2017-18 Toronto Maple Leafs - Playoffs Edition

[TimKerr]

Ultimately, who gives a shit.  I've been a Leafs fan for over 30 years, but to hitch up my mental/emotional happiness on the fortunes of a team I have absolutely no control over is not healthy.

BS, they ever win the Cup you'll be crying like a baby.

Hahaha...we'll all be in that boat!!!

Buddy I might not stop crying for an entire day.  Just walk around wiping my eyes "I can't believe it" *sob* "they finally did it!" *sob* *randomly hugs strangers on street with tears rolling down eyes*

Not saying I don't get emotional.  Sure I was briefly upset last night.  Yes I will cry like a baby when they win the cup.  Just saying to dwell on it for any length of time, is a total waste of time, energy and your own well being.

Agreed, if the Leafs ruin your well being this is not good.  I was there for the last 3 Cups and have wandered  the wasteland with them for 51 years.  If they lose to Boston in 4 I won't dance in the street, I like watching playoff hockey and rooting for my team, I will cry with you when we win the Cup (in the next 2 or 3 years). Sooner or later it will happen. So relax enjoy the ride, wherever it takes you and don't get upset.

Honestly, it is just sports. If the Leafs win or lose, or in my case the Flyers win or lose. I don't win or lose anything! My paycheque doesn't go up the next day, I don't get a ring, my name isn't engraved anywhere. But it is just a gam and so much fun to watch and enjoy and great as a distraction from real life. But it should never be actually impacting your real life. These are 23 strangers you have never met and never will meet and don't give a rat's ass about you.

When I was younger watching the Flyers in the playoffs in the 80's I would watch the game intently and get sick to my stomach with anticipation and nerves. Then my dad saw me watching and said "You think Rick Tocchet gives a rat's ass about you? Why are you wasting your precious energy stressing about this game? He doesn't care about you" A little harsh? Maybe. But definitely the right dose of perspective.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Hockey is the passion that unites us here, and all in the LeafsNation.

Honestly, the day the Toronto Maple Leafs win Lord Stanley's coveted Cup, I will be crying tears of sheer joy.  Plus, I'd be planning my parade route. 

The city of Toronto won't be the same for a day.  In the words of Darcy Tucker who was asked what will it be like when the Leafs finally win the Cup -- his response?  "Mayhem!".

 

[Strangelove]

Babcock is getting out-coached, with boneheaded line-up decisions and bench minors caused by incessant (and completely ineffective) line matching.

On top of that, Anderson has continued his lengthy stretch of poor play and Matthews is not performing like a first overall pick. Rielly has fallen off the map for a few weeks as well.

The Leafs are in tough at the moment.

 

[Frank E]

Babcock is getting out-coached, with boneheaded line-up decisions and bench minors caused by incessant (and completely ineffective) line matching.

On top of that, Anderson has continued his lengthy stretch of poor play and Matthews is not performing like a first overall pick. Rielly has fallen off the map for a few weeks as well.

The Leafs are in tough at the moment.

I don't think this is a coaching issue at all.  Their best players are playing better than our best players.

Some were complaining about Matthews' ice time in game one since they were on the PK so often...he played 19 minutes last night, so did Nylander.

Here's the top lines' performance over the past 2 games:

Pastrnak -  9 pts.
Bergeron - 5 pts.
Marchand - 6 pts

Matthews - 0
Hyman - 1
Nylander - 0
Marleau - 0
Komarov - 0
(and whoever else they're trying on the wing)

Matthews and Nylander need to start putting some goals together, this is on these guys.  We can keep picking apart the 4th line winger and the bottom 3 defensemen, but until their top line, and the top 3 defensemen, start putting the puck in the net on the regular, they're going nowhere. 

 

[Mot the Barber]

You know what guys and gals, I think I'll go watch and support a real Canadian team lead by an elite talent with personality and playoffs intensity.  The Winnipeg Jets lead by Patrik Laine. 

We drafted wrong. 

 

[Redleaf]

I guess this is what a slow and patient rebuild looks like. The Leafs did little to bolster their lineup in preparation for this years playoffs, like most teams at least tried to do. Instead they opted to keep the majority of their high draft picks and young prospects and go into this pretty much the same team that was dreadfully weak on defence the entire season. Playoff teams with defensive liabilities get exposed pretty damn quick when all the cards are on the table, and thats exactly what were seeing. Its not just the defence thats been lacking. The offence hasn't been nearly effective either because the Bruins DO have what it takes for playoff success on their blue line. The only salvation the Leafs have at this point is the fact that they are still a young and growing club with promise in years to come. The fact that they're seeing what it takes to play with the big boys is also something the whole organization can learn from, hopefully.

