ECQF: (2) Boston Bruins vs (3) Toronto Maple Leafs | Boston Leads Series 3-2

[BruinLVGA]

I still think Marner can do that to be honest (and he has). Nylander is just too afraid of what would happen if he gets caught

It's possible, but with Chara's experience (see positioning), I think he can limit those chances a lot. Bottom line, he is still one hell of a defenseman at 41, when people were already writing him off left and right. He's a premiere defensive D and I bet he could still hold his own offensive wise too, if needed. But we have three magnificent kids to take that assignment: Krug, McAvoy, Grzelcyk.

 

[Il Stugotz]

“I think we believe.”
Nazem Kadri
04/20/18

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

It's possible, but with Chara's experience (see positioning), I think he can limit those chances a lot. Bottom line, he is still one hell of a defenseman at 41, when people were already writing him off left and right. He's a premiere defensive D and I bet he could still hold his own offensive wise too, if needed. But we have three magnificent kids to take that assignment: Krug, McAvoy, Grzelcyk.

yeah he's been a lot better than I expected to be honest. He's been Boston's best defenseman and a big reason why Nylander and Matthews haven't gotten going

 

[BruinLVGA]

yeah he's been a lot better than I expected to be honest. He's been Boston's best defenseman and a big reason why Nylander and Matthews haven't gotten going

Yes, we've been very happy with him. Him & Charlie Mac are a tough pairing to get through.

 

[Braunbaer]

Chara already looks 3 inches taller to Toronto fans! Lol
But seriously, if I had a cent for every time I heard that Chara was old & slow and the Leafs would run circles around him, I think that I would be a millionaire.

Well, Chara is old and slow tbh. But still good enough for the Leafs Kindergarden.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Well, Chara is old and slow tbh. But still good enough for the Leafs Kindergarden.

Chara is old, but he is probably as fast as he was in 13-14 (= pre knee injury) He worked a lot on that for the past two summers and it's paying off.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

The reality is that one team can play defence and the other can't.

Boston's team defence (not just defencemen) is far better than Toronto's who haven't helped the goalie at all.

The defence probably isn't trying after Andersen let in 3 of the first 4 shots. Or, like yesterday in a must win game, and Andersen let's in a bullshit shot 30 f***ing seconds into the game on Boston's first f***ing shot.

I'd leave him out to dry as well after all that bullshit.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Yes, we've been very happy with him. Him & Charlie Mac are a tough pairing to get through.

yeah they are both impressive. The whole Boston defensive system is very stingy when they've had to be, and they've been opportunistic offensively. Add in clutch goaltending and they are a very dangerous team imo

 

[BruinLVGA]

yeah they are both impressive. The whole Boston defensive system is very stingy when they've had to be, and they've been opportunistic offensively. Add in clutch goaltending and they are a very dangerous team imo

Yes, I agree. Having on the ice Rask, Chara, McAvoy, Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak is one of the best units in the league.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

“I think we believe.”
Nazem Kadri
04/20/18

He said, "I think"? Is he unsure of it?

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Yes, I agree. Having on the ice Rask, Chara, McAvoy, Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak is one of the best units in the league.

yeah that reminds me a lot of Chicago's starting lineup back when they were actually good

 

[34]

The defence probably isn't trying after Andersen let in 3 of the first 4 shots. Or, like yesterday in a must win game, and Andersen let's in a bull**** shot 30 ****ing seconds into the game on Boston's first ****ing shot.

I'd leave him out to dry as well after all that bull****.

I agree. Andersen is terrible.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

I agree. Andersen is terrible.

I just don't know what's up with him. He was spectacular most of the season.

Can you imagine in game 2 Rask let in 3 of the first 4 shots? Imagine if in a must win game 4, Rask let in a softie in the FIRST 30 f***ING SECONDS?

We would clearly be blaming those losses on Rask. I just don't understand why people are being in denial about it.

 

[Fossy21]

I just don't know what's up with him. He was spectacular most of the season.

Can you imagine in game 2 Rask let in 3 of the first 4 shots? Imagine if in a must win game 4, Rask let in a softie in the FIRST 30 ****ING SECONDS?

