ECQF Game 3: Boston Bruins (2) at Toronto Maple Leafs (3) 7 PM ET | CBC, TVAS, NBCSN, NESN

[TorMapleJays]

Yo check out this sweet song I wrote for tonight's game! I think it's going to get everyone pumped:

[youtube]

Hey, how much for your album?

 

[DrJustice]

Hey, how much for your album?

Don't tell him but I've been downloading his stuff for free off the internet for years.

 

[Stickpucker]

Leafs need to come out buzzing and score first.

If Boston scores first doubt will set in further and this series is over.

 

[Loosie]

I'm not sure where the idea that the Bruins are old or big comes from. The graphics below show they're actually young and small. In fact Toronto is both older and bigger.

NHL teams by age:

NHL teams by size

Now add Chara.

 

[HockeyMomx2]

Good first two games by the Bruins. Leafs are looking like the Solar Bears so far.

Boston is an old and slow one-lined team. Let's see if their unmaintainable crash-and-bang style continues tonight - bet you it doesn't.

Leafs are now home, eating Momma's homemade ragu, ready to hit the ice with the fans loosing their **** to cheer them on.

Leafs in 6. And it'll look easy.

 

[Loosie]

13 goals. Great save by the ref whistle on Schaller, though.

Balances out the first goal from Game 1 which was offside, so back to 12.

 

[Ladyfan]

Poor Grizzy

He was really limping Sat. I am not surprised he is out.

 

[Hatter of the Beach]

Good first two games by the Bruins. Leafs are looking like the Solar Bears so far.

Boston is an old and slow one-lined team. Let's see if their unmaintainable crash-and-bang style continues tonight - bet you it doesn't.

Leafs are now home, eating Momma's homemade ragu, ready to hit the ice with the fans loosing their **** to cheer them on.

Leafs in 6. And it'll look easy.

Bravo. It takes talent to have a troll post be this obvious and yet still have people fall for it

 

[HockeyMomx2]

Eh... Not a big fan of Holden. Hopefully he has another gear.

Better Holden than Postma. IMO anyways.

 

[Ladyfan]

Good first two games by the Bruins. Leafs are looking like the Solar Bears so far.

Boston is an old and slow one-lined team. Let's see if their unmaintainable crash-and-bang style continues tonight - bet you it doesn't.

Leafs are now home, eating Momma's homemade ragu, ready to hit the ice with the fans loosing their **** to cheer them on.

Leafs in 6. And it'll look easy.

Now THIS is funny

 

[Saidin]

Tell me about Riley Nash. Surprised to see him at C instead of Backes, but I don't see the B's much.

 

[PromisedLand]

Daisy Jane made a post as GDT at 2 am asked someone to fill in graphics later as she usually does. so a mod copied images from the Boston thread and they had a fit, so somehow Boston get the GDT thread now.

WTF? Someone just created a thread and asked other people to do the grunt work fir the gdt?

Okay!!!!.......

 

[Ladyfan]

Let's be honest you only think the Leafs win one so you can be there for the series clinch.

I have been hearing how good they are at home.

I am always worried as over the years I have seen the b's blow a lead in a series.

If the B's do sweep I am OK with that ! Save me $$$ I can put towards round #2.

 

[DrJustice]

Tell me about Riley Nash. Surprised to see him at C instead of Backes, but I don't see the B's much.

Really solid 3rd line two-way center who can play up the lineup on a good team.

He's been able to add some complementary offense (career year points wise) along with really solid defensive play.

He's a big part of the PK and his face-off ability allows the Bruins to move Backes to wing where he can use his physicality along the boards to wreak havok.

 

[PromisedLand]

Hey OP where are you getting Plekanec on the 2nd line?

 

[96]

 

[Bread and Circuses]

Tell me about Riley Nash. Surprised to see him at C instead of Backes, but I don't see the B's much.

Bergeron lite, always in the right spot defensively just doesn't have nearly the offensive upside as Bergy.

Very responsible player, high hockey IQ.

 

[VanIsle]

Riley Nash is back, wooooo.

This is as healthy as the team can be, finally!!!!

 

[nazartp]

Tell me about Riley Nash. Surprised to see him at C instead of Backes, but I don't see the B's much.

He's a revelation on the B's roster. Over the past couple of years grew into a responsible and hard-nosed center, who is good defensively 5v5 and is very good on PK. He also chips in some goals (41 points this year). Takes some pressure of Backes making the third line hard to score against.

 

[Bumper]

hehe. aside from the fact that the teams are not equal by a factor of about five dressed defensemen, TOR has been awful from coach to goalie except a Mitch. right from the first (non)goal they have been headslappingly misguided in preparedness and on-the-fly choosing of options. it is absolutely baffling that people still see a road to recovery. this is now.

I don't imagine TBL faring much better. chances TOR beats BOS I see around NJD's like 3% likelihood. TBL and PIT are probably like 30% to me. the Eastern matchup seeming most likely to jam BOS up may be CBJ around 33%. WPG just barely breaks 50% -- if still healthy by then -- and some other finals matchups could contend with the best team in the league, but... the TOR homers are painting themselves with some absurd strokes today.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Looks like no Gryzleck. Though loss for Bruins ability to move the puck. Expect the Bruins to lean heavily on the top 4 IF the game is close.

Losing Carlo and Gryzleck reduce mobility. But having Nash back is huge if he is not too rusty. The Bruins bottom 6 is much more balanced with him centering Backes and Heinen. This allows Acciari to play his usual 4th line role. Holden is more physical but less mobile. I think you are right. B's will lean on their top 4 a lot tonight. Holden gets 14-15 mins tonight as a #6. B's will be hard to beat.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Tell me about Riley Nash. Surprised to see him at C instead of Backes, but I don't see the B's much.

2nd best defensive forward on the team, and can chip in offensively.

Very solid positionally with a good stick. Not overly physical but is pretty rangy and is good at protecting the puck. Not the quickest skater and plays a slower, more mechanical game. Giveaway/takeaway stats are pretty arbitrary, but his numbers reflect his game very well: in good position to remove the puck from opponents a lot of the time, and only very rarely will give up the puck due to his safer, more efficient game. Not great on faceoffs. He won't stand out as being awful, but he's below average.

Nothing great about his offensive skillset, but he's just kind of decent across the board. His defensive play is easily the main standout.

I think he's the main reason for the Bruins success up front outside of the top line. Nothing flashy, but he completely solidified the 3rd line. The Heinen-Nash-Backes connection was great this year with Heinen's puck control skills, Backes' crash and bang style, and Nash just being the steadying presence in the middle.

 

[alg363636]

Riley Nash back is huge. Especially if Krejci has to play against Plenakec who owns him.

Gryz being out sucks. Holden-McQuaid is not a pretty looking pairing. Hopefully they can be sheltered or they can surprise. Bs are cursed with defensemen injuries in the playoffs!

If Bruins win tonight the series is over. Don't give Toronto hope. Let's go boys!!!!

 

[Alicat]

Hey OP where are you getting Plekanec on the 2nd line?

Here

 

[Alicat]