Leafs @ Lightning - Mar. 20th, 7:30pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[L K]

Andersen giving up 3 or more goals in 7 of his last 8 starts.

 

[bustaheims]

Gotta play the full 60 minutes against teams like Tampa. A solid 37 or so isn't going to cut it.

Yeah, Carlton.

I literally and figuratively hit the showers early.

This one's on you.

 

[ZBBM]

That's a bad loss.  But maybe a lesson will be learned.

 

[lc9]

No Marner at the end, he?

 

[azzurri63]

Marleau's had a brutal f'n game.

 

[Strangelove]

Hymen and Narleau on with the empty net. Babcock waved the white flag.

 

[Bender]

They look so pensive trying to gain the zone. Man they didn't deserve to win this at all.

 

[ZBBM]

Vasilevskiy didn't look all that solid on Leivo's shot there, and it's not like it was a bang-bang play.

This would be an interesting 1st round matchup.

I think we could hold our own with them. Matthews not in the lineup and after 40 we dominated them and in their building.

I agree.

 

[herman]

No Marner at the end, he?

I think he was on for just over a minute with Kadri and Bozak and JvR before.

 

[ZBBM]

If TB gets its defense playing better as a unit I think they'll be hard to stop.  They just have too much firepower.  The Leafs are like an 85% version of them.

 

[lc9]

Marleau's had a brutal f'n game.

It wasn?t great.

 

[Highlander]

If you are going to give up one it may be to one of the best teams in the league. Still Mc Backup should have had the opportunity to ride the wave until the Big A should have returned.

 

[herman]

Babcock also put Dermott, Carrick, and Johnsson out there.

I think he should?ve gone with Kapanen over Hyman, but thats more to do with Kapanen?s klutchiness than anything bad against Hyman.

Marleau isn?t ideal, but a balance of left and right shots is needed.

 

[Zee]

They look so pensive trying to gain the zone. Man they didn't deserve to win this at all.

Well the Leafs totally dominated the first 2 periods so why was Tampa more deserving?  Freddie looked like October Freddie on a couple of goals too. Outshot Tampa but still lose

 

[barney_rebel]

We stink BTW...

 

[Bender]

They look so pensive trying to gain the zone. Man they didn't deserve to win this at all.

Well the Leafs totally dominated the first 2 periods so why was Tampa more deserving?  Freddie looked like October Freddie on a couple of goals too. Outshot Tampa but still lose

I meant that it felt to me that they basically rolled over once they fell behind. Didn't apply much pressure to get to OT.

 

[hockeyfan1]

If I had to choose between Boston or Tampa Bay as first round playoff opponents for the Leafs, I'd much prefer the Lightning instead of the Bruins.

Thought the Leafs hold the season series 3-1 over Boston so far this year, the Bruins are a fast skating team and can play the body (Marchand doesn't shy from contact).  The Leafs, with the combination of a fast skating game coupled with plenty of hitting, will have their hands full against Boston (not that they can't handle it of course).

The Lightning on the other hand, play a style similar to the Leafs (or vice versa).  Would be closer to the Capitals/Leafs series of last year.  Fast paced but with less emphasis on the hitting game, which may also mean less risk of injury. 

If tonight's game is any indication, the Leafs, even without Matthews in the lineup, and with a 'rusty' Andersen tossed in, were dominant for three quarters of the game despite blowing the lead.  In the playoffs, they'd have to tighten up the defence, and everyone out there needs to be  focused together, consistently and triumphantly.

Doable.  Besides even though Tampa Bay is the Cup favourite, they are not invincible.  Boston neither though it'll take a little more physical work against the Bruins.

 

[TML fan]

The dreaded 3 goal lead...

 

[Frank E]

They look so pensive trying to gain the zone. Man they didn't deserve to win this at all.

Well the Leafs totally dominated the first 2 periods so why was Tampa more deserving?  Freddie looked like October Freddie on a couple of goals too. Outshot Tampa but still lose

I'm glad he's struggling a bit now...he's got a few weeks to get sorted out before games matter.

 

[Coco-puffs]

They look so pensive trying to gain the zone. Man they didn't deserve to win this at all.

Well the Leafs totally dominated the first 2 periods so why was Tampa more deserving?  Freddie looked like October Freddie on a couple of goals too. Outshot Tampa but still lose

I'm glad he's struggling a bit now...he's got a few weeks to get sorted out before games matter.

Out of the four goals, only the last one did I expect a save.  First one, didn't see it at all due to the screen.  Second one the guy walks down main street uncovered and places a perfect shot (Polak probably didn't help Freddie see that one either).  Third one goes off a skate in front of him.