I’m scared.

Yup.
I get that Tampa, as a team can turn it on and dominate, but Vasi is still my biggest worry.
Hoping he cracks this year......this round. Its gotta happen eventually, right?
- Fakepartofme

Solid goaltending is a constant in the playoffs; I don't think it's the catalyst necessarily.

They need to just play their game: puck pursuit, high tempo, stop trying to be physical.

A lot of those interference/hook/hold were really out of character for this team, and you just don't know what playbook the zebras are working out of ("let 'em play", call everything, "game management", lopsided), so just don't do it.

Somebody offered me a "great deal" on two nosebleed tickets for last night at $1300 for the pair.
- gravyface

Just wait till the finals. Imagine those prices?

Guess you didnt watch many tampa playoff games the past two years.
Vasi still has another level.
soup wasnt great last night, he'll need to improve for next game. Im sure (hoping) he will.
- Fakepartofme

I did watch all the playoff games last 2 years thanks, you are welcome to disagree with my or anyone's opinion but there is no need to be condescending or make a snippy comment to preface it so maybe try shifting gears.

Just because he was lights out then doesn't mean he will be now and he proved this season he is human.

Solid goaltending is a constant in the playoffs; I don't think it's the catalyst necessarily.

They need to just play their game: puck pursuit, high tempo, stop trying to be physical.

A lot of those interference/hook/hold were really out of character for this team, and you just don't know what playbook the zebras are working out of ("let 'em play", call everything, "game management", lopsided), so just don't do it.
- gravyface

They are trying to match Tampa with the physicality, which I appreciate for sure. But ya sometimes they can do it too much and leads them to mistakes and penalties.
Its a fine line, cause they needed to step up physically from the reg season, which they have done, but not too much that it takes away from their game.
Its why I was hoping they would have got into playoff mode with 5 - 10 games left in the season, give them time to work out kinks and find that median that works for them.
But I like that they are not letting Tampa push them around.

15-0 after a loss over the last 3 playoffs with like a .960 sv%. Dude is a problem.
- joel878

That's a stat that says he's good after a loss.

What is his save % after 2 games this year?

His GAA is 4.0 currently so all the 'we need to worry about being out goalied because it's Vasy' chatter is unwarranted at this time in my opinion.

Yes he played well last night and made a great glove save - which kina looked like a 'shot it right into the glove' thing to me as a goalie and then you put the mustard on it but it was still a sure goal that didn't happen. Besides that save I didn't see many sure goals that he stole back, I definatley wouldn't say Vasy is why the Leafs lost last night.

If I'm Keefe I'd get cheeky in the post game presser and in the media today & pull out Cooper's line and say the Leafs beat themselves with bad penalties and ineffective special teams and Tampa got a freebie.

That's a stat that says he's good after a loss.

What is his save % after 2 games this year?

His GAA is 4.0 currently so all the 'we need to worry about being out goalied because it's Vasy' chatter is unwarranted at this time in my opinion.

Yes he played well last night and made a great glove save - which kina looked like a 'shot it right into the glove' thing to me as a goalie and then you put the mustard on it but it was still a sure goal that didn't happen. Beside s that save I didn't see many sure goals that he stole back, I definatley wouldn't say Vasy is why the Leafs lost last night.

If I'm Keefe I'd get cheeky in the post game presser and in the media today & pull out Cooper's line and say the Leafs beat themselves with bad penalties and ineffective special teams and Tampa got a freebie.
- Cush29

Could have said the same about Price last year, even through 4 games the leafs determined it wasn't a problem... and then it was.

Vasilevsky has I'll decide who wins this series potential, like it or not. I like the work on him so far but it would be a little early in my opinion to say two games have written the book and therefore we know we can get him. It's been a few years since any team has gotten him over a full 7 game series.

That's a stat that says he's good after a loss.

What is his save % after 2 games this year?

His GAA is 4.0 currently so all the 'we need to worry about being out goalied because it's Vasy' chatter is unwarranted at this time in my opinion.

Yes he played well last night and made a great glove save - which kina looked like a 'shot it right into the glove' thing to me as a goalie and then you put the mustard on it but it was still a sure goal that didn't happen. Besides that save I didn't see many sure goals that he stole back, I definatley wouldn't say Vasy is why the Leafs lost last night.

If I'm Keefe I'd get cheeky in the post game presser and in the media today & pull out Cooper's line and say the Leafs beat themselves with bad penalties and ineffective special teams and Tampa got a freebie.
- Cush29

And for what it's worth, it's kinda true.

There was no way the Lightning's powerplay was gonna be as abysmal as in game one. A few bad penalties resulted in timely goals that shifted the momentum Tampa's way (not to mention the score).

Bottom line, both teams played one very strong game and one very "meh" game and they are tied.

The rest should be fun to watch.

