Do we intimidate anyone?

[Bluelines]

Eh, Caps won because for the first time ever, their core players played their best in the playoffs. The size thing is overstated. How huge is it that a playoff no show (Kuznetsov), suddenly turns into a superstar #1 C in the playoffs and leads the league in scoring?

Leafs simply need their players to step-up. The opposite happened last Spring. Freddie's horrible play ruined us.

Do we have the type players who have the mental toughness to not quit in the playoffs? Like if Willie gets a elbow in the face does he sulk or does he fight harder? If Jake makes a mistake does he fight through the seeds of self doubt or does he fall into a spiral of mistakes? If Austin gets pasted into the boards does he think about his separated shoulder or does he compete harder? If Andy gets knocked in the head does he think about his previous head injuries or does he forget and get more focused. If Marleau is getting extra tough defensive checking against him, does he find a way to break out of that checking?

I think what you are talking about is a mental toughness that you need to have come playoff time.

 

[Bluelines]

Let me know the team that wants to face us.

Boston.

 

[LeafFever]

Do we have the type players who have the mental toughness to not quit in the playoffs? Like if Willie gets a elbow in the face does he sulk or does he fight harder? If Jake makes a mistake does he fight through the seeds of self doubt or does he fall into a spiral of mistakes? If Austin gets pasted into the boards does he think about his separated shoulder or does he compete harder? If Andy gets knocked in the head does he think about his previous head injuries or does he forget and get more focused. If Marleau is getting extra tough defensive checking against him, does he find a way to break out of that checking?

I think what you are talking about is a mental toughness that you need to have come playoff time.

We need our goalie to not give us .896 save %.

 

[ShaneFalco]

A tough guy on the 4th line playing minimal minutes doesn't help
We need some more jam on D and in the top 9

 

[Mr Hockey]

We need our goalie to not give us .896 save %.

That's what killed us or we would have beat Boston last year and lost in the second round

 

[LeafFever]

That's what killed us or we would have beat Boston last year and lost in the second round

Yup, yet virtually no one mentions this. We lost in the 3rd period of game 7 with .896 % goaltending in 7 games. "Tuffness" was not the issue at all.
That's why the Andersen injury might be a blessing in disguise. His workload will be less this year.

 

[RLF]

Eh, Caps won because for the first time ever, their core players played their best in the playoffs. The size thing is overstated. How huge is it that a playoff no show (Kuznetsov), suddenly turns into a superstar #1 C in the playoffs and leads the league in scoring?

Leafs simply need their players to step-up. The opposite happened last Spring. Freddie's horrible play ruined us.

It's pretty hard to win the Cup without your core players stepping up...no matter who the team. Don't know why you would think last year is any different from years in the past.
We won when Freddie played great, we lost when he didn't.
Every year there is an unexpected player with playoff success. It is not uncommon. It is also much easier to endure 4 rounds of playoffs if you have the size and physical ability to do so. If people want to ignore that history has shown us that this is a factor, that is their choice.

 

[LeafFever]

It's pretty hard to win the Cup without your core players stepping up...no matter who the team. Don't know why you would think last year is any different from years in the past.
We won when Freddie played great, we lost when he didn't.
Every year there is an unexpected player with playoff success. It is not uncommon. It is also much easier to endure 4 rounds of playoffs if you have the size and physical ability to do so. If people want to ignore that history has shown us that this is a factor, that is their choice.

Just pointing-out that's why the Caps won the cup. The "Biggest Team" thing is badly overstated.

 

[RLF]

Just pointing-out that's why the Caps won the cup. The "Biggest Team" thing is badly overstated.

Overstated or not really a factor?

 

[A1LeafNation]

Boston.

According to their forums they dont want to play us.

There are 2 players from the 2013 team still on this roster, Kadri and Gardiner.

Kadri had an amazing game and put us up 4-1 early in the 3rd. Gardiner had one assist and was a -2.

Maybe Gardiner is affraid to play them, but no one else should be.

 

[ACC1224]

Let me know the team that wants to face us.

Like the Leafs, I doubt any team is concerned one way or the other.

 

[Pookie]

Matt Martin was a scratch every playoff game last year

And what round did we lose in?

Ryan Reaves played in 10 post season games. 9 of which came in rounds 3 and 4

 

[LeafFever]

And what round did we lose in?

Ryan Reaves played in 10 post season games. 9 of which came in rounds 3 and 4

You know that just is irrelevant.

 

[Pookie]

You know that just is irrelevant.

Losing in the playoffs is irrelevant?

O k a a a a a y

 

[LeafFever]

Losing in the playoffs is irrelevant?

O k a a a a a y

So you think with Martin we win?

 

[Pookie]

So you think with Martin we win?

I think that with 2 evenly matched teams, the one that outworks the other wins

I also see that Martin has played 44 games with the Isles, has 11 points and is a plus 6.

They also have more points than us.

Hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard

 

[crump]

 

[A1LeafNation]

The faster Babcock learned that speed was winning us games and Komarov needed to be scratched, the more wins we had in the series.

We would have won if the fastest players played all 7 games. Martin was not fast. We weren't going to win at checking them harder.

 

[Pookie]

The faster Babcock learned that speed was winning us games and Komarov needed to be scratched, the more wins we had in the series.

We would have won if the fastest players played all 7 games. Martin was not fast. We weren't going to win at checking them harder.

Psst that’s sarcasm.

 

[LeafFever]

The faster Babcock learned that speed was winning us games and Komarov needed to be scratched, the more wins we had in the series.

We would have won if the fastest players played all 7 games. Martin was not fast. We weren't going to win at checking them harder.

Imagine if Johnsson and Kapanen alone played more in that Boston series. If not for Nylander's contract situation, Kapanen is probably still on the 4th line this year.

And now Marleau is basically the new Komorov. Kills every line he is on and Babs doesn't care.

 

[LeafFever]

I think that with 2 evenly matched teams, the one that outworks the other wins

I also see that Martin has played 44 games with the Isles, has 11 points and is a plus 6.

They also have more points than us.

Hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard

Islanders have a lot less talent. That's why he plays. Same with Komorov.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Stay away from playing Boston's game and we can beat them. But we don't tend to

 

[Pookie]

Islanders have a lot less talent. That's why he plays. Same with Komorov.

And why they are winning is grit

Stay focused

 

[LeafFever]

Boston has no scoring depth. And damn, you can exploiut Chara with speed badly.

 

[LeafFever]

And why they are winning is grit

Stay focused

Great coaching and goaltending actually.