GDT: 5/14/22 - 7:00PM EDT - #3 Tampa Bay @ #2 Toronto [ECQF GAME 7]

[Fabiobest]

One thing that is really important to me...
Look at the different attitude we have.
1) Before the 2020 run, when we had to deal with an injury, the team answer was not always positive on the ice. Remember when Stammer was injured in 2016-17 season.
2) In 2020 Point was hurt in the Conference Finals and so Stammer. In 2021 it's Kuch turn in G6. Now it's Point again. And we won as a group.
That's huge.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

I went back and took a look and after juggling players around after Point was done it looks like Coop put Palat - Paul - Killorn together mid way through the 2nd and by the start of the 3rd period he had them match up against the Matthews line the rest of the way. This was also the trio on the ice when Paul got the game winner.

 

[U55]

Paul was due after a lot of missed chances earlier in the series. He came through huge, but I don't think the panthers are an easier opponent. No point is going to be really hard. Kuch looked off too which is really bad if he's also hurt.

 

[Ducati Boy]

I think the same game 7 strategy could do well against the panthers.

Concede the outside, let their flashy forwards pass it around, and go for blocks in the shooting lanes (as deflections are not Vasi’s strength).

Against their D, drive to the net for one good chance through the middle as the Florida defense can be pulled out of position like the Leafs’ D were. Don’t give them time to set up a D box.

 

[Fabiobest]

Paul was due after a lot of missed chances earlier in the series. He came through huge, but I don't think the panthers are an easier opponent. No point is going to be really hard. Kuch looked off too which is really bad if he's also hurt.

I don't think Kuch is hurt.

 

[Felonious Python]

Shit like this is why they can't win a series. I'm not saying Biz cost them a Cup. I'm saying that this nationally syndicated superfan culture nonsense permeates into what teams do. Find me the last time someone poured a drink on the street for us or took a loser lap. It's entertaining but it makes you 10 ply soft dude

We'd need to lose first.

Leafs fans are justified in being upset, but their team didn't deserve anything more than it achieved.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Matthews was injured according to their speculations. They’re fast in putting heads on spikes over there (Dubas, Shanahan, Keefe, Tavares, Holl etc) but AM can’t be touched.

 

[Fabiobest]

Matthews was injured according to their speculations. They’re fast in putting heads on spikes over there (Dubas, Shanahan, Keefe, Tavares, Holl etc) but AM can’t be touched.

Come on, they should be fired, without no exception.
-)Dubas...or it's better to say Dumbas is a terrible GM. Paying half of the cap for 4 (not playoffs performers) players...playing with Holl and an average goalie, in a terrible decision.
-)The acquisition of Tavares, for this reason, is bad. They did not need him...but probably Tavares sells more jerseys than a good dman or a good goalie.
-) Holl is bad. Sustr >> Holl.
-) Shanahan=Dubas.
-) I hope Keefe stays. If, for some reasons, they hire Trotz, I'll be scared for real because Trotz could work in the part of the game TOR has more problems in. The defense.

 

[Felonious Python]

Toronto media seemed ready to give a pass if the Leafs were competitive in game 7, which they were.

 

[These Are The Days]

We'd need to lose first.

Leafs fans are justified in being upset, but their team didn't deserve anything more than it achieved.

If our embarrassing sweep vs CBJ taught the world anything it's that no one deserves any more than what they achieve. Like if we threepeat I hope whatever 2-3 hour documentary that gets made about it (and there will be one) I hope they show all the juicy horror and beatdown for like 20 minutes and McDonagh, Stamkos, Hedman, Vasy etc talk about it because that was ultimately our launching pad

 

[Coopers Gum]

If our embarrassing sweep vs CBJ taught the world anything it's that no one deserves any more than what they achieve. Like if we threepeat I hope whatever 2-3 hour documentary that gets made about it (and there will be one) I hope they show all the juicy horror and beatdown for like 20 minutes and McDonagh, Stamkos, Hedman, Vasy etc talk about it because that was ultimately our launching pad

Damn, I wanna watch this

 

[These Are The Days]

Damn, I wanna watch this

Well it's only gonna happen if we threepeat. The last one was what? The Bulls 25ish years ago? And literally every credible sports journalist without exception acknowledges that the Cup is the hardest trophy to win.

We do this we're an actual dynasty. f*** the rule of needing 4. They did it with 20 teams or less and no cap. Someone else may do it after us (if we do it at all) and the accomplishment won't be any less significant

 

[gn2007]

So my axe throwing name is Big Nick Energy! ️️

My name is Nicholas lol so yesterday with nick Paul's determination and goals I feel my axe throwing name is very appropriate as a lightning fan lol.

 

[J T Money]

 

[Bartleby]

.......... If, for some reasons, they hire Trotz, I'll be scared for real because Trotz could work in the part of the game TOR has more problems in. The defense.

Trotz doesn't worry me if he goes to TOR. Are AM, MM and WN going to sacrifice 20+ pts a season to play in his system? I don't think so. It's the mix of players that hurts them, not the coaching.

 

[FinnLightning26]

f***ing Big Dick Nick! The mad lads went and did it!

 

[Fabiobest]

Trotz doesn't worry me if he goes to TOR. Are AM, MM and WN going to sacrifice 20+ pts a season to play in his system? I don't think so. It's the mix of players that hurts them, not the coaching.

Before Trotz, they should fire all the organization or, at least Shanahan and especially Dubas.
With a new GM, the team and the entire fanbase won't have anymore someone to blame. And so all the players will have a choice: 1) maximise the effort or 2) lose again. And so also Matthews and Marner could change their attitude.
PS: I'd trade Nylander asap to acquire someone good in the blue line and/or between the pipes. (Also because Tavares is untradable...).

 

[Rschmitz]

 

[Bob and 200 others]

 

[Bartleby]

Before Trotz, they should fire all the organization or, at least Shanahan and especially Dubas.
With a new GM, the team and the entire fanbase won't have anymore someone to blame. And so all the players will have a choice: 1) maximise the effort or 2) lose again. And so also Matthews and Marner could change their attitude.
PS: I'd trade Nylander asap to acquire someone good in the blue line and/or between the pipes. (Also because Tavares is untradable...).

I don't want them to change a thing.

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

I went back and took a look and after juggling players around after Point was done it looks like Coop put Palat - Paul - Killorn together mid way through the 2nd and by the start of the 3rd period he had them match up against the Matthews line the rest of the way. This was also the trio on the ice when Paul got the game winner.

Paul was being double shifted after Point didn't return

 

[Fabiobest]

I don't want them to change a thing.

Neither do I

 

[DFC]

All the attention is on what the Leafs are gonna do now, but has there been any update on Point at all?

 

[Bartleby]

All the attention is on what the Leafs are gonna do now, but has there been any update on Point at all?

It will be all over Twitter within a millisecond of anything becoming public.

I don't like speculating about the nature or severity of player injuries but his emotional reaction was telling. Usually you know when you are injured as opposed to just tweaked and everything about his response suggests that in his gut he knew it wasn't just a tweak. Sure hope his gut was wrong.

 

[Felonious Python]