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

You know what guys and gals, I think I'll go watch and support a real Canadian team lead by an elite talent with personality and playoffs intensity.  The Winnipeg Jets lead by Patrik Laine. 

We drafted wrong. 

  Good for you. See you later.

 

[nutman]

Don't count our boys out just yet, no team can keep that puck luck going. That was just crazy, the Leafs wern't that bad, and Boston was not as good as the score. Things will balance out back in Toronto.

 

[sickbeast]

Don't count our boys out just yet, no team can keep that puck luck going. That was just crazy, the Leafs wern't that bad, and Boston was not as good as the score. Things will balance out back in Toronto.

If Babcock keeps f-ing with the lines we are screwed.

 

[Guilt Trip]

You know what guys and gals, I think I'll go watch and support a real Canadian team lead by an elite talent with personality and playoffs intensity.  The Winnipeg Jets lead by Patrik Laine. 

We drafted wrong. 

  Good for you. See you later.

Yup see ya.

 

[sickbeast]

Don't count our boys out just yet, no team can keep that puck luck going. That was just crazy, the Leafs wern't that bad, and Boston was not as good as the score. Things will balance out back in Toronto.

Have you actually been watching the games?  The Leafs haven't been losing due to bad luck.

 

[mr grieves]

Babcock is getting out-coached, with boneheaded line-up decisions and bench minors caused by incessant (and completely ineffective) line matching.

On top of that, Anderson has continued his lengthy stretch of poor play and Matthews is not performing like a first overall pick. Rielly has fallen off the map for a few weeks as well.

The Leafs are in tough at the moment.

I don't think this is a coaching issue at all.  Their best players are playing better than our best players.

Some were complaining about Matthews' ice time in game one since they were on the PK so often...he played 19 minutes last night, so did Nylander.

Here's the top lines' performance over the past 2 games:

Pastrnak -  9 pts.
Bergeron - 5 pts.
Marchand - 6 pts

Matthews - 0
Hyman - 1
Nylander - 0
Marleau - 0
Komarov - 0
(and whoever else they're trying on the wing)

Matthews and Nylander need to start putting some goals together, this is on these guys.  We can keep picking apart the 4th line winger and the bottom 3 defensemen, but until their top line, and the top 3 defensemen, start putting the puck in the net on the regular, they're going nowhere.

That's true, but I don't know that it means the coaching staff isn't to blame.

A lot of those points are from the Bruins PP clicking along at like 50% -- and I'd say we often see even strength scoring follow special teams success. The Bruins, it seems plain to me, scouted the Leafs PP and have largely succeeded in neutralizing it, and they've exposed the Leafs PK. That's down to their coaching staff outperforming ours, no?

As for the big lines, no arguing with those numbers. But it's not like the coaches couldn't've anticipated that the Bruins would match hard against Nylander and Matthews -- didn't they succeed in doing so back in February? -- and the adjustment Babcock et al made was... what?

Yes, one wants to see the team's top players put the team on their backs and take over a game. And that hasn't happened. But I find it hard look at the way the team's playing and see any way that the coaching staff has adapted the regular season game plan to match up against this opponent.

Also, the bottom three of your defense is... half your defense. No small thing!

Even without Kadri available, I suspect Babcock, with last change, will try to find combos to shadow and neutralize Bergeron et al. But I think it's time to toss out the set lines/pairs, balanced minutes, match-ups. Shorten the bench, roll the lines, and see if some guys can get their games going.

Marleau - Matthews - Kapanen
Hyman - Nylander - Marner
JvR - Bozak - Brown
Johnsson - Moore - Martin (at ~8m)

Gardiner - Rielly (at ~25m)
Dermott - Polak (at ~20m)
Hainsey - Zaitsev (under 15)

 

[nutman]

Don't count our boys out just yet, no team can keep that puck luck going. That was just crazy, the Leafs wern't that bad, and Boston was not as good as the score. Things will balance out back in Toronto.

Have you actually been watching the games?  The Leafs haven't been losing due to bad luck.

I'll bite.. Yes the so called bounce was in Bostons corner big time, and there is nothing you or anyone else could say to change that opinion. yes Boston has one hell of a first line, but to out score one of the best lines in hockey 20-0 or whatever the number is, is some major puck luck. nuff said I will let the Hockey gods speak for me on Monday night, as I believe the bounce has to go our way sooner or later.

