Post-Game Talk: IS THIS A GOOD ENOUGH PGT THREAD FOR YA BRUINS?! LEAFS WIN 4-2!

[Gary Nylund]

This stuff doesn't happen.

Funny if you said this a year and a half ago your head would have been on a stake courtesy of Leafs fans on these boards and their absolute hatred for Babs and his decision to play Hyman on the first line.

Remember when people were unhappy when his contract was announced?

 

[yubbers]

Solid game by the boys. Plek did really good! I declare defeat on that one. Huge game by Gards as well.

 

[Mugzy97]

Remember when people were unhappy when his contract was announced?

I remember.

Classic Leafs HF "what have you done for me lately" mentality.

 

[Al14]

Well, no frigging sweep by Boston!

Thank You Mike Babcock!

Thank You Patrick Marleau!

Thank You Auston Matthews!

Thank You James van Riemsdyk!

Thank You Frederick Andersen!

Thank You Tomáš Plekanec!

Thank You to the rest of the Toronto Maple Leafs!

Back to being a proud Toronto Maple Leafs fan today!

 

[araisarena]

free Kadri. Leafs in 6.

 

[CelticDruid]

We still gave up a ton of chances and our PK looked dismal.Need to sort that out and fast because the Bruins will not miss next time.

 

[Tak7]

We still gave up a ton of chances and our PK looked dismal.Need to sort that out and fast because the Bruins will not miss next time.

Yep.

I thought Boston controlled large stretches of the second half of the game. That's going to need to change on Thursday.

I'm quite surprised Babcock went with the same PK group last night. It just doesn't seem to be working - Polak and Hainsey really seem to be struggling to read anything right now.

 

[MattySnipes]

Yep.

I thought Boston controlled large stretches of the second half of the game. That's going to need to change on Thursday.

I'm quite surprised Babcock went with the same PK group last night. It just doesn't seem to be working - Polak and Hainsey really seem to be struggling to read anything right now.

Does Hiller handle all special teams or only the PP? Is Babcock in charge of PK personnel? What are DJ Smith's duties?

 

[CelticDruid]

Yep.

I thought Boston controlled large stretches of the second half of the game. That's going to need to change on Thursday.

I'm quite surprised Babcock went with the same PK group last night. It just doesn't seem to be working - Polak and Hainsey really seem to be struggling to read anything right now.

Hainsey looks like a deer in headlights instead of a seasoned pro.Looks like he has no legs left.

 

[araisarena]

Problem with our PK is that Boston makes too many plays along side boards and down low with speed/skill/confidence that neutralizes our aggressive PK, because now the points are open. We play 2 man "punch" in which we want to attack puck carrier and opposite side man cheats in to take away no look/cross ice passes and even create turnovers but if they're moving the puck well and with efficiency down low and on the walls, points are open, leaving aggressive forwards scrambling and tiring themselves out with wide open shooting lanes. Point shots themselves aren't very valuable but open point shots and forwards scrambling to take away the shooting lane are because rebounds or slap passes in wide open lanes create chances. Leafs can still be aggressive but their D really have to get tougher down low. It's hilarious how Polak, Zaitsev and Hainsey haven't been hard on pucks...and they don't really skate well enough (well sometimes Zaitsev can) to keep up with the PP entries. If you're gunna give up the size and strength down low, at least play D men that can skate and negate entries. Chara, Backes, Kreicji should not have free reign.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Does Hiller handle all special teams or only the PP? Is Babcock in charge of PK personnel? What are DJ Smith's duties?

Hiller does the PP, Smith the PK.

 

[Tak7]

Does Hiller handle all special teams or only the PP? Is Babcock in charge of PK personnel? What are DJ Smith's duties?

Hiller = powerplay

DJ Smith = penalty kill and the defense, I believe

 

[Tak7]

Hainsey looks like a deer in headlights instead of a seasoned pro.Looks like he has no legs left.

Wasn't a fan of his game last night either.

