Going to have to beat them both in all likelihood. I am not sure it matters which one you have to play first. If you want to win, you have to beat the best.
It does totally suck though that the top three teams in the conference are in our division... imagine how worried Tampa and Boston are though...
Compared to last year if the Leafs lose in the 1st round once again it will feel like a disappointment because they aren't just happy to be there and will want to improve on just making it to the 1st round.Bingo, I feel hardly anybody is mentioning this..the pressure in my opinion is on TB and Boston to win. Leafs have less pressure but are extremely capable of beating either of those teams.
Compared to last year if the Leafs lose in the 1st round once again it will feel like a disappointment because they aren't just happy to be there and will want to improve on just making it to the 1st round.
Personally I think I could handle losing to Tampa which would still be very disappointing.I think leafs are a far better team this year then last (I think most would agree), but playing either Boston or Tampa and losing in a close series I don’t think should be seen as a disappointment given both those teams are cup contenders.
I’ll also add, taking the caps to OT every single game might have made last years series closer then it actually was, caps were clearly the better team that series
Boston still has quite a few cup winners, Tampa doesn't. It's a pick your poison scenario. Either way, it won't be easy and in all likelyhood, you're gonna have to beat teams like them if you're gonna go far. No way around it.Tampa is a lot better than Boston.
I'd rather we play Boston.
Boston is full of awful fans. Whether it be the Bruins,Celtics,Patriots or Sox. It's a cocky and entitled sports town.Personally I think I could handle losing to Tampa which would still be very disappointing.
However seeing the Leafs lose to Boston I could not take because of some of their fans are rude and very obnoxious.
Also last year 5/6 games against Washington went to overtime, however all the games were decided by no more than 1 goal.
Tampa's overrated. Boston is a better team.Tampa is a lot better than Boston.
I'd rather we play Boston.
Just curious, kinda off topic,
Seeing how Tampa clinched a playoffs spot and we're not really that far behind them, anyone know how to figure out our "magic number" is to clinch a playoff spot?
Boston is full of awful fans. Whether it be the Bruins,Celtics,Patriots or Sox. It's a cocky and entitled sports town.
I think leafs are a far better team this year then last (I think most would agree), but playing either Boston or Tampa and losing in a close series I don’t think should be seen as a disappointment given both those teams are cup contenders.
I’ll also add, taking the caps to OT every single game might have made last years series closer then it actually was, caps were clearly the better team that series
Like in 2002 when the 91 point Hurricanes got home ice against the 95 point Devils while the 100 point Leafs got the 96 point Isles instead?This is some of the most ass eyed reasoning I've ever read
You seed this thing on regular season records or you don't but the 2nd and 3rd teams in the Atlantic having to play each other in the first round no matter what is so stupid it's beyond belief
The regular season counts except when it doesn't because "reasons"
I find it funny how the good teams get home ice except that's bull because we're the 3rd or 4th best team in the East but don't because the draw and seeding has been screwed with
Woops
Why seed at all on the regular season? Let's do it on jersey colors or how were feeling at the time because we're playing someone good anyway so who cares about the 82 game regular season
OK Daisy give me one good reason why the 93 point Leafs play the 98 point Bruins in the first round without home ice when the 87 point Penguins play the 83 point Flyers with home ice? That #3v#4 and #5v#6 by the way
Best of luck arguing that
Like in 2002 when the 91 point Hurricanes got home ice against the 95 point Devils while the 100 point Leafs got the 96 point Isles instead?
Unless the NHL eliminates divisions altogether and goes to a full 82 game equal schedule there is always going to be inequalities.
And why are you stopping at 1v8? Why not go full 1v16?
The only way this makes sense is with a balanced schedule. Otherwise it's really not a true 1v16.You're right in that no system is perfect. 1v16 has been done before BTW, I liked it a lot myself.
If the format was league wide 1 verses 16, etc, Leafs could play Colorado. That would interesting.
I think there is a minor pro league in the southern US that gives the top team the option to choose their 1st round opponent.
The only way this makes sense is with a balanced schedule. Otherwise it's really not a true 1v16.
Just use the NBA model. Doesn't matter if you're a division winner there, teams are seeded where they should be. E.g. Celtics are in the same division as the Raptors and are 2nd in the division but are still 2nd in the conference.Like in 2002 when the 91 point Hurricanes got home ice against the 95 point Devils while the 100 point Leafs got the 96 point Isles instead?
Unless the NHL eliminates divisions altogether and goes to a full 82 game equal schedule there is always going to be inequalities.
And why are you stopping at 1v8? Why not go full 1v16?
I want Boston why? because the Leafs are getting healthy and Boston is without Bergeron, Debrusk, Backes, Chara, Macavoy, they are a beat up team and they don't have the depth Toronto does
On the contrary, the fact that they keep winning despite all their injuries indicates that they have excellent depth. They may be beat up now but most if not all those guys should be healthy by the time the playoffs start.
But again, why are we stopping at conferences? And unless they are playing each team equally, it's not really a true ranking.Just use the NBA model. Doesn't matter if you're a division winner there, teams are seeded where they should be. E.g. Celtics are in the same division as the Raptors and are 2nd in the division but are still 2nd in the conference.
or it could indicate they have gone up against A LOT of soft teams
Sure they beat Tampa last game but they have also faced Chicago twice, Carolina Edmonton etc.
Boston for the most part has had a creampuff schedule
Because the travel would create a lot of problems if we just did a free for all, like jet lag and time zone difference as well as increased costs. At least with the conferences that aspect is somewhat limited. And to your point about not playing each other equally, the difference is literally one game more against most divisional opponents, and two games more against 2 of those teams, compared to rest of the conference. That's not exactly a startling difference.But
But again, why are we stopping at conferences? And unless they are playing each team equally, it's not really a true ranking.