I think McDavid gets over the hump and beats the Kings but gawd ..they can't be feeling good about being 2-2 to the Doughty-less Kings.

All true but for context it reads a lot like the Barkov/Huberdeau, McDavid/Draisatl, MacKinnon eras.

NHL playoffs are not for the faint of heart. Win 2 of 3 and they'll have slaughtered one big demon. If not then ....ch ch ch changes are probably coming.
- The Law

This is what scares me. Complete no show last night. Embarassing.

Leafs leading the playoffs in PIM as everyone predicted

I think McDavid gets over the hump and beats the Kings but gawd ..they can't be feeling good about being 2-2 to the Doughty-less Kings.
- The Law

That would probably be the closest thing to losing to Montreal or Columbus. The Oilers are almost the Leafs

If a game is over 2/3rd of the way through for you I can’t say anything to change your mind and I won’t bother trying.

The top line has has 2 tough games of 4 but feel free to pretend they have been struggling in all 4 games is it suits your narrative, I think your wrong but that’s my opinion.
- Cush29

My original reply to your assertion that the Bolts didn't dominate last night was low-grade complaining after a very frustrating, dogpoop game.

I never said the top 2 lines struggled in all 4 games so far this playoff, I merely suggested they haven't figured out a way to be consistently great in the post-season. They were positively dogpoop last night and, beyond a wonderful Game 1, haven't been able to get their act together as yet.

It's a 3 game series now, let's see how they respond.

My original reply to your assertion that the Bolts didn't dominate last night was low-grade complaining after a very frustrating, dogpoop game.

I never said the top 2 lines struggled in all 4 games so far this playoff, I merely suggested they haven't figured out a way to be consistently great in the post-season. They were positively dogpoop last night and, beyond a wonderful Game 1, haven't been able to get their act together as yet.

It's a 3 game series now, let's see how they respond.
- mjones242

Yes it was a frustrating loss but to be clear this is what you said "The top line continues to struggle to find a way to solve the playoff puzzle".

Sure read to me like a statement that the top line has struggled in all 4 games (as I understood the term playoff puzzle to include past playoffs and these ones so far vs a single game or 2 of 4 this year) but if you didn't mean it that way all good.

3 game series indeed but neither team has had a good back to back performance nor a bad back to back performance.

If that keeps up the Leafs should win, if the Leafs can put together 2 great games in a row they should win and I don't want to consider any otheralternatives!

How about we worry about that only if it happens? It’s 2-2 after 4 games of a 7 game series for god sakes.

I find all the negativity and narrative about how this is the Leafs showing the same issues as they have had in past playoffs nauseating. PTSD or not it’s now a best 2 of 3 series and nobody has a win yet.

Go Leafs Go.
- Cush29

If the leafs didnt continually show the same issues, you wouldnt have to hear about it.
Leafs have 3 games to get 2 wins in order to take the first steps to changing their narrative. If not, you'll be hearing lots more about it.

M'eh - I thought some of the Leafs seemed emotionally engaged - Reilly for instance. Toronto media loves to poop on the Leafs any chance they get.

Simmonds or Clifford in for game 5 I'm find with - not both for me. Spezza needs another game at least to me.
- Cush29

Has nothing to do with the media loving to poop on the leafs (some do for sure) but hayes was right.

Was it Simmons who said what we were all thinking to Keefe post-game? What a terrible question from a reporter but he's not wrong for once 😂

Edit: I should also say I don't believe that's why they lost. Top line and 2nd line need to be much better. Those are the big money players.
- PlatosRepucklic

What did that sack of crap say?

it's not over, when Tavares comes back, it will be a different series.

All true but for context it reads a lot like the Barkov/Huberdeau, McDavid/Draisatl, MacKinnon eras.

NHL playoffs are not for the faint of heart. Win 2 of 3 and they'll have slaughtered one big demon. If not then ....ch ch ch changes are probably coming.
- The Law

4 of those players have been on some bad teams.
Mackinnon era has seen him get past the 1st round 2-3 times. So a litle different no?

Leafs have an opportunity to change their narrative. Win the next 2 of 3.

it's not over, when Tavares comes back, it will be a different series.
- Symba007

LOL

M'eh - I thought some of the Leafs seemed emotionally engaged - Reilly for instance. Toronto media loves to poop on the Leafs any chance they get.

Simmonds or Clifford in for game 5 I'm find with - not both for me. Spezza needs another game at least to me.
- Cush29

Disclaimer - it was 2-0 when I started watching. I went back and watched those goals and the 3rd goal and saw bad turnovers from Holl, Rielly and Muzzin. I then saw Campbell let in a goal that no NHL goalie should let in. I stopped watching.

What did I miss that would be solved by Clifford and Simmonds?

since everyone is asking, i feel perfectly fine, I did/do not expect the Leafs to beat TB.
if the somehow managed to, it was never going to be easy.


2 home games out of 3 left, if they cant figure it out...again.
well, time to make a few major moves. what evs

Leafs leading the playoffs in PIM as everyone predicted
- senstroll

Yeah, but the league favours the Leafs apparently.
Didn't something similar come out about supplemental discipline this year.

At some point, the numbers have to speak for themselves. The Leafs are getting (frank)ed over, severely and it has been going on for many years now.

If the leafs didnt continually show the same issues, you wouldnt have to hear about it.
Leafs have 3 games to get 2 wins in order to take the first steps to changing their narrative. If not, you'll be hearing lots more about it.

- Fakepartofme

"Continually" means 2 of 4 games does it? That's not how I would define the word but if you want to see it that way fill your boots.

And we won't be hearing lots about it from you though right? I just figure that's the case because you are only "mildly interested" in game 5.

since everyone is asking, i feel perfectly fine, I did/do not expect the Leafs to beat TB.
if the somehow managed to, it was never going to be easy.


2 home games out of 3 left, if they cant figure it out...again.
well, time to make a few major moves. what evs
- senstroll

Yeah, if they can't win this, I don't see how they justify not making major moves.

The worst part is what the hell will Matthews' motivation be to stay. You would think he will want to be as far away from this poopshow as possible. Not that he has done much since game 1 either, but still, imagine how effective he might be on a team not killing penalties 7 or 8 times a game.

Yeah, but the league favours the Leafs apparently.
Didn't something similar come out about supplemental discipline this year.

At some point, the numbers have to speak for themselves. The Leafs are getting (frank)ed over, severely and it has been going on for many years now.
- Aetherial

yeah. I have no more time for the penalty nonsense. Just pointing out a really odd stat, TB was the 2nd most penalized team this season. not that they are not getting penalties also, just the leafs getting a bunch more, is something.

yeah. I have no more time for the penalty nonsense. Just pointing out a really odd stat, TB was the 2nd most penalized team this season. not that they are not getting penalties also, just the leafs getting a bunch more, is something.
- senstroll

Specially when Tampa lays a pretty hefty cross check almost every shift.

Leafs have 112 PIM
they had 59 total in the 7 games last season

TB has 91, which is well above their 2021 pace

the pens have 20mins in 3 games

Leafs are the underdogs, I doubt we have home ice advantage if Kucherov is healthy most of the year. Enjoy the ride and hope we get lucky.

GO LEAFS GO

Leafs are the underdogs, I doubt we have home ice advantage if Kucherov is healthy most of the year. Enjoy the ride and hope we get lucky.

GO LEAFS GO
- Garnie

AM/MM were pretty invisible the 2 games in TB, so whatever they were able to do has worked. If the Leafs cant get them going at home, its goodnight Leafs

Disclaimer - it was 2-0 when I started watching. I went back and watched those goals and the 3rd goal and saw bad turnovers from Holl, Rielly and Muzzin. I then saw Campbell let in a goal that no NHL goalie should let in. I stopped watching.

What did I miss that would be solved by Clifford and Simmonds?
- Canada Cup

I don't recall the 4th goal being terrible? Maybe I blocked it out of my mind.

Clifford or Simmonds in (not both) to maybe allow the Leafs to start off with some physicality or just to change the line up as what we saw in game 4 was ineffective. I supposed change could just be to reshuffle what you had in game 4 like Bunting back to L1 etc.

Tied and going home with home ice and nothing from 91 ... I'll take it...

Also there is this little nugget.


Most important Keefe.. will be able to get Matthews and Marner away from the Anthony Cirelli-led unit that pestered them in Tampa. Pestered might not be a strong enough word. Swallowed them up, with help from the monster pairing of Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak.

The numbers from the past two games in Tampa are kind of mind-blowing that way. Matthews and Marner went head-to-head with Cirelli, Brayden Point and Alex Killorn for about 8.5 minutes. Those minutes went like this for the Leafs:

Shot attempts for/against: 1-15 (!!!)
Shots for/against: 1-6
Scoring chances for/against: 0-9
Expected goals percentage: 4.8 percent

Matthews and Marner led maybe the most dominant line in the regular season. It gets a lot harder with A-plus defenders giving it everything they have.

I don't recall the 4th goal being terrible? Maybe I blocked it out of my mind.

Clifford or Simmonds in (not both) to maybe allow the Leafs to start off with some physicality or just to change the line up as what we saw in game 4 was ineffective. I supposed change could just be to reshuffle what you had in game 4 like Bunting back to L1 etc.
- Cush29

Went through his glove I believe.