight is that not letting the other teams goons run wild is literally his job.
- joel878

Its the NHL playoffs, they are up 5-0 and are playing their best as a team.
Why do anything that will alter that? Specially a no reason fight.
That whole line was looking to start something.

I've said it for years. Players looking for a fight after a strong, clean hit on one of their teamates is annoying as hell.

Look for payback when there's a cheapshot or something illegal/dangerous.... not when someone plays strong hard hockey.
- Scabeh

The league could end it immediately by calling instigator penalties.

They choose not to.

That was probably the best 60 minutes of hockey I've seen the Leafs play in 20 years. Also the worst I've seen Kucherov play in 12. Wow he was BAAAAAAAAAAD.
- AdamFrench

Kucherov is tired. He didn't get to rest the entire season this year.

lol, I'm sure that was the loudest crowd for a Leaf game in decades. I am also confident that those same fans paying ridiculously high prices to watch the Leafs (a nice portion of those funds going to money losing Tampa to cover spending they can't afford) were there to see Matthews and Marner do magic, not Chewbacca and his antics.
- winsix

Of course skill is what sells the game, I don't actually disagree with you.

But trust me, when the Habs were winning playoffs rounds last year with 4 big defensemen hacking away at anything that moved near Price.

I didn't give a rat's ass how it affected the other team, just wanted to win.

We can have the discussion for a millionth time about how we both agree the league should change the way it handles these situations but until then... do whatever you need to win is the right way to go.

The league could end it immediately by calling instigator penalties.

They choose not to.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yup... adding it to a long list of nonsense.

It was the best game Ive seen them play all year or in a long while for sure.
Everyone was great.
Muzz looked like the Muzz we traded for.
- Fakepartofme

And the best part was nobody really stood out.

It was 19 guys (I guess 18 after Clifford got booted) who were flawless.

That was probably the best 60 minutes of hockey I've seen the Leafs play in 20 years. Also the worst I've seen Kucherov play in 12. Wow he was BAAAAAAAAAAD.
- AdamFrench

He's been pretty awful when faced with any sort of adversity this year. I think Tampa is realizing they're a little older, a little more tired.

Kucherov is tired. He didn't get to rest the entire season this year.
- winsix

Damn, that's good.