Oh and the Leafs have their first line going, which is great considering how badly they needed it, but they'll need Tavares/Nylander to step it up a little.

I did watch all the playoff games last 2 years thanks, you are welcome to disagree with my or anyone's opinion but there is no need to be condescending or make a snippy comment to preface it so maybe try shifting gears.

Just because he was lights out then doesn't mean he will be now and he proved this season he is human.
- Cush29

Agreed, officiating gifted 7 opportunities to Tampa and allowed their PP to get going. Only 3 to the Leafs and a BS make up call with 4 minutes to play. I guess if McDonagh gets called for the four or five cross-checks that were allowed to slide, it might have been closer. The uncalled mugging of Mikheyev by McDonagh when it was still close was particularly annoying. That said, Simmonds penalty as well as the slash by Bunting were stupid selfish plays.

Could have said the same about Price last year, even through 4 games the leafs determined it wasn't a problem... and then it was.

Vasilevsky has I'll decide who wins this series potential, like it or not. I like the work on him so far but it would be a little early in my opinion to say two games have written the book and therefore we know we can get him. It's been a few years since any team has gotten him over a full 7 game series.
- joel878

Alot of us said it before this series started. Vasilevsky is the biggest difference between both teams.

The results of the first 2 games don't change anything to that fact. If he's at his best, beating him will be very difficult.

Just like when Carey Price could still play hockey.

Alot of us said it before this series started. Vasilevsky is the biggest difference between both teams.

The results of the first 2 games don't change anything to that fact. If he's at his best, beating him will be very difficult.

Just like when Carey Price could still play hockey.

- Scabeh

To be determined if the Leafs can flush him 4 times or not, but they're definitely not going to make it easy on themselves if they keep giving that Tampa powerplay the chance to cash.

Hard enough to score on Vasi before you have to out score a few PP goals.

And yes, I am of the variety that thinks the officiating was incredibly inconsistent last night, it was horrible really... And it put the leafs in a big hole. But you have to respect that's gonna happen. With their bullpoop game management deal, if you've had a couple powerplays in a row you can't give the refs anything.

Could have said the same about Price last year, even through 4 games the leafs determined it wasn't a problem... and then it was.

Vasilevsky has I'll decide who wins this series potential, like it or not. I like the work on him so far but it would be a little early in my opinion to say two games have written the book and therefore we know we can get him. It's been a few years since any team has gotten him over a full 7 game series.
- joel878

I never said anything about Price last year and to be honest last year is completely irrelevant to this conversation.

I was not and am not "writing anyone off", I'm just saying I don't blindly believe because of the past playoffs he (Vasy) is that same dominant goalie this year he was then as he sure didn't look it for stretches this season and in game 1. The notion that suddenly a player or team can 'turn it on' for playoffs and be different than they were for big chunks of a season isn't something I'm a big believer of, if that was the case the regular season Leafs would have had more playoff success in the past no?

I just want to see how it plays out is all and I will not fret and tremble about the great Vasy and portray him as unbeatable when he's been beaten 8 times in 2 games already.

I'm not sure why that upsets folks here but it's just my opinion and how I feel. I really hope I don't have to go to a place where I am that fearful of Tampa's goalie but I guess in the remaining games of the series I could be pushed to that point - the opposite of course is also true.

It doesn't really matter what I or anyone else here thinks or believes, what matters is what the Leaf players think or believe and I hope they are thinking more along the lines I am in that he's human, he's beatable and we have beaten him 8 times in 2 games. If I was a coach I'd be repeating that over and over and over to them, we all know how it goes once a goalie is inside the heads of the players.

I had thought JT was kinda invisible the 1st 2 games...

But outside of winning faceoffs last night.. he was..

JT has not been able to get much going in the five-on-five minutes he’s gotten. Through two games, Tavares has managed just two shots on two attempts at five-on-five. He’s yet to record a goal or point in those situations.

He's not getting 11 mil a yr for this in the playoffs. He has to be a difference maker...

And since he doesn't PK and the boys were on it quite a bit last night .. that limits his time even more... something needs to be done.. 88 perhaps.

Alot of us said it before this series started. Vasilevsky is the biggest difference between both teams.

The results of the first 2 games don't change anything to that fact. If he's at his best, beating him will be very difficult.

Just like when Carey Price could still play hockey.

- Scabeh

Agreed, you cant discount Vasi, even if you've scored 8 goals on him already.
Heck, I'd say Vasi's best is better than Price's best was , no? I know we are quite a bit removed from Price's best and I do recall Price being really awesome for sure. He did dominate and carry the Habs for many years. Hmmm
What do you think?