Boston may be a bit stronger then the Leafs, but no where near the way things have gone. Again lets see what Monday brings us.

 

[Bill_Berg]

You know what guys and gals, I think I'll go watch and support a real Canadian team lead by an elite talent with personality and playoffs intensity.  The Winnipeg Jets lead by Patrik Laine. 

We drafted wrong. 

  Good for you. See you later.

Yup see ya.

I rant and rave with the best of them, but I don't think it's possible for me to ever cheer for another team without hypnotism.

 

[Mot the Barber]

You know what guys and gals, I think I'll go watch and support a real Canadian team lead by an elite talent with personality and playoffs intensity.  The Winnipeg Jets lead by Patrik Laine. 

We drafted wrong. 

  Good for you. See you later.

Yup see ya.

I'll send a post card from that mythical post-1st-round land  ;D

 

[Highlander]

Outside of Anderson who has been a bust, Mirtle makes this comment; "1. The blueline must be better under pressure, with and without the puck. Hainsey, Nikita Zaitsev and Roman Polak are the obvious culprits given they're getting victimized shorthanded so often, but everyone can be better".

He goes on to point out that last year Leafs played 7 rookies and had nothing to lose.  He says time to play the kids more i.e.  Dermott, Johnsson, Kapi,  hell even give Carrick a go.  One thing that is obvious, we need to find a #1 D man somewhere and fast.

 

[sickbeast]

You know what guys and gals, I think I'll go watch and support a real Canadian team lead by an elite talent with personality and playoffs intensity.  The Winnipeg Jets lead by Patrik Laine. 

We drafted wrong. 

  Good for you. See you later.

Yup see ya.

I'll send a post card from that mythical post-1st-round land  ;D

Dude you're trolling. And you need a haircut. This is a Maple Leafs fan board. I hope you get banned. Also, Auston Matthews is a better and more complete player than Laine. Have a nice day.

 

[Frank E]

That's true, but I don't know that it means the coaching staff isn't to blame.

A lot of those points are from the Bruins PP clicking along at like 50% -- and I'd say we often see even strength scoring follow special teams success. The Bruins, it seems plain to me, scouted the Leafs PP and have largely succeeded in neutralizing it, and they've exposed the Leafs PK. That's down to their coaching staff outperforming ours, no?

No. I think you're making all kinds of "scouting" assumptions with no supporting evidence, other than "Boston is playing better than Toronto".

As for the big lines, no arguing with those numbers. But it's not like the coaches couldn't've anticipated that the Bruins would match hard against Nylander and Matthews -- didn't they succeed in doing so back in February? -- and the adjustment Babcock et al made was... what?

Here's what I think about the Matthew line/Bergeron line matchup/avoid matchup...since none of the other lines seem to be able to stop them, you need to fight their offense with offense of your own, and hopefully win the zonetime war.  These past 2 games, Bergeron & co. have outplayed Matthews & co., but I think the only way the Leafs get back in this series is if the Matthews line can even up with the Bergeron line's production, then let the other 2-3 lines fight it out.

Yes, one wants to see the team's top players put the team on their backs and take over a game. And that hasn't happened. But I find it hard look at the way the team's playing and see any way that the coaching staff has adapted the regular season game plan to match up against this opponent.

I'm not sure there exists a game plan that allows you to beat one of the best teams in the league, night after night, while Matthews and Nylander are pointless during their 19 minutes of ice-time.

Also, the bottom three of your defense is... half your defense. No small thing!

You're right, but during the playoffs, your top 3 should represent 65-75% of the ice time...or at least, they should be:  ~25 mins for top 3-4, ~10-20 mins bottom 2-3.

Since none of them are really playing very well, their ice time last night was much more even.  Rielly was the leader at 20:58, low man was Zietsev at 17:35.

 

[mr grieves]

That's true, but I don't know that it means the coaching staff isn't to blame.

A lot of those points are from the Bruins PP clicking along at like 50% -- and I'd say we often see even strength scoring follow special teams success. The Bruins, it seems plain to me, scouted the Leafs PP and have largely succeeded in neutralizing it, and they've exposed the Leafs PK. That's down to their coaching staff outperforming ours, no?

No. I think you're making all kinds of "scouting" assumptions with no supporting evidence, other than "Boston is playing better than Toronto".

I would say the evidence is on the ice. We can see with our eyes -- and commentators have seen the same and said -- that Boston targeting the strengths of each unit. What "evidentiary standard do you suppose I need to meet here?

 

[herman]

Dubas stock rising in this series.