One could argue that every game in a 7 game series counts.
- 13sundin13

Yes of course.
But for this team, its all about closing out a series.
They do not have a good record of doing that.

Just watching that last shift.. Boys are all a step behind tonight. For whatever reason.. very much apparent throughout the game...

Also Point is absolutely flying out there.
- dozerD10

Point looks better tonight than he has in months.

1. Game isn't over
2. Its game 4 with a 2 to 1 series lea

- Aaron_85

You’re right, it’s gotten worse since I posted that.

Same team had a 2-1 and 3-1 series lead over a vastly inferior opponent last year. That didn’t work out so well.

Just watching that last shift.. Boys are all a step behind tonight. For whatever reason.. very much apparent throughout the game...

Also Point is absolutely flying out there.
- dozerD10

Came into Tampa and took the bolts for a walk, hung out on the beach for a day and determined it would happen again all on its own.

Yes of course.
But for this team, its all about closing out a series.
They do not have a good record of doing that.
- Fakepartofme

They need to get to that opportunity first. Chance to put Tampa in a really tough spot tonight. Instead, a complete no show. Leafs have been preaching "killer instinct" for a year now. This is not a good response at all.

Its all about what this team does in game 5,6, and 7 if there is one.
Can they close it out when it counts.
- Fakepartofme

We’ve seen time and time again that they can’t. Would love to see it happen but it’s hard for me to believe it until I see it.

At 5-0?

😂
- fifty__missions

Um. Yes? I heard tone setting is key.

Frustrating. It's not that they're losing or will lose this game, it's about not even showing up. If they had lost this one 2-1 or something but played well, that would be fine cause Tampa is a good team, but to not even be prepared shows a serious lack of mental strength that shows they may not be capable of ever winning. You'd think they had learned some kind of lesson from last year.
- 13sundin13

100%

They need to get to that opportunity first. Chance to put Tampa in a really tough spot tonight. Instead, a complete no show. Leafs have been preaching "killer instinct" for a year now. This is not a good response at all.
- fifty__missions

This is the same laughable, frightened effort we always see.
losing the next 2 without a whimper would surprise nobody.

Matthews and Nylonder with two each. 4-1 Leafs.


Let’s Go!
- Byfuglien Ate Me

It like you can see into the future.

Came into Tampa and took the bolts for a walk, hung out on the beach for a day and determined it would happen again all on its own.
- joel878

I agree ...sports is 50% mental. You trick yourself on the way to TB into thinking you "need the split". It's hard to turn that off completely.

Then factor in that TB is desperate and you've got one team with way better focus tonight. It's sports.

Um. Yes? I heard tone setting is key.
- drexel

Yep, it sure was. On the very first shift.

I've never seen so many penalties called in the playoffs before

Point looks better tonight than he has in months.
- GalacticStone

It is cute that you think Tampa has much to do with this at all.

Sure, it would be legit to see Tampa out-playing them and winning. What the Leafs put out of the ice tonight has nothing to do with Tampa. They did the same thing 3 games in a row against a horrible team last year.

Yep, it sure was. On the very first shift.
- fifty__missions

Ah. Quitting after 1 min is what’s expected from star players.

I agree ...sports is 50% mental. You trick yourself on the way to TB into thinking you "need the split". It's hard to turn that off completely.

Then factor in that TB is desperate and you've got one team with way better focus tonight. It's sports.
- The Law

Not every team does this. Just saying.

I agree ...sports is 50% mental. You trick yourself on the way to TB into thinking you "need the split". It's hard to turn that off completely.

Then factor in that TB is desperate and you've got one team with way better focus tonight. It's sports.
- The Law

Agree, there's a reason pro teams employ sports psychologists. It's going to happen but the coach needs to play a factor, trotting out the same everything just feeds that angle not helping to mitigate it.

Ah. Quitting after 1 min is what’s expected from star players.
- drexel

Sadly it's what ours have tended to do. Facts.

Willy .. that was ... completely unacceptable.

Agree, there's a reason pro teams employ sports psychologists. It's going to happen but the coach needs to play a factor, trotting out the same everything just feeds that angle not helping to mitigate it.
- joel878

Leafs contracted one of the most highly regarded and sought after sports psychologists after the Montreal meltdown to focus on "killer instinct". Not exactly a resounding success in a game where they could have taken a series stranglehold.

Not every team does this. Just saying.
- fifty__missions

Every series in the east is going back and forth. Canes just gave up a 2-0 series lead.

West too ....except the Avs.

One thing that is quite impressive is the Leafs are actually up 2 games to 1 with both Tavares and Nylander looking like there actually sitting in the press box.

Refs need to reign in these soft slashing calls

Every series in the east is going back and forth. Canes just gave up a 2-0 series lead.

West too ....except the Avs.
- The Law

I'm talking about the longstanding repeated pattern of this hockey team of continually not showing up and showing "killer instinct" when needed. They haven't shown anything tonight.

Leafs contracted one of the most highly regarded and sought after sports psychologists after the Montreal meltdown to focus on "killer instinct". Not exactly a resounding success in a game where they could have taken a series stranglehold.
- fifty__missions

Showed in game 3. If they win on Saturday then that Psych will be our hero.