They are trying to match Tampa with the physicality, which I appreciate for sure. But ya sometimes they can do it too much and leads them to mistakes and penalties.
Its a fine line, cause they needed to step up physically from the reg season, which they have done, but not too much that it takes away from their game.
Its why I was hoping they would have got into playoff mode with 5 - 10 games left in the season, give them time to work out kinks and find that median that works for them.
But I like that they are not letting Tampa push them around.
- Fakepartofme

Most of the penalties were holding and hooking and were generally the result of Leaf players being a step behind the Lightning. Keefe preached all year about playing on the right side of the puck. Kerfoot let his guy get a step in him and grabbed him. The Simmonds’ penalties were the kind you’re talking about and added nothing in terms of physicality IMO.

Also, we’d be laughing if the special teams played the way they did 8n game one but TBL turned that around

Agreed, you cant discount Vasi, even if you've scored 8 goals on him already.
Heck, I'd say Vasi's best is better than Price's best was , no? I know we are quite a bit removed from Price's best and I do recall Price being really awesome for sure. He did dominate and carry the Habs for many years. Hmmm
What do you think?
- Fakepartofme

It's a tough call... 2014 Carey Price seemed unbeatable. it took a Kreider to the knee to end him. But you can't discount how (frank)ing dominant Vasilevsky has been for a few years now.

Both are amazing goaltenders really. I'd probably give the edge to Price but only because he was actually carrying a worst team in front of him than Vasilevsky ever had to do.

Or I'm just biased towards one of my favorite players of all time, it's also possible.

Most of the penalties were holding and hooking and were generally the result of Leaf players being a step behind the Lightning. Keefe preached all year about playing on the right side of the puck. Kerfoot let his guy get a step in him and grabbed him. The Simmonds’ penalties were the kind you’re talking about and added nothing in terms of physicality IMO.

Also, we’d be laughing if the special teams played the way they did 8n game one but TBL turned that around
- Canada Cup

Completely ignoring the left side of the puck could be a mistake.

I never said anything about Price last year and to be honest last year is completely irrelevant to this conversation.

I was not and am not "writing anyone off", I'm just saying I don't blindly believe because of the past playoffs he (Vasy) is that same dominant goalie this year he was then as he sure didn't look it for stretches this season and in game 1. The notion that suddenly a player or team can 'turn it on' for playoffs and be different than they were for big chunks of a season isn't something I'm a big believer of, if that was the case the regular season Leafs would have had more playoff success in the past no?

I just want to see how it plays out is all and I will not fret and tremble about the great Vasy and portray him as unbeatable when he's been beaten 8 times in 2 games already.

I'm not sure why that upsets folks here but it's just my opinion and how I feel. I really hope I don't have to go to a place where I am that fearful of Tampa's goalie but I guess in the remaining games of the series I could be pushed to that point - the opposite of course is also true.

It doesn't really matter what I or anyone else here thinks or believes, what matters is what the Leaf players think or believe and I hope they are thinking more along the lines I am in that he's human, he's beatable and we have beaten him 8 times in 2 games. If I was a coach I'd be repeating that over and over and over to them, we all know how it goes once a goalie is inside the heads of the players.
- Cush29

I'm not upset and I never said you brought up Price, I did. I respect Vasilevsky and the potential there, that's all. He has said no to a lot of really good teams and I'm not going to assume it's any different because the leafs have largely gotten to him through 2 games. Also, I have PTSD from what Price did to the leafs last year.

That's just me, and just because I see it that way doesn't mean I'm suggesting you have any assumptions or opinions that fall on the opposite side. Explaining myself isn't implying you said anything.

It's a tough call... 2014 Carey Price seemed unbeatable. it took a Kreider to the knee to end him. But you can't discount how (frank)ing dominant Vasilevsky has been for a few years now.

Both are amazing goaltenders really. I'd probably give the edge to Price but only because he was actually carrying a worst team in front of him than Vasilevsky ever had to do.

Or I'm just biased towards one of my favorite players of all time, it's also possible.

- Scabeh

oh boy

oh boy
- 21peter

Mea Culpa.. Muzz has been terrific so far with Brodie..

Last night Gio and the kid no bueno..they got caved in all night.

With last change in Tampa, AM and co are going to get a ton of Cerilli's line.

That means JT has to go against Kuch & Stammer .. that's not in the Leafs favor.


Game 3 boys .. stay out of the box... and the game and series are yours for the taking..

oh boy
- 21peter

I'll fight you you son of a female dog.

Completely ignoring the left side of the puck could be a mistake.
- Scabeh

I’ve been told to keep politics out of this

Mea Culpa.. Muzz has been terrific so far with Brodie..

Last night Gio and the kid no bueno..they got caved in all night.

With last change in Tampa, AM and co are going to get a ton of Cerilli's line.

That means JT has to go against Kuch & Stammer .. that's not in the Leafs favor.


Game 3 boys .. stay out of the box... and the game and series are yours for the taking..

- dozerD10

And the words Justin Holl are heard echoing throughout Leafland

I’ve been told to keep politics out of this
- Canada Cup

My bad.