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Playoffs Round 1: Toronto Maple Leafs (A2) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (A3)

Our goalie has outplayed their goalie in G2 and G3.  Hasn't happened much in the playoffs since the beginning of the Core 4 era.
 
So Bunting's suspension is over: what do you do?

Part of me wants to say we won 3 games in a row, don't touch anything. But it's hard to get over the fact that we've largely been outplayed in 5 of the last 6 regulation periods. Line-up changes shouldn't be out of the question.

Knies has done more than enough to solidify his position though, he shouldn't be coming out.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
So Bunting's suspension is over: what do you do?

Part of me wants to say we won 3 games in a row, don't touch anything. But it's hard to get over the fact that we've largely been outplayed in 5 of the last 6 regulation periods. Line-up changes shouldn't be out of the question.

Knies has done more than enough to solidify his position though, he shouldn't be coming out.
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I'd lean towards running back the same group - while they obviously were not great in Tampa, it's also the same group that absolutely dominated Game 2 at home -  but I'd also use practice as a time to light a fire under some of the guys who haven't been performing by putting Bunting in their spot for line rushes and such.
 
Putting Bunting back in, with Tampa's backs against the wall, is almost just asking for the game to devolve into brawls (putting our better players at risk). I value his creativity with the puck, but Bunting hasn't shown anything useful in a bottom-6 checking role where that creativity is stifled. Obviously, his penalty-drawing 'skill' is nerfed already. Just re-evaluate in round 2.
 
Coming down off the high of last night watching one of the talking heads on TSN go on about how we only played 20 minutes and took advantage of Vas who isn't having a good series and I have to admit he's right, while making it past Tampa is the goal here we still have a problem with these slow starts and if we do make it into the second round we will get destroyed by Boston if we play like we did last night, not trying to be a downer and I do believe if we can get past Boston we have a real shot at going to the finals,but we have to stop coming out flat. That's my little rant...lol
 
Leafs traded away a way better player in Kadri for the same type of behavior.  I don't think the higher ups are looking too fondly on Bunting right now but winning is what's more important right now.  I'm not 100% convinced the Leafs are better with Bunting in the lineup. 
 
For the record I just want to point out that a few weeks back I told you all that I randomly read through the 2013 game 7 thread when the Leafs had a 4-1 lead and blew it.  At the time I didn't know why I had done it.  Well, I think the answer is obvious, I subconsciously saw this coming.
 
Had they lost last night I absolutely put him in. Now, don't it but if I did I put him on the 3rd line with ROR and Acciari. Leave Knies with Tavares and Marner, and Kerfoot on the 4th line, ZAR comes out.
Hopefully TBay will be looking to get even and they could get them off their game a little especially if the Leafs can get up a couple of goals. Nice problem to have though.
 
On Tampa's side I'm curious if they finally try to break up their top line. It hasn't really been that good (1 5-on-5 goal for Stakmos, 0 for Kucherov and Point) and even from the start it seemed a little odd to stack up one line when their depth isn't really what it used to be.
 
TBay PP is 29.4% in these playoffs.
That's not a fluke. It was great in the regular season.
And you can easily see why when you watch it.

Bunting has ticked off the refs. They hate him for whatever reason. I don't care what it is at this juncture. The refs already seem to have been tilted against the Leafs much of the season.

They can revisit what to do with Bunting after game 5 or if necessary, game 6.
 
I would actually consider playing bunting next game.

Tampa is no doubt furious with him - i'd sit him down, and tell him if he dives, retaliates, or does anything stupid he's done for the playoffs - but he'd have such a target on his back from a team that's probably pretty demoralized and ready to do something Kadri level stupid - I'd love to give them that target so they could concentrate on getting back at bunting instead of playing hockey.
 
Bill33 said:
I would actually consider playing bunting next game.

Tampa is no doubt furious with him - i'd sit him down, and tell him if he dives, retaliates, or does anything stupid he's done for the playoffs - but he'd have such a target on his back from a team that's probably pretty demoralized and ready to do something Kadri level stupid - I'd love to give them that target so they could concentrate on getting back at bunting instead of playing hockey.
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That's kind of my thinking as well. Tkachuk is kind of doing that in the Boston series. I've never seen him so not engaged in the after whistle stuff. Takes it and skates away. He still gets his shots in but he's pretty much avoided getting pulled out of the scrum. Bunting is def useful and is a 20 goal guy that will get in Vasi's grill and under their skin. Still tho it's tough because of the "You don't change a winning lineup" thought process.
 
Rob said:
Bunting is valuable to have out there.  He has some scoring ability, his grit and his ability to drive other teams nuts. 
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He's also a huge penalty risk.  I'd leave him out for game 5.  They're 3-0 without him.
 
Guilt Trip said:
Bill33 said:
I would actually consider playing bunting next game.

Tampa is no doubt furious with him - i'd sit him down, and tell him if he dives, retaliates, or does anything stupid he's done for the playoffs - but he'd have such a target on his back from a team that's probably pretty demoralized and ready to do something Kadri level stupid - I'd love to give them that target so they could concentrate on getting back at bunting instead of playing hockey.
Click to expand...
That's kind of my thinking as well. Tkachuk is kind of doing that in the Boston series. I've never seen him so not engaged in the after whistle stuff. Takes it and skates away. He still gets his shots in but he's pretty much avoided getting pulled out of the scrum. Bunting is def useful and is a 20 goal guy that will get in Vasi's grill and under their skin. Still tho it's tough because of the "You don't change a winning lineup" thought process.
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Yeah, I totally get that it'd hard to change things up, but I guess I'd counter with the idea that of the 3 games toronto has won, if we're honest, they've really only been the better team for one of them, so it's not like they're holding together some sort of tactical advantage in the lineup they're fielding.

If the leafs could get up by a goal early, I could totally see the bolts losing the plot with bunting out there and handing toronto the game. This is Keefe's chance to manipulate the situation.
 
The Leafs haven't actually played well the last 2 games so I would swap Bunting for Knies or ZAR. I don't think "if it ain't broke don't fix it" applies.
 
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