R1, G5: Lightning @ Maple Leafs - Apr. 27th, 7:00pm - SN, Fan 590

[Guilt Trip]

Tough spot for Keefe but man doesn't he have to break up Holl and Gio? The only way to do that is sit Holl and that's not without risk because Liljegren hasn't played for quite a while. That pairing needs to go.

 

[L K]

Tough spot for Keefe but man doesn't he have to break up Holl and Gio? The only way to do that is sit Holl and that's not without risk because Liljegren hasn't played for quite a while. That pairing needs to go.

It's just a bad pairing.  It's slow and it's not being very effective.  Although with Lafferty doing essentially nothing all series I wouldn't even be against going 11/7 so Holl can still kill penalties

 

[azzurri63]

Been complaining about Holl for years but the love affair between him and Keefe is absolutely mind boggling. Can't fight, can't hit and coughs up the puck regularly. Lilly wasn't good near the end of the year but was one of our better defensemen all year and personally I think sitting him before seasons end made things worse as far as confidence. Sad the kid hasn't played. If I was him I'd ask to be traded. Holl plus Keefe's other love affair with the 4th line late in a game down on the scoreboard says enough of where this guy needs to go after this season. Along with number 3.

 

[ZBBM]

Tough spot for Keefe but man doesn't he have to break up Holl and Gio? The only way to do that is sit Holl and that's not without risk because Liljegren hasn't played for quite a while. That pairing needs to go.

It's just a bad pairing.  It's slow and it's not being very effective.  Although with Lafferty doing essentially nothing all series I wouldn't even be against going 11/7 so Holl can still kill penalties

This.

The back end needs more zip.  Add Liljegren to the mix.  Let Holl PK for the most part.

Bunting can draw in for Lafferty.

They have to figure out a way to spend more time on the attack.

This is going to be tough.  TBH they have only played one good game the whole series.  Vasilevskiy was better tonight; yet they can score on him.  But I think either G6 or G7 if it comes to that are going to have to be supreme efforts by the Leafs if they want to beat these guys.

 

[azzurri63]

Tough spot for Keefe but man doesn't he have to break up Holl and Gio? The only way to do that is sit Holl and that's not without risk because Liljegren hasn't played for quite a while. That pairing needs to go.

It's just a bad pairing.  It's slow and it's not being very effective.  Although with Lafferty doing essentially nothing all series I wouldn't even be against going 11/7 so Holl can still kill penalties

This.

The back end needs more zip.  Add Liljegren to the mix.  Let Holl PK for the most part.

Bunting can draw in for Lafferty.

They have to figure out a way to spend more time on the attack.

This is going to be tough.  TBH they have only played one good game the whole series.  Vasilevskiy was better tonight; yet they can score on him.  But I think either G6 or G7 if it comes to that are going to have to be supreme efforts by the Leafs if they want to beat these guys.

Leave him in the press box. Kill penalties. He was on the ice for four of them in Game 1 plus 2 even strength goals. I understand he's not the only one killing penalties but if that's why we are playing him we r f'd. Lilly should have been playing from the get go. Sure he makes some boneheaded decisions but at least he's mobile and moves the puck.

 

[AtomicMapleLeaf]

Bunting can draw in for Lafferty.

May not be popular, but I would draw in Bunting for Knies.

 

[Frank E]

I'm really sorry guys.

 

[Bill33]

Ah well. I expected a 7 game series, and it's looking like a pretty safe bet.

That said, if they lose game 7, it's going to be an ugly scene with fans tossing sweaters. 

 

[L K]

I'd just like to point out that the Sportsnet panel doing a post-game call-out of Knies for faking his high stick.  I just saw another angle of it this morning and the stick comes up under his arm and clips him in the chin.

Screw off Sportsnet for potentially wrecking the reputation of a young kid....WHEN YOU WERE WRONG.

 

[Zee]

I hate this team

Are you not entertained?

Actually I'm not.  This team can never do anything easily for once.  Always have to go 7 games no matter what.

 

[Zee]

Bunting can draw in for Lafferty.

May not be popular, but I would draw in Bunting for Knies.

I think the Leafs need to pull out their 11/7 they were using so much down the stretch.  Get Lilejegren in there and limit Holl's minutes.

 

[cabber24]

The 0-10 when having 3 wins in a series has to be one of the most brutal stats in all of sports.

expletive... expletive... expletive... expletive... expletive... expletive...expletive... expletive... expletive...expletive... expletive... expletive...expletive... expletive... expletive...expletive... expletive... expletive...

 

[azzurri63]

Just watched Keefe post game and they said Holl has been on for 73% of TB?s goals. Says he?s not the only one out there. Typical answer but says he needs to be better. No Sheldon he needs to sit.

 

[Andy007]

Boy, I miss when this team used to have speed..

 

[Andy007]

Bunting can draw in for Lafferty.

May not be popular, but I would draw in Bunting for Knies.

I think the Leafs need to pull out their 11/7 they were using so much down the stretch.  Get Lilejegren in there and limit Holl's minutes.

I agree with that but add that I wouldn't mind seeing Gustafsson come in as the 7th and Liljegren in for Holl. Gus can spell Gio for a bit and give us another strong PP option.

 

[azzurri63]

Boy, I miss when this team used to have speed..

I think the backend is the problem. Too slow moving the puck and when pressured. Holl, Schenn, Giordano and even Brodie aren't the quickest.

 

[azzurri63]

Bunting can draw in for Lafferty.

May not be popular, but I would draw in Bunting for Knies.

Why?

 

[Andy007]

Boy, I miss when this team used to have speed..

I think the backend is the problem. Too slow moving the puck and when pressured. Holl, Schenn, Giordano and even Brodie aren't the quickest.

Yes, I agree; the lack of footspeed and puck-moving capability back there, particularly from those first three, has really been noticeable (and exploited).

 

[azzurri63]

Boy, I miss when this team used to have speed..

I think the backend is the problem. Too slow moving the puck and when pressured. Holl, Schenn, Giordano and even Brodie aren't the quickest.

Yes, I agree; the lack of footspeed and puck-moving capability back there, particularly from those first three, has really been noticeable (and exploited).

I don't get Keefe. Liljegren is in the future for this team. Why not give him some experience right from the get go. I'm not sure now if it's too late throwing him in in Tampa when hasn't played in weeks. Ridiculous. Meanwhile what's the plan with Holl. Free agent who should be gone hopefully but if he isn't in the long term plans why not play Timmy? This team will resign Holl and give him a raise. Honestly think Holl has pictures of something because it's absolutely insane at the love this guy gets from Keefe.

 

[ZBBM]

The first 2 of 3 games of R1 are when you have to get ready for all kinds of intense forecheck hits.  That's passed.  The games have settled in and aren't much rougher than the regular season.

They absolutely can't stand pat with the lineup, and not just Bunting coming back in.  (I'd pull ZAR for him.)  Sad to say, I kind of hope Gio is banged up from the hit because he needs to come out for at least 1.  I'd roll the dice and go 11/7 with Liljegren coming in, and maybe Gustafsson too, for Gio and/or Holl/Schenn.

Tampa's been the better team 4 of the 5 games.  We need to get out puck-moving game going before it's too late.  Hedman is hurt, as MLHS points out Sergachev is vulnerable.  They need to attack, attack, attack and count on Samsonov to make the needed saves when chances inevitably come back the other way.