That #5 or #6D pretty much shut down Ovechkin in the first two games completely. He would have destroyed Johansson in front of the net preventing the series GWG, unlike Marincin.
Polak was awesome late in the season.
Post-Game Talk: Hold your heads high boys
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That #5 or #6D pretty much shut down Ovechkin in the first two games completely. He would have destroyed Johansson in front of the net preventing the series GWG, unlike Marincin.
Polak was awesome late in the season.
Suntouchable13
Registered User
Yes, but he was still prone to bone headed decisions. You think that over the course of the series, he wouldn't get exposed by Ovie eventually? Come on now.
Damisoph
Registered User
- Jun 29, 2010
- 8,986
- 2,312
We needed another line to get some O zone time other than the Matthews line. Boyle's line had some good moments but far too inconsistent and not skilled enough. Kadri line was good in a shutdown role but didn't generate much. Let's not discuss the Bozak line, the train wreck that it was. The Kuznetsov and Eller lines kept us hemmed in far too often.
Thing is, if we get a good LW and a partner for Rielly, we have a much beter team next year. Given than Bozie could get us a good return if we choose to trade him , things are looking good!
Seath The Scaleless
Paledrake
Polak would not have made the forwards better in the defensive zone. The forwards did very little to stop the Caps' cycle game and were guilty of puck watching more often than not. It seemed like most of our wingers lost nearly every board battle against their defensemen as well
What a series and what a year. Never would've imagined this coming into the season, very proud of this team. That said, it will be nice to have a break from hockey related stress. 
Will be interesting to see what changes (if any) we make, hoping some of our players in Europe can come over and make an impact.
Will be interesting to see what changes (if any) we make, hoping some of our players in Europe can come over and make an impact.
Mess
Global Moderator
Good series by the Leafs exceeding all expectations in a David vs Goliath battle that was closer and more competitive them most gave them credit for going in.
Leafs should be proud of their compete level against a top Cup contender.
Leafs should be proud of their compete level against a top Cup contender.
Just remember one thing, Folks...
This is the only the beginning... The next 100 years of Leafs history has just begun...
The "Leafs" are rising off the ground.., back onto the tree..
Washington Capitals vs Toronto Maple Leafs - Game Highlights - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Mike Babcock - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Frederik Andersen - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Auston Matthews - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Morgan Rielly - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Nazem Kadri - April 23, 2017
This is the only the beginning... The next 100 years of Leafs history has just begun...
The "Leafs" are rising off the ground.., back onto the tree..
Washington Capitals vs Toronto Maple Leafs - Game Highlights - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Mike Babcock - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Frederik Andersen - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Auston Matthews - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Morgan Rielly - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Nazem Kadri - April 23, 2017
Suntouchable13
Registered User
Nithoniniel
Registered User
Yeah. I said at 2-2 that I still considered them favorites because if there's a change in performance, I can only see them get better and us worse. And they got better.
Morgs
#16 #34 #44 #88 #91
Great series boys, we got beaten by a better team. Simple as that. We played amazing though, and really showed that the difference between us and the best teams in the league is marginal at best. I'm sure someone already posted this, but it's worth another go for people who care about advanced stats:
CF% - 49.58
xGF% - 52.46
SCF% - 52.36
PDO - 100.41
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
CF% - 59.35
xGF% - 60.57
They had no answer for this line. They were arguably the second best line in the entire playoffs after the Arvidsson-Johansen-Forsberg line, and were right there with Malkin-Kessel-Rust.
Also, Gardiner was fantastic, Rielly was good, Hunwick was good for him (in a role that he shouldn't have needed to play), and Zaitsev was brutal - played way over his head.
CF% - 49.58
xGF% - 52.46
SCF% - 52.36
PDO - 100.41
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
CF% - 59.35
xGF% - 60.57
They had no answer for this line. They were arguably the second best line in the entire playoffs after the Arvidsson-Johansen-Forsberg line, and were right there with Malkin-Kessel-Rust.
Also, Gardiner was fantastic, Rielly was good, Hunwick was good for him (in a role that he shouldn't have needed to play), and Zaitsev was brutal - played way over his head.
leafsfuture
Registered User
- Mar 30, 2008
- 6,134
- 183
Time for my rant after a night of reflection.
1. This team absolutely exceeded pre-season expectations, so it was been an absolute success of a season. Over the course of 82 games, I can only think of a handful of guys on our team who didnt play to expectations, but on the whole our team was awesome!
2. I absolutely loved how hard our guys battled and worked - one thing Mirtle and Seigal mentioned on the Leafs Report which I realized is 100% true is that Babcock has gotten everyone on the team to work their butts off. This bodes well for the future.
3. On to the game - the game winning goal resulted directly from Brian Boyle taking the wrong guy off the draw. Kuznetsov wins the draw back to the point, and Matt Martin does the right thing going to the point. Kuznetsov and Justin Williams are close together and Williams stays on the half-wall, while Kuznetsov cuts to the middle. Boyle and Zaitsev are covering. As the man farther up, Boyle should have gone up to Williams, but instead follows Kuznetsov. You see Zaitsev get surprised by this and he kind of has to skate around Boyle and try and get up there. By that time the puck is one net. Boyle (off an icing) made a big positional error. Tough one.
4. That being said, Boyle's line on the whole was much better than the Bozak line, which basically got pinned in their own end every shift. Last night I realized maybe for the first time that Bozak is not the possession anchor on that line... JVR is. Most of the problem is that JVR and Mitch were just looking to counterattack, even on the end of the shift, and several occasions, late shift turnovers just resulted in more D-zone time. Bozak is the one skating hard, trying to get pucks out.
5. Based on point 4, even though JVR is a much better scