Series Talk: Toronto vs Boston - Round #1 - PGDT

[TMLeafer]

Face-palmed so hard, I nearly drove off the road listening to the talking heads on radio saying Leafs lack offensive depth. Six/Seven 20 goal scorers isn't enough?

 

[Loosie]

Please win so this can be thrown back in his face....

Yes, nobody loses 1st rounds quite like the Leafs can. Something every team should aspire to.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

Face-palmed so hard, I nearly drove off the road listening to the talking heads on radio saying Leafs lack offensive depth. Six/Seven 20 goal scorers isn't enough?

Uhh where was this?

 

[Dekes For Days]

That's what I am curious about. I have family that's seen cups in the 50s and 60s who don't miss a game telling me they flip back and forth because it's been so bad. Hockey guys, real deal hockey guys lol.

"Real deal hockey guys".
aka. People who grew up watching an entirely different version of hockey.
aka. People who were kids, barely understood hockey, and have nostalgic and rose-coloured memories. Or people who are currently too old to see/understand the differences and reasons for them. Or both.
aka. Old people who complain about anything new or different, regardless of what it is.

I'm glad you have senior citizens trying to accurately remember 60 years ago telling you how to feel about the current Leafs. Saves you from having to actually watch them, and you know, be a fan.

 

[Morbo]

Besides Andersen I think Matthews and Nylander are the key to the series. If all 4 of our big guys are playing well I think we win.

 

[TMLeafer]

Uhh where was this?

Anthony Stewart (who's usually decent) just on 590. Something like Leafs depth scoring has been achilles heel.

 

[lovemyleafs]

Please win so this can be thrown back in his face....

So many posters and so-called “Leafs fans” on this board talking sh*t about their own team and saying how we have no hope against the Bruins. Lol
Funny thing is if we do end up winning they’ll be like “YAAHHH I KNEW WE COULD DO IT. #BELEAF”
already got a couple of quotes saved for when the Leafs win.

 

[thewave]

"Real deal hockey guys".
aka. People who grew up watching an entirely different version of hockey.
aka. People who were kids, barely understood hockey, and have nostalgic and rose-coloured memories. Or people who are currently too old to see/understand the differences and reasons for them. Or both.
aka. Old people who complain about anything new or different, regardless of what it is.

I'm glad you have senior citizens trying to accurately remember 60 years ago telling you how to feel about the current Leafs. Saves you from having to actually watch them, and you know, be a fan.

Listen to yourself. So Lou doesn't know hockey because he is old? He took a job and has the Islanders in PO with more reg season points in year 1 than us.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Oh so you are playing PUBG while you watch the game. Cool

I'm not sure where PUBG came from, but no, I watch the games to come to my conclusions, unlike some.

 

[lovemyleafs]

Who are your 3 X factors for the series ?

I’ll go with Kadri, Nylander, and Gardiner.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

Anthony Stewart (who's usually decent) just on 590. Something like Leafs depth scoring has been achilles heel.

I’ve never heard of Anthony Stewart but what a down right embarrassing thing to say on radio

 

[thewave]

Anthony Stewart (who's usually decent) just on 590. Something like Leafs depth scoring has been achilles heel.

That's a stupid thing to say. This teams biggest flaw has been not playing as a team and sticking up for each other.

 

[Mess]

Are those the same guys that had TB #1 and the Leafs #2 at the start of the season? I guess they think we got worse by trading for Muzzin, oh well. .

Yes, Vegas oddsmakers after adding JT were among the favourites pre-season, but after a disappointing regular season has seen the new playoff oddsmakers and those taking the bets drop Leafs way down.

While the Lightning enter as the heavy favorites with 2/1 odds, the Capitals, Bruins and Predators are strong contenders that will challenge Tampa Bay for the title. Washington, the defending champions, open the playoffs tied with the Bruins at 9/1.

Here are the complete Odds to win 2019 Stanley Cup (April 8th,2019)

Lightning 2/1
Bruins 9/1
Capitals 9/1
Flames 10/1
Sharks 10/1
Predators 12/1
Golden Knights 12/1
Penguins 14/1
Blues 14/1
Jets 14/1
Maple Leafs 16/1
Hurricanes 28/1
Islanders 28/1
Avalanche 40/1
Blue Jackets40/1
Stars 40/1

 

[Trapper]

I'm not sure where PUBG came from, but no, I watch the games to come to my conclusions, unlike some.

And other people watch to come to their conclusions.
Ah, but they aren’t your conclusions are they.
Everyone is going to have different takes and biases. How can you say others don’t have conclusions?

We are going to watch the playoffs and let’s see what happens.
A good honest assessment.
Especially by our coach and GM moving forward.

 

[diceman934]

I can give one example that stuck with me all year. It’s not isolated either, there several examples that we’ve watched all year.

I can’t remember the team they were playing, I want to say Minny, but other than the fact it wasn’t a power house, it really doesn’t matter. 1st period 0-0 score. The Leafs dump the puck deep and go for a line change with only Brown pursuing the puck. Perfect. However, as he chases the d that’s trying to get behind the net, brown has the perfect opportunity to rub out the puck carrier right at the left post and potentially stealing the puck. Instead Brown decided to try a fly by stick check, circled the net and then proceeded to change. Now the bad part. The D carrying the puck sent an outlet pass right past Brown to the Leafs blue line catching the leafs somewhat flat footed, resulting in a penalty to Hyman. I thought at the time, if they play like that against Boston, the Bruins likely go up 1-0 or at least get the opportunity because of a lazy soft play. Why pursue the puck if you have no intentions of making a play?
He didn’t have to kill the guy, although that’s fine too, but at least engage and prevent him from making a play until your teammates help you out.

They cannot play like that and expect to win in the playoffs. At least we hope there is still integrity in the game and most teams will be engaged

The play you describe Brown played it perfect if they were able to pass to our blueline it means that our change was not happening fast enough. Brown engaging in a puck battle and then the puck goes up the ice could see us with a tired hockey player on the ice. The pressure guy is just that on a line change. It is up to the two forwards and the two D man to get into position and fill the passing lanes. Brown job is to put up ice pressure and complete the line change. There is nothing lazy at by Brown as I am sure like always he hustled to the bench. Lazy would have seen him change as well with no up ice pressure at all.

 

[m1ker]

Last year with Kadri out and Matthews shitting the bed.. Plekanec was our only hope. Last year our focus was to contain the Bergeron line. This year leafs aren't containing we are out performing that line. Johnny toronto baby

 

[Nineteen67]

Yep. Every minute of every Leaf game, and a bunch of other games too.

Nice response.

And you didn’t know that soft play and stick checking was a theme?

 

[Nineteen67]

The play you describe Brown played it perfect if they were able to pass to our blueline it means that our change was not happening fast enough. Brown engaging in a puck battle and then the puck goes up the ice could see us with a tired hockey player on the ice. The pressure guy is just that on a line change. It is up to the two forwards and the two D man to get into position and fill the passing lanes. Brown job is to put up ice pressure and complete the line change. There is nothing lazy at by Brown as I am sure like always he hustled to the bench. Lazy would have seen him change as well with no up ice pressure at all.

Nope. That’s why it stuck out.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Listen to yourself. So Lou doesn't know hockey because he is old? He took a job and has the Islanders in PO with more reg season points in year 1 than us.

Trotz has them in that position, not Lou.

But one of the longest tenured-GMs in the biggest hockey league in the world, who has proven himself repeatedly and spent decades following and understanding the evolution of hockey, who helped build the team you are grasping at straws to hate on, that is one of the best teams in the league?

Yeah, I trust his opinion a bit more than your Grandpa.

If you are saying that Lou is a "real deal hockey guy", why can't you trust his opinion that the Leafs are a great team, built properly, with a promising future?

 

[ShaneFalco]

Who are your 3 X factors for the series ?

I’ll go with Kadri, Nylander, and Gardiner.

Matthews, Tavares, Andersen

 

[Bomber0104]

So many posters and so-called “Leafs fans” on this board talking sh*t about their own team and saying how we have no hope against the Bruins. Lol
Funny thing is if we do end up winning they’ll be like “YAAHHH I KNEW WE COULD DO IT. #BELEAF”
already got a couple of quotes saved for when the Leafs win.

I''ll trade being right for the Leafs winning.

But in the meantime, I don't need to delude myself into thinking we're favorites to win.

 

[Dekes For Days]

And you didn’t know that soft play and stick checking was a theme?

I wouldn't call us soft, no, but nowhere did I actually say any of that.

Regardless of what you think our style of play is, you have failed to prove why it is worse or puts us at a disadvantage.

 

[member 262271]

I’ve never heard of Anthony Stewart but what a down right embarrassing thing to say on radio

Chris Stewart's brother.

 

[Gary Nylund]

That's what I am curious about. I have family that's seen cups in the 50s and 60s who don't miss a game telling me they flip back and forth because it's been so bad. Hockey guys, real deal hockey guys lol.

I don't knowwww

Interesting.

Listen to yourself. So Lou doesn't know hockey because he is old? He took a job and has the Islanders in PO with more reg season points in year 1 than us.

So by "family that's seen cups in the 50s and 60s ", you meant Lou. Really?

But even then there's this question:

If you are saying that Lou is a "real deal hockey guy", why can't you trust his opinion that the Leafs are a great team, built properly, with a promising future?

You're making even less sense than usual today sir, perhaps it's time to take a break and get some fresh air.

 

[Mess]

Odds to Win the 2018-19 Stanley Cup: Lightning are Massive Favorites

The most exciting time of the year for hockey fans and bettors alike is here: the Stanley Cup playoffs. When it comes to odds on which team sportsbooks think is going to go all the way in 2019, it’s clear that one club is head and shoulders above the rest of the league.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the undisputed Stanley Cup favorites at +250 odds at BetOnline, with the Calgary Flames (+800), Boston Bruins (+900), Washington Capitals (+1000), Winnipeg Jets (+1000), Nashville Predators (+1200), San Jose Sharks (+1200), St. Louis Blues (+1200), Carolina Hurricanes (+2000) and New York Islanders (+2000) rounding out the top 10.

Maple Leafs are getting no respect

The biggest surprise on the oddsboard to me is the Maple Leafs. Toronto’s +2000 price is significantly low on the list for the amount of talent on the roster. The main reason is obviously their first-round opponent, as Boston has had Toronto’s number and then some in the postseason over the years.

The Bruins and Maple Leafs went to seven games in their opening series a year ago before the Bruins dispatched the Buds by a 7-4 decision in Game 7. It was the second time in the last six seasons Toronto lost to Boston in the playoffs, and clearly oddsmakers aren’t giving them much of a chance to buck that trend this time around.

2018-19 Stanley Cup Odds
Team .... Odds

Tampa Bay Lightning +250
Calgary Flames +800
Boston Bruins +900
Washington Capitals +1000
Winnipeg Jets +1000
Nashville Predators +1200
San Jose Sharks +1200
St. Louis Blues +1200
Carolina Hurricanes +2000
New York Islanders +2000
Pittsburgh Penguins +2000
Vegas Golden Knights +2000
Toronto Maple Leafs +2000
Colorado Avalanche +2500
Dallas Stars +2800
Columbus Blue Jackets +3300

Odds to Win the 2018-19 Stanley Cup: Lightning are Massive Favorites