Series Talk: North Division Round 1: Leafs (1) vs. Canadiens (4)

[Nylander88]

The beauty of these playoffs, Martin Marincin is the 10th D, not 7th

Underrated observation haha
Personally hoping Bogosian gets healthy. I think a hard nosed vet would pair well with Sandin. Sandin falters, we have Dermott and Hutton. This is a deep team we have

 

[Gary Nylund]

I would be worried if this were a Julien coached team -- I just can't fathom the Habs pulling this one out.

The Leafs are hungry and have been all year. The time is now.

A bit of healthy fear/nerves for the players is normal and a good thing no matter who the opponent is. But other than that, as a fan I'm finding it hard to think of reasons to be worried about MTL.

 

[Alamo Leafer]

We're winning in 5.

And the 1 game we lose, is going to cause the most insane meltdown these boards have ever seen.

If we do lose a game, I hope it will be the very first game.
Make them hungrier for the rest of the series.
Plus, it would make for an entertaining first couple of days on both our boards lol.

ps. I'm just praying the Andersen experiment doesn't cost us in the POs, & dirtbag Gallagher doesn't injure Campbell.

 

[robertmac43]

Huge rivals for round 1? Yeah, I'll take that.

 

[LeafSteel]

As a Hab fan, I’m cheering for you guys to completely dominate us in 4 games. I want my coach fired, my GM fired, and my president to f*** off. Don’t even give us a single chance in any of the games - we have no business being in the playoffs (and this, at least two years in a f***ing row, if not way more) and this shit show has got to stop.

And PLEASE, destroy the Oilers in the second round. I can’t f***ing stand them. And beat the f***ing States (bring back the Cup where it belongs, here in Canada). I stand loyal to my country (minus the Edmonton Oilers).

Just win.

you win Post of the Year just for the Rocky GIF……

 

[crump]

We’ve been waiting a long time for this and here we are. Habs - Leafs playoffs. Crush them.

 

[TheScandal89]

I said Leafs in 6 but could be 7. I think Montreal will be a really tough series, there a big team with a great goalie who hasn't had a save % less then .930 in several post seasons.

Despite there poor regular season making them kinda undeserving to be in the playoffs, they still have a decent team that can put 4 wins together imo.

I think we are the better team clearly, but they are still capable of winning if they throw us off our game. We will see

 

[cesareborgia]

Can see them trading a guy who will probably finish 3rd -4th -5th in the scoring race and is connected at the hip with Matthews.

Nylander on the other hand, complimentary scoring that has flashes of brilliance and long stretches of who gives a *uck effort.

I completely agree with your assessment. However, Nylander also doesn't make nearly 11 mil per year. Salary should be taken into consideration.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

So any idea of the start date?

 

[AndyWozniewski]

The beauty of these playoffs, Martin Marincin is the 10th D, not 7th

He'll find his way in there somehow. He always does

 

[inthe6ix]

They know we are better - just go out there and take care of business.

 

[Alamo Leafer]

So any idea of the start date?

 

[Mats13]

Leafs in 3

Can’t wait

 

[taurine330]

Leafs in 3

Can’t wait

In 3?

 

[egd27]

I can only imagine how insane the arenas would be with fans at the games.

I don't hate Montreal as much as I used to now that koivu, pk, patches are all gone and price isn't as good. Still, they are one of the two teams I'd like us to knock out most.

 

[Bluelines]

I completely agree with your assessment. However, Nylander also doesn't make nearly 11 mil per year. Salary should be taken into consideration.

I think you can get similar production from Hyman at less cost and a more useful all around player. Willie clearly is a better offensive threat but not by much, Hyman is a guy who you can use on any line in any situation, Willie has to play top 6 or he is useless.

So you resign Hyman, trade Willie, hopefully the trade goes well and you get a blue chipper or a quality guy who immediately can make your roster and at a lower cap hit.

I really want Willie to be that guy who takes me out of my seat every game with a HOLY $Hit this guy is awesome, but he's becoming more of that guy who I want to throw something at the TV because his effort lately is $#it.

 

[Fogelhund]

Leafs in 3

Can’t wait

Best of seven series....

 

[123offtheglass]

I think the Habs will be the Leafs toughest opponent from the North. Habs do need to get their shit together and get healthier but they're built for the playoffs and have a goalie that could potentially steal games; we have Matthews to break him though.

Big key to Leafs going far will be keeping their stars healthy & figuring out their powerplay. Teams are absolutely going target Matthews and when someone like Chariot cross checks Matthews in the back somebody like Simmonds or Foligno needs to drop em.

So nice having depth at forward, defense & goaltending too, odds are the Leafs won't have much problem with bottom of the lineup players going through slumps; I'm guessing the schedule will be more condensed than usual too.

Love the makeup of this team, always had a preference for defensive players; I think the majority of them are underrated.

 

[justashadowof]

You have to be cautiously confident that this will be the Leafs first series win since 2004. Montreal has had trouble scoring and their team defense has been mediocre when it was expected to be good this season. A coaching change didn't result in a team improvement which is usually a harbinger of an upcoming decline. Matthews has been money this season especially the second half. Yes, sometimes a team in a situation like that can pull out a series win when they've got a favourable matchup but the regular season contests between these two teams does not suggest that. The X-factor for Montreal is a healthy and fully on his game Carey Price could steal a series because he is genuinely a top 5 NHL goalie.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

I think you can get similar production from Hyman at less cost and a more useful all around player. Willie clearly is a better offensive threat but not by much, Hyman is a guy who you can use on any line in any situation, Willie has to play top 6 or he is useless.

So you resign Hyman, trade Willie, hopefully the trade goes well and you get a blue chipper or a quality guy who immediately can make your roster and at a lower cap hit.

I really want Willie to be that guy who takes me out of my seat every game with a HOLY $Hit this guy is awesome, but he's becoming more of that guy who I want to throw something at the TV because his effort lately is $#it.

Thankfully, I suspect our GM will just keep all the young blue chippers who are currently clearly better offensive threats, entering their prime, and clearly improving year over year.

 

[JoeyBeans]

 

[Suntouchable13]

I don’t want to hear any excuses this year if they don’t win this series. You guys talked about how unfair it was to face Boston, an elite team, in the first round. Well, they are facing a mediocre club this time. The boys have to get it done.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Pretty pumped to really heat up this old rivalry.

Should be a good series.

Pressure is on the Leafs' to win without a doubt. Though Bergevin's job might be on the line for the Habs.

Anything short of a series win for the Leafs is a massive failure though.

 

[Auston Powers]

So pumped. I f'n love this team!

 

[SeenSchenn2]

Optimistic, but don't think the Habs are a slouch with their full roster.