His concluding sentence was something along the lines of "Not sure why the league wants tampa to 3 peat"
Either way, Im done with the "the leafs lost due to bad reffing" conspiracy theory.
The leafs had several opportunities to put away the series, they just didnt.
- Fakepartofme

I don't think there is a conspiracy theory at all to prop up the TBL, but I do think that in general, the refereeing is extremely inconsistent, game-by-game, and game management (which has been proven with video evidence) should not be a thing: I don't think any other professional sports league in North America would've tolerated that incident and let it slide like they did; that's on Bettman and company.

As far as the Leafs go, yes, the current state of officiating in the NHL was a significant factor in our losses.

2010 was the year most of the Montreal fan base was like “trade that bum Price we have Halak!” No lie one of my “Facebook memory” things last week popped up from 2010 where I wrote something like “The H in the Habs logo stands for Halak and him wearing Superman colours is appropriate”. He was unreal in that playoff run.

Imagine if Price had been dealt back then? Yikes!
- Cush29

Halak was amazing in 2010. It felt like no one could score on him.

This being said, you had to be completely insane to bet the future on the team with him instead of Price.

Trading Halak while his value was high was the right move. Too bad Lars Eller never became anything more than a very good third line centre.

His being me... Yeah, I think the refs had a hand in the series.. Also, had a hand in last nights game too.. If they call the second penalty on Stamkos for closing his hand on the puck, then the Colton goal never happens.. It's hard to ignore that the calls seem to be skewed in Tampa's favour.
- PatC80

Yes you, correct.
Nah, just another excuse for the leafs. I agree there were some garbage calls and non calls for sure. But overall I believe the PP's were pretty close in how many were giving to each team

I don't think there is a conspiracy theory at all to prop up the TBL, but I do think that in general, the refereeing is extremely inconsistent, game-by-game, and game management (which has been proven with video evidence) should not be a thing: I don't think any other professional sports league in North America would've tolerated that incident and let it slide like they did; that's on Bettman and company.

As far as the Leafs go, yes, the current state of officiating in the NHL was a significant factor in our losses.
- gravyface

I agree with the bolded.
But the leafs had opportunity to win and close out the series...they simply couldnt....and not just because of the refs.

Leafs looking for deals when Blues win their cup this yr.. They looked very formidable last night.

Question .... Would Leafs be better off with Blues formula of having the goals more spread out ?? 9 x 20 goal scorers as opposed to AM just crushing it and 3 others with 30 plus..
- dozerD10

Leafs have 6 with 20 plus Matthews crushing it. Might have been 7 if Kase had played more than 50 games. So nice try comparing 3 @ 30 to 9 @ 20.

I think the question is academic anyway. Matthews and Tavares aren’t moving. Marner is far more valuable than the 35 goals he scores and I’m not sure how many Mikhayev’s you get for one Nylander or why.

The conspiracy stuff is crazy. Neither team was able to pull away over the 7 games. In a series as close as that a few extra bad calls can make a huge difference. It’s over
- Canada Cup

It can yes.
But even the JT goal call back was early enough the leafs still could have changed the outcome. Their big players didnt.

Now onto the Jays not closing out series. Ugh.

Yes you.
Nah, just another excuse for the leafs. I agree there were some garbage calls and non calls for sure. But overall I believe the PP's were pretty close in how many were giving to each team
- Fakepartofme

Okay, but when the Leafs got there calls in games they were already pretty much over. And when Tampa got there calls it was mostly opportune times.

A las barricadas?
- The Law

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMvMNpvB5M

I don't think there is a conspiracy theory at all to prop up the TBL, but I do think that in general, the refereeing is extremely inconsistent, game-by-game, and game management (which has been proven with video evidence) should not be a thing: I don't think any other professional sports league in North America would've tolerated that incident and let it slide like they did; that's on Bettman and company.

As far as the Leafs go, yes, the current state of officiating in the NHL was a significant factor in our losses.
- gravyface

In a series as close as it was, the officiating played a big role in the loss.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMvMNpvB5M
- Canada Cup

The OG Seattle sound.

Although I feel like we should have been able to claim them as Canadian.

Leafs have 6 with 20 plus Matthews crushing it. Might have been 7 if Kase had played more than 50 games. So nice try comparing 3 @ 30 to 9 @ 20.

I think the question is academic anyway. Matthews and Tavares aren’t moving. Marner is far more valuable than the 35 goals he scores and I’m not sure how many Mikhayev’s you get for one Nylander or why.
- Canada Cup

More along the lines of having the goals spread out more along 3 lines than 2 .. just different approaches is all. don't get all balled up about it.

More along the lines of having the goals spread out more along 3 lines than 2 .. just different approaches is all. don't get all balled up about it.




- dozerD10

In the Leafs case, they can't afford(cap wise) to bring in 20+ goal guys that can play on the 3rd line. Unless, they get another Michael Bunting or two on cheap deals for under $1M per season. That's easier said then done though.

More along the lines of having the goals spread out more along 3 lines than 2 .. just different approaches is all. don't get all balled up about it.




- dozerD10

Cool, but be honest in your comparisons.

Getting more goals from 3rd and 4th lines is great. Moving the top 4 to get it isn’t feasible. Key role of the 3rd line was shutdown. More from 4th would be very good. Dubai has said it’s time for Marlies to show what they can do.

You can’t just transfer the approach of one team to another. Leafs are built the way they are because of the draft picks that fell to them and the desire to make a big signing. Those guys are either too good to move or impossible for other reasons. In Willie’s case, I don’t think a trade changes the structure.

I mean, I think they would have... Florida struggled against Washington.. If not for the benefit of the refs, Tampa doesn't beat Toronto.. Not sure why the league wants a team to 3-peat
- PatC80

Come on - this excuse is getting tiring. Leafs are not the only team to get the sharp end of bad reffing.

I agree with the bolded.
But the leafs had opportunity to win and close out the series...they simply couldnt....and not just because of the refs.
- Fakepartofme

No one is saying that.

People are saying it’s a reason, I see absolutely no one here saying “the Leafs lost because of the refs”

Just pointing it out as a factor, which it was.

Come on - this excuse is getting tiring. Leafs are not the only team to get the sharp end of bad reffing.
- Nasty_Duck

No, they are not the only team. Heck, the Panthers are experiencing it now as well..
It doesn't change the fact that it impacted the Leafs and Lightning series.

No one is saying that.

People are saying it’s a reason, I see absolutely no one here saying “the Leafs lost because of the refs”

Just pointing it out as a factor, which it was.
- Santo_44

It would have been nice if it was called evenly.. If they call the interference penalty on Holl, that's fine but then they should have called the holding penalty on Killorn.

While I understand the sentiment, you can't assume that.

In 2011 (I still blame Monkey for reminding me this year exists) Habs lost to Boston in OT in 7 games only to see the Bruins win the Cup.

Even if we had defeated Boston, it doesn't imply we would have won anything afterwards.
- Scabeh

It would have been nice if it was called evenly.. If they call the interference penalty on Holl, that's fine but then they should have called the holding penalty on Killorn.
- PatC80

But that's a neverending thing.

There's probably some other penalty they didn't call, and another, and another.

I wish I could say it's surprising but officiating in the playoffs is a total crapshoot.

I have come to accept it and will simply be happy/surprised when things do change.

- Nasty_Duck

(frank)ing puck bouncing twice before getting past Price.


At least we got you back in 2014!

Okay, but when the Leafs got there calls in games they were already pretty much over. And when Tampa got there calls it was mostly opportune times.
- bobbyisno1

Is that a fact? I dunno, are there stats to support this?

It seemed like the games the leafs won, tampa had more penalties, the games the leafs lost, the leafs had more penalties.
But id have to look that up.

But that's a neverending thing.

There's probably some other penalty they didn't call, and another, and another.

I wish I could say it's surprising but officiating in the playoffs is a total crapshoot.

I have come to accept it and will simply be happy/surprised when things do change.
- Scabeh

I will get there soon.. The loss still stings

In a series as close as it was, the officiating played a big role in the loss.
- PatC80

The leafs not showing up for two games and their big players being held off the score sheet in another game 7 probably played a bigger role.

Ya some calls were BS....the non calls were BS as well. But it happened to both teams throughout the series.

I will get there soon.. The loss still stings
- PatC80

The leafs not showing up for two games and their big players being held off the score sheet in another game 7 probably played a bigger role.

Ya some calls were BS....the non calls were BS as well. But it happened to both teams throughout the series.
- Fakepartofme

I mean, Matthews and Marner each had an assist.. Tavares ha a goal taken away. Rielly scored.. Marner even drew two penalties