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.
- BINGO!

How did your boys look last night?

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.
- Fakepartofme

Hmmm. What alters the future more and is the inherently bigger risk, potentially giving Tampa the momentum and allowing them to make it a 5-1 game (which is doubtful when the crowd is the true momentum swinger at that point), or allowing a powder keg to explode ultimately resulting in long term injury to your #1 defenceman? 🤔

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

Most fans don't cheer for the team that keeps winning cups

Most fans don't cheer for the Leafs

Check the pulses of some fans out there for this series

The league could end it immediately by calling instigator penalties.

They choose not to.
- Atomic Wedgie

The Leafs did get a 4 minute powerplay out of it as Perry got the double minor. Not just the league, the refs could have ended it immediately last night instead of letting it play out. They were calling everything in the first 40 minutes.

Hmmm. What alters the future more and is the inherently bigger risk, potentially giving Tampa the momentum and allowing them to make it a 5-1 game (which is doubtful when the crowd is the true momentum swinger at that point), or allowing a powder keg to explode ultimately resulting in long term injury to your #1 defenceman? 🤔
- joel878

Hard to ask players not to be emotional in a playoff game

If you want heart and grit you have to take our players going too far sometimes

Comes with it

The Leafs did get a 4 minute powerplay out of it as Perry got the double minor. Not just the league, the refs could have ended it immediately last night instead of letting it play out. They were calling everything in the first 40 minutes.
- PatC80

This too. They were happy to chuck Maroon and Simmonds prior to them even leaving the bench for a shift in the regular season. Somehow two goons have Simmonds circled and they're escorting Simmonds around the ice with everyone still in the game.

Hard to ask players not to be emotional in a playoff game

If you want heart and grit you have to take our players going too far sometimes

Comes with it
- Santo_44

Never asked them not to be emotional. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Never asked them not to be emotional. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- joel878

I am talking about Rielly fighting.

It happens in the playoffs. Good to see him emotional and not backing down.

And the best part was nobody really stood out.

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

This.

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.
- Scabeh

Fair.

I think that time will come when Bettman and Parros are gone.

How did your boys look last night?
- Atomic Wedgie

They were a little slow getting into the game but once they got the jitters out they started to just manhandle the B's.

J.Staal just tossing Bergeron around in the corners was a little eye-opening. You'd never know Marchand was even on the ice.

Boston got a lot of shots from the outside but Raanta played well and cleaning up rebounds is the Canes' bread and butter, so here we are.

Probably closer than the score looks, but Carolina was pretty clearly the better team.

I am talking about Rielly fighting.

It happens in the playoffs. Good to see him emotional and not backing down.
- Santo_44

Yes, and my angle is that if Simmonds does his job the chances of Rielly being in that spot are dramatically reduced. Absolutely no one is criticizing Rielly for having balls of steel.

The Leafs did get a 4 minute powerplay out of it as Perry got the double minor. Not just the league, the refs could have ended it immediately last night instead of letting it play out. They were calling everything in the first 40 minutes.
- PatC80

It's a really minor thing, but I loved when the refs called Kucherov for this crosscheck:

https://twitter.com/TicTa...tatus/1521278921152602114

Usually the refs let that go in the playoffs. Which is absolutely stupid.

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

This comment needs more love.

It's a really minor thing, but I loved when the refs called Kucherov for this crosscheck:

https://twitter.com/TicTa...tatus/1521278921152602114

Usually the refs let that go in the playoffs. Which is absolutely stupid.
- Atomic Wedgie

I thought the penalty against Sergachev on Blackwell was pretty chincey.

I'm full of random, trivial thoughts this morning, but here's one:

I miss the out of town scoreboard.

Remember the ones they had at the gardens? Where they would insert the teams' logos?

IIRC, they used to show the scores on the video ring between the first and second bowls at the ACC. Not sure when they stopped it, but I guess they figured they could squeeze some extra money out by replacing it with ads.

Yes, I know I have my phone at games and can check it whenever I want, but it's just a little thing from the past that I miss.

And honestly, I didn't even think to do it last night. The game was that good.

It's a really minor thing, but I loved when the refs called Kucherov for this crosscheck:

https://twitter.com/TicTa...tatus/1521278921152602114

Usually the refs let that go in the playoffs. Which is absolutely stupid.
- Atomic Wedgie

Refs looked like they were calling it like they did in the regular season. Which I'm fine with. At least the players know and have an expectation.

Yes, and my angle is that if Simmonds does his job the chances of Rielly being in that spot are dramatically reduced. Absolutely no one is criticizing Rielly for having balls of steel.
- joel878

It was going down no matter what happened.

It was going down no matter what happened.
- bobbyisno1

Agree, Cooper sent out Chewbacca and Perry to start a fight

Refs looked like they were calling it like they did in the regular season. Which I'm fine with. At least the players know and have an expectation.
- Aaron_85

Is it the same refs all series?

Agree, Cooper sent out Chewbacca and Perry to start a fight
- winsix

Simmonds should have fought Chewy so Rielly could have grabbed Hagel or some udder tiny fellar.


Doesn’t matter now, rest up the liver for tomorrow night. 😑

Simmonds should have fought Chewy so Rielly could have grabbed Hagel or some udder tiny fellar.


Doesn’t matter now, rest up the liver for tomorrow night. 😑
- Garnie

Next game I propose Simmonds fights Kucherov

Simmonds should have fought Chewy so Rielly could have grabbed Hagel or some udder tiny fellar.


Doesn’t matter now, rest up the liver for tomorrow night. 😑
- Garnie

I haven't seen every Leafs game ever played of course.

But yesterday was the best game I've seen Morgan Rielly play.

Guy was everywhere on the ice and controlling the play even in desperate situations.

Simmonds should have fought Chewy so Rielly could have grabbed Hagel or some udder tiny fellar.


Doesn’t matter now, rest up the liver for tomorrow night. 😑
- Garnie

Next game I propose Simmonds fights Kucherov
- TheMussel

Clifford (if he doesnt get suspended) vs Kucherov sounds pretty fair right?