For a veteran guy, he looked tense, nervous, and made some really big giveaways early in the game

 

[MattySnipes]

Hiller = powerplay

DJ Smith = penalty kill and the defense, I believe

Thanks. Yeah man, DJ Smith has to work out the kinks on the PK. It's been bad for too long now. You can definitely survive in the playoffs without a potent PP but it's very hard to survive in the playoffs with a bad PK, imo.

 

[1specter]

If anyone wants to cringe, check out Jack Edwards:

 

[Liminality]

If anyone wants to cringe, check out Jack Edwards:

"You're gonna stop the play for a guy who's still conscious?!" Lmao

 

[Tak7]

Thanks. Yeah man, DJ Smith has to work out the kinks on the PK. It's been bad for too long now. You can definitely survive in the playoffs without a potent PP but it's very hard to survive in the playoffs with a bad PK, imo.

Agreed.

They gave up one powerplay, and one 5-on-4 with the goalie out, and the only reason they killed that off was because of a few goalposts and Freddy being a wizard.

Give Boston a few more looks on the powerplay in game 4, and they'll light us up.

 

[Loosie]

I love how Bruins fans are saying "that was their Stanley Cup"
Newsflash guys: The Leafs can play A LOT better than they did last night

At least our fans weren't cheering for the cup after one game, and then a second time after 4 period of playoff hockey.

 

[Mathews28]

Good, but frustrating, game last night (from the B's perspective). Great game from all of your perspectives...it's a series. Unreal how quickly the Leafs can get up ice when Hyman or Marner flies the zone.

To win, Bruins need to defend the long pass and capitalize on opportunities, as they had a ton last night.

On the Leafs side, play the game they played last night, AND recognize they just were very effective in frustrating Pastrnak and Marchand...not sure you all saw the body language, but it was evident... and keep doing it.

My two cents. FWIW.

 

[djdev]

i think these guys just needed to believe they could beat boston, you could see it in the last 4 or so minutes that they were playing not to lose. now that the monkey is off their backs i think you see an even better leafs side on thursday. that 3rd period from andy was huge, up until that point he wasnt looking very sharp (just my opinion) he was making saves but the rebound control was frightening to me. in the 3rd he seemed to get it together, if that andy shows up the rest of the series we have a real chance.

belief is a huge thing and up until last night im not sure they 100% believed they could beat boston, now they know they can...thats yugeeeeeee!

go leafs!

 

[Loosie]

I will say this. I don't like how the 4th line looked in our own zone. They got caught in there for a long time many times. It's unfortunate as they are great offensively. Maybe having Kadri centre that line in Game #5 will help?

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

it's so funny how Bruins fans act like every hockey game they watch is their first. Now their excuse is they would have killed us if they scored on 100% of their scoring chances, while totally ignoring that the Leafs still had even more high danger chances

 

[Liminality]

I will say this. I don't like how the 4th line looked in our own zone. They got caught in there for a long time many times. It's unfortunate as they are great offensively. Maybe having Kadri centre that line in Game #5 will help?

I agree, I think Moore was pretty good on the forecheck throughout the night but defensively it looked like they were overwhelmed.
It's interesting to imagine Kadri on our "4th" line with Johnsson and Kapanen though. What kind of matchup would that make the Bruins use? You look at the regular season numbers and you've almost got a 30 goal forward on each line with that line up.

Hyman(15)-Matthews(34)-Nylander(20)
Marleau(27)-Plekanec(0)-Marner(22)
JVR(36)-Bozak(11)-Brown(14)
Johnsson(2)-Kadri(32)-Kapanen(7)

Every line is a threat and needs to be checked. Might not happen but I think it's a very, very interesting scenario.

 

[MapleLeafs9]

If anyone wants to cringe, check out Jack Edwards:

What a f***ing tool

 

[TorontoTrades]

Almost looks like he says, "F You, Rask!".

Probably way off and it's, "F Yeah, woohoo!".

Says F'in Right