Post-Game Talk: ECQF GAME 4 - BRUINS head home with a 3-1 series lead.

[goldenblack]

The Leafs are just flat out terrible. They are so bad at defending and also at forecheck. If they don’t score on the rush, it’s over. They have no ability to dump and chase, get and KEEP possession along the wall and down low, and cycle etc. They seem to always try an immediate pass out front, and the Bs in their zone coverage have the “house” all protected, stick in lanes, and instantly the play goes the other way and out of the zone. The Leafs seem to get a two second forecheck and it’s over. This has been really easy on all the Bs D, including Gryz when he was in. I’ll give credit to our Fs being in good position also in our zone, including great C play down low and W out high and collapsing when needed. I don’t think the Leafs know what to do to beat a team as disciplined as the Bs in zone coverage. A lot of NHL teams still play man down low with 2 D and a C, but it’s not easy to play against a skill team. Vegas all of a sudden is a defensive juggernaut since Cassidy arrived and brought the zone. It’s funny, because I’m very old, and all you need to know is that ONLY zone coverage existed when I was young. Along with a few other things, like F stay in your lanes, etc. Hockey was only North South. It was be on the right side of the puck. Dump chase, hard into the corners. First guy blast the D, second get the puck. Protect the puck, keep possession down low, meet at the net, screen, no fly by, stop at the post. It was a simple game. It seems to me the simple game is making a comeback.

So many people we were worried we fell out of the Tampa matchup. I was PUUUUUUMPED

 

[Bridges31]

Marner wasn’t good last night but he was probably their best forward. That’s how you know things are falling apart in Leafs land.

The Bruins need to close this out next game. Don’t give them a glimmer of hope.

 

[Alicat]

We got very lucky here in Norman. One tornado stayed on the south side by the university and the other crossed over 2 miles from us at the next block (our streets are in a grid). Everything is fine in the yard. Nothing moved thankfully. Just lots of rain.

 

[GoBs]

Not much to complain about except maybe the faceoffs

 

[Hookslide]

I thought Lohrei was pretty mistake free tonight. I loved his game. Wotherspoon to me should be getting more 5v5 minutes;he also had a good game. Finally, I agree with the poster who called Carlo our best D this series. He's been awesome.

He did play well last night, and I was of the opinion that he was just to prone for mistakes in big and did not think he should play unless there was injuries, he played well his first game but still made some mistakes but last night he showed what he is capable of he he can eliminate those mistakes, and he will with experience and time.

 

[goldenblack]

How many of you giggled when Keefe didn't pull his goalie on that PP?

Honestly that guy vs Monty is like Fenian fist fighting Lucic after a Heinen dig.

 

[sarge88]

We got very lucky here in Norman. One tornado stayed on the south side by the university and the other crossed over 2 miles from us at the next block (our streets are in a grid). Everything is fine in the yard. Nothing moved thankfully. Just lots of rain.

Glad you’re all OK!

 

[Ladyfan]

Heading home with a 3-1 series lead, no reason to be worried.

Well....I always worry. I want handshakes on the ice Tuesday.

 

[Forester65]

I put it out there after the game 2 loss that I wasn’t really feeling worried even though you don’t want to lose one of the first two home games. And a lot of people seemed to feel the same way on here.

Now here we are- the boys just ripped two road wins away from the leafs and can clinch the series at home in game 5.

This team man. “Surgical”.

I agree with you, but they did the same thing last year against Florida. Luckily Marchy has had a talk with them about it and they are well aware of it.

Marchand’s leadership, production driving Bruins in Eastern 1st Round | NHL.com

Hopefully they finish the job next game and move on.

 

[Hookslide]

Dubas? LOL.

Pittsburgh fans this is what he did for Toronto, You should be scared, very scared.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Same sequence too. Florida won game 2 in Boston last year.

I’m definitely not getting cocky that’s for sure ,but the Leafs aren’t Florida

Great win. Nice to see Monty move away from the rotation and go with Swayman. Marshy is on a mission, guys bringing it every shift.
Not sure why Bertuzzi and Domi thought it was a good idea to target him, because it’s failed miserably…

Poking the Bear is never a smart thing to do.

 

[Bodit9]

Defensive clinic. Leafs have no heart. Marchand and Swayman are gamers.

 

[caz16]

Recognizing members here that suffer migraines, no disrespect intended. But also for comparative purposes ... don't forget Dr Recchi:

Mark Recchi leaves no stone unturned

At the end of a playoff series you hear all sorts of mindboggling maladies that players endured to compete. And then there’s the Mark Recchi story. The 41-year-old veteran, perhaps in his last best…

www.bostonherald.com

I know migraines are serious, my daughter has them and spent all day in bed yesterday. The migraine theory was from Friedmann, it didn't come from the Leafs themselves, that is why I am not convinced. He was at practices with all that light, I just can't see a severe migraine allowing someone to do that.

 

[goldenblack]

If Zacha, Coyle and Geeky start finding the of the net

We got Marchy going. Let's get these guys revved up.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

Are clams really happy all of the time??

Some of them must get a little depressed once and awhile

Happy or sad, they've got grit....

 

[goldenblack]

Man I have to admit, I have Bruins game 5 trauma.

This is one we rarely win. We're gonna learn a lot Tuesday.

 

[frankiess]

These Toronto fans bring this on themselves. They expect to lose. The problem, imo, isn't the TO 4, it's the middle guys. Geekie, Heinen, Beecher, Lauko, Boquist are playing better than the Toronto middle guys. Montgomery is able to constantly switch line mates. For me they're the difference.
Plus the Bruins defense is pretty good.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

The D core was solid, best game of the playoffs

 

[CDJ]

I know migraines are serious, my daughter has them and spent all day in bed yesterday. The migraine theory was from Friedmann, it didn't come from the Leafs themselves, that is why I am not convinced. He was at practices with all that light, I just can't see a severe migraine allowing someone to do that.

yeah you just wanna lock yourself in the dark with no noise, although I guess my mom sometimes runs a preschool with them and that sounds like Hell on Earth for a migraine so perhaps it can be done

 

[nORRis8]

Our bottom 6 are playing flawless hockey.
Fredric is tied for second in +\- in the league.
Boqvist is maturing and making smart plays and it was great to see JVR nicely tuck one home.

The PP and the PK are leaving me speechless.

Everything we're doing the Leafs aren't. What's leading the charge? Our leadership. Our Captain. He's vocal, he's controversial, he contributes.
I'd puke if we had an unemotional doorknob like Tavares as our Captain.

 

[goldenblack]

Does Peeke bump Lohrei or Spoon when healthy?

Probably gonna be Lohrei vs those massive Panthers

 

[JCRO]

Does Peeke bump Lohrei or Spoon when healthy?

Probably gonna be Lohrei vs those massive Panthers

Should be Shattenkirk imo when all healthy

Let’s wrap up this series first

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Does Peeke bump Lohrei or Spoon when healthy?

Probably gonna be Lohrei vs those massive Panthers

Probably would be Shatty.

 

[DarrenBanks56]

does everyone agree that was prob the best defensive game the bruins played all season?
aside from maybe 4 minutes in the 3rd it was pretty much flawless.

This Matthews illness thing is strange. With all of the crazy injuries Bergeron played with through the years, how bad could he have been that he could play two periods but not the third in a playoff game.

to be honest. its pretty easy playing through pain.
matthews is prob dehydrated and dizzy. cant play through that.

 

[UncleRico]

Thought the defense had its best group effort in the playoffs. Sorry gryz but I’m keeping this unit together until they lose it

Props to shatty logging important minutes at his age back there. Unbelievable.

He played very well last night