Series Talk: Leafs Vs Lightning- Thunderstruck

[ponder]

edit: delete wrong thread

 

[ponder]

Edit: delete wrong thread

 

[dubplatepressure]

Top guys had chances to shoot. They just didn't.

They’ve forgotten how to one time the puck again.

 

[BayStBullies]

I nominate Spezza to have a speech before game 6.

 

[Le Cobra]

Beast mode Vasi (undefeated after a loss since 2019) will be the biggest test for the Leafs in game 6

 

[notDatsyuk]

Lyubushkyn is our worst at -3.

Perry, Killorn, and Hedman are all -3.

Kucherov is -4.

Point is -6!

Vasilevskiy's 18 goals allowed is the most so far (Quick and Shesterkin have worse GAA).

Avs and Oilers each have one more goal.

 

[Dreakmur]

Beast mode Vasi (undefeated after a loss since 2019) will be the biggest test for the Leafs in game 6

Maybe, but Toronto for the first time ever has figured out how to score play-off style goals. Screens, tips, deflections, etc are tough for even the best goalies to stop. If they continue to get traffic, they should be ok.

 

[Rocky Flintstone]

Well, I turned off game 5 after the first, as it looked too much like game 4. Staying up till 1130 to watch a game like that is a big ask. Thankfully, they pulled through End it in Tampa boys. I fear a game 7.

Top guys had chances to shoot. They just didn't.

Too often it seems to me they wanted to get the puck to Mathews, and sacrificed a shot of their own.

 

[saltming]

So we broke the first team to score wins. Broke the no lead change pattern. Now we break the vasi not losing b2b streak

 

[Bluelines]

Dubas will go before Keefe.

I'm not as much on the fire Dubas train as I am on the fire Keefe / hire Trotz train. Dubas is not perfect but he has made some really good hockey trades and good UFA signings, along with some stinkers but he better than any GM that we have had in the last 30 years (JFJ, Burke, Nonis), I excluded Lou as he was more like a guy brought in to clean up Nonis's mess.

 

[Burnie97]

Lyubushkyn is our worst at -3.

Perry, Killorn, and Hedman are all -3.

Kucherov is -4.

Point is -6!

Vasilevskiy's 18 goals allowed is the most so far (Quick and Shesterkin have worse GAA).

Avs and Oilers each have one more goal.

That's crazy about Hedman actually.

Seems to be getting a ton of praise and he is a Norris finalist but this series he has 7 points and he's -3

Kucherov has 7 points and -4. Also I notice it more and more but he's dives a lot and he's a dirty player.

Really hope Leafs do this in 6 to shut them all up finally.

 

[al secord]

The diving by Tampa has been eye opening and disappointing.

Between that and John Cooper's comments, I've lost a lot of respect for the Bolts.

 

[kk87]

The prevailing narrative around the Matthews era Leafs is that they’re a horrible playoff team, but if you dive into it, that’s never been the case. Excluding weird pandemic years, we’ve continually gotten matched with the best teams in the league (peak Washington, Boston x2, Tampa Bay) and in each of those series we’ve been the better team, or at least an equal, for most of the series.



The *only* thing this team lacks is killer instinct when it comes to putting a stranglehold on a series or winning it outright - we’re something like 1-8 in the Matthews era in series when we’re leading. That’s THE only thing holding us back from multiple deep runs.



If history’s any indication, we’ll come out flat tomorrow and get smoked. And probably do the same in Game 7. Here’s hoping these guys can change this ****ing narrative!!

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Lyubushkyn is our worst at -3.

Perry, Killorn, and Hedman are all -3.

Kucherov is -4.

Point is -6!

Vasilevskiy's 18 goals allowed is the most so far (Quick and Shesterkin have worse GAA).

Avs and Oilers each have one more goal.

Must be Tampa is scoring a lot on the power play

 

[willmma]

It is ridiculous how happy I feel after a win and bummed I feel after a loss.

I'm so happy today

The highs and lows are extreme, can't be healthy for my heart.

The worst is when we lose an elimination game. Last year was particularly bad.

Keefe, Austin, Mitch, John, William, Jack, and all.... please don't do this to me again. Please have mercy on this heart.

Please win

 

[notDatsyuk]

That's crazy about Hedman actually.

Seems to be getting a ton of praise and he is a Norris finalist but this series he has 7 points and he's -3

Kucherov has 7 points and -4. Also I notice it more and more but he's dives a lot and he's a dirty player.

Really hope Leafs do this in 6 to shut them all up finally.

Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, and Killorn all have been on the PP for five goals for (Hedman for four), but also for two shorties. That makes them all a -2 right there.

Except for Stamkos they're all minus at even strength too.

Must be Tampa is scoring a lot on the power play

Plus giving up shorties. See above.

 

[wingman75]

Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, and Killorn all have been on the PP for five goals for (Hedman for four), but also for two shorties. That makes them all a -2 right there.

Except for Stamkos they're all minus at even strength too.


Plus giving up shorties. See above.

At even-strength, we are significantly better than the Lightning, and I suspect most teams. Carolina and Colorado might be the exceptions.

The more 5-on-5 we get in game 6, the better our chances! #captainobvious

 

[zeke]

An interesting development - and also a lesson in ignoring small samples - is that in the regular season we were terrible 4v4 and TB was great, but yet we've outscored them 3-0 4v4 this series.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

When the guys believe in themselves, we tend to win. Boy I hope they can muster one more push - I know they can do it. It took a lot of guts to win game 5, these next games will be very stressful

 

[HamiltonNHL]

At even-strength, we are significantly better than the Lightning, and I suspect most teams.

Precisely why Bettman and Sweeney told the refs to call the series tight.

Hilarious we are amongst the least penalized teams for an entire season and now we are the broad street bullies.

The diving by Tampa has been eye opening and disappointing.

That garbage dive on the Marner penalty needs a fine.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Precisely why Bettman and Sweeney told the refs to call the series tight.

Hilarious we are amongst the least penalized teams for an entire season and now we are the broad street bullies.


That garbage dive on the Marner penalty needs a fine.

That's Tampa's style. Regular season they were second in the league in both penalties taken and penalties drawn. It makes sense - play on the edge and force the other team to do the same, and take advantage of a better powerplay.

(Except for Clifford's five and game, we have taken one minor more than Tampa.)

They really aren't beating us on the PP. They have 5 goals 5-4 and 1 goal 5-3, but have given up 2 goals shorthanded. Net PP goals: 4. We have 3 goals 5-4 and 1 goal 5-3. Net PP goals: 4.

Considering that we have taken seven more minutes in penalties, we're doing better than they are.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

(Except for Clifford's five and game, we have taken one minor more than Tampa.)

which is pretty reasonable.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Both teams have a net of four PP goals, and nine goals 5-on-5.

The difference is the 3 we have scored 4-on-4. Nylander has two if them, and assisted on the third, while Tavares has assisted on two.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Tampa's goals / points - Hedman playing great.

 

[zeke]

Core-8

TBL ($58.5m): Point, Kucherov, Stamkos, Cirelli, Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev, Vasilevskiy
TOR ($57.7m): Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander, Rielly, Brodie, Muzzin, Campbell

TBL: 7gls, 24pts, .880sv%
TOR: 13gls, 33pts, .895sv%