We would clearly be blaming those losses on Rask. I just don't understand why people are being in denial about it.

If you don't see shit, it's impossible for it to be a softie. Clear the crease. Some of that's on Andersen as well, but not the way it developed in this instance.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

^first stage of denial. Like Boston hasn't been the best team by a nice, solid margin.

Denial is posting numbers?

 

[Throw More Waffles]

If you don't see ****, it's impossible for it to be a softie. Clear the crease. Some of that's on Andersen as well, but not the way it developed in this instance.

Rewatch the game. The leafs had around 10 "softie shots" from the point with traffic in front. Rask just easily saved them.

 

[Bread and Circuses]

Chara has never been fast, ever.

Plenty of people wrote him off when the knee injury occurred because it took an entire season for him to get back to what he was beforehand, which is understandable given his age but then again the dude is a training maniac, always has been.

 

[Sky04]

Boy has Nylander sucked this series, wasn't he supposed to be some PPG elite player this year?

 

[Bladerunner]

All but one series is either sweeps or 3-1. Regardless of who I was pulling for at the start of this series, my position is now

GO LEAFS GO !

 

[TOGuy14]

My thoughts on this series right now:

 

[N o o d l e s]

The defence probably isn't trying after Andersen let in 3 of the first 4 shots. Or, like yesterday in a must win game, and Andersen let's in a bull**** shot 30 ****ing seconds into the game on Boston's first ****ing shot.

I'd leave him out to dry as well after all that bull****.

You really can’t get over this can you? Yes he let in a ton of shots early - once. Newsflash you’ve lost three games.

And your notion that an early goal automatically deflates the team is bullshit. What happened yesterday after he let in the first goal? The Leafs outplayed the Bruins and scored back quickly.

If it wasn’t for Andersen’s game 3 your Leives would have been swept.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

You really can’t get over this can you? Yes he let in a ton of shots early - once. Newsflash you’ve lost three games.

And your notion that an early goal automatically deflates the team is bull****. What happened yesterday after he let in the first goal? The Leafs outplayed the Bruins and scored back quickly.

If it wasn’t for Andersen’s game 3 your Leives would have been swept.

yeah, Andersen's play is closer to the reason that the Leafs were nearly swept rather than the reason that they weren't

 

[Throw More Waffles]

You really can’t get over this can you? Yes he let in a ton of shots early - once. Newsflash you’ve lost three games.

And your notion that an early goal automatically deflates the team is bull****. What happened yesterday after he let in the first goal? The Leafs outplayed the Bruins and scored back quickly.

If it wasn’t for Andersen’s game 3 your Leives would have been swept.

My point exactly. Andersen showed up for ONE game. Lo and behold... the leafs won that game. (And he STILL let in an entirely unacceptable goal that game as well).

Must win game 4, Andersen lets in a bullshit goal on Bostons first f***ing shot less than 30 seconds in to the f***ing game. Talk about deflating. Imagine Rask was letting in 3 goals on 4 shots? Letting in the first f***ing shot in a must win game 4? The one game you won is the one game Rask showed up? You really don't think you'd be blaming him? I don't believe you.

 

[N o o d l e s]

My point exactly. Andersen showed up for ONE game. Lo and behold... the leafs won that game. (And he STILL let in an entirely unacceptable goal that game as well).

Must win game 4, Andersen lets in a bull**** goal on Bostons first ****ing shot less than 30 seconds in to the ****ing game. Talk about deflating. Imagine Rask was letting in 3 goals on 4 shots? Letting in the first ****ing shot in a must win game 4? The one game you won is the one game Rask showed up? You really don't think you'd be blaming him? I don't believe you.

So the Leafs then had 59 and a half minutes to score and only did once without having to face Bergeron and you’re pinning that loss all on Andersen?

Are you guys really just afraid to criticize Matthews and co.? You know they’re probably not reading these boards right?

 

[Syckle78]

Easier to blame the goalie than admit your team just isn't as good as it was cracked up to be. We already know the narrative we'll see from leaf fans all summer.