Pre-Game Talk: We Don't Play Until Next Month... And It's Outdoors! | Leafs @ Caps | March 3rd

[Cor]

Looks like same lines with the exception of Polak in for Carrick (despite Leafs outshooting Florida 17-5 with Carrick on the ice) and Andersen in goal.

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[CantLoseWithMatthews]

playing Polak over Carrick will never not be a dumb choice

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Want Marner and Nylander back together.

Hyman Nylander Marner
Marleau Kadri Kapanen
JVR Bozak Brown
Moore Plekanec Komarov

 

[ACC1224]

Here's hoping this will be the last outdoor game the Leafs ever play.

 

[Jozay]

Matthews wont be playing?

 

[Cor]

Matthews wont be playing?

That doesn't appear likely.

 

[Cor]

The players decided to practice today in Florida.

Tonight is the rookie dinner, so they wanted tomorrow off.

Kinda sounds like the team is staying in Florida for a couple days before going to Washington.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Matthews wont be playing?

nope, which is fine by me. Greater risk of hits going wrong in an outdoor game. I believe he's supposed to be back soon after this game though

 

[tom leafers]

The players decided to practice today in Florida.

Tonight is the rookie dinner, so they wanted tomorrow off.

Kinda sounds like the team is staying in Florida for a couple days before going to Washington.

I assumed thats what they would do. Babcock probably giving them a bit of vacation time as well with how well the leafs have done the last month and how crappy our schedule was

 

[bionic]

They have played a ton of games in a short period of time. The schedule should start to ease up now at least.

 

[Mikeyg]

if you guys are bored and looking for a story to pump, in friedmans thoughts he said that we basically offered 2 1st for karl. His wording was a bit strange though, it said "toronto was looking to add a 1st" but I don't think he was talking about us adding a pick because it was in the EK section.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Will be at the game. The stadium only seats about 34,000, so it should be a bit different vs the other outdoor games.

 

[Daisy Jane]

I miss matty

 

[Mugzy97]

Kinda sounds like the team is staying in Florida for a couple days before going to Washington.

Makes sense, I would do that too.

nope, which is fine by me. Greater risk of hits going wrong in an outdoor game. I believe he's supposed to be back soon after this game though

My guess is he'll be back March 14th against Dallas. There are only 3 games between now and then so maximum rest time compared to minimal games missed. It just makes sense.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

did you guys know we've scored the 26th most powerplay goals in the league since December first? It's pathetic nothing has been changed with regards to our powerplay. it's trash

 

[ACC1224]

did you guys know we've scored the 26th most powerplay goals in the league since December first? It's pathetic nothing has been changed with regards to our powerplay. it's trash

Have they had the same amount of PP as everyone else?

 

[Mikeyg]

did you guys know we've scored the 26th most powerplay goals in the league since December first? It's pathetic nothing has been changed with regards to our powerplay. it's trash

Doesn't really matter tbh. Its not uncommen for cup winners to have a bad powerplay, look at boston, la for example.

 

[MattySnipes]

I miss matty

We all do. It's really noticeable out there, but to the boys' credit they have all stepped up sorta in his absence. We have played relatively well for a team who is missing their BEST player. 3 out of 4 points against Boston and Tampa was huge. 1 point against the desperate, playoff-pushing Panthers was good - we definitely deserved 2 against them but sometimes that's how hockey goes. Didn't get much puck luck like others have mentioned.

Boys will be amped to play the Caps outdoors. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. The all-white look at night will look pretty cool. Can't wait.

 

[Muston Atthews]

The players decided to practice today in Florida.

Tonight is the rookie dinner, so they wanted tomorrow off.

Kinda sounds like the team is staying in Florida for a couple days before going to Washington.

Sounds like the boys are getting plastered tonight and taking in some sun

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Have they had the same amount of PP as everyone else?

nope, but that shouldn't matter. Our powerplay percentage is still only 21st

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Doesn't really matter tbh. Its not uncommen for cup winners to have a bad powerplay, look at boston, la for example.

yeah but those teams had great D
we should be fine to win the cup with this team, but we have to have a strong powerplay

 

[Daisy Jane]

We all do. It's really noticeable out there, but to the boys' credit they have all stepped up sorta in his absence. We have played relatively well for a team who is missing their BEST player. 3 out of 4 points against Boston and Tampa was huge. 1 point against the desperate, playoff-pushing Panthers was good - we definitely deserved 2 against them but sometimes that's how hockey goes. Didn't get much puck luck like others have mentioned.

Boys will be amped to play the Caps outdoors. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. The all-white look at night will look pretty cool. Can't wait.

i think life with without matty shows how lucky we are.
Nylander + Mitch + Dermott are swoony - but Matthews is the whipped cream, sprinkles and cherries on top. like i don't think one of those games goes to overtime if Matty was here.

however. i am proud how they play w/o him so that's also good.

 

[iBlaze81]

Sounds like the boys are getting plastered tonight and taking in some sun

Not Marner or Dermott

 

[Mugzy97]

did you guys know we've scored the 26th most powerplay goals in the league since December first? It's pathetic nothing has been changed with regards to our powerplay. it's trash

But before that is was really good though wasn't it? Maybe it's just the ebs and flows of the season, or maybe other teams figured it out. From what I can tell our first unit has kept on trucking along but our second unit has gone dry. Personally I think it would be good to put Matthews in front of the net and let him bang home rebounds and tips.

 

[Mugzy97]

Not Marner or Dermott

You're crazy if you don't think they can get their hands on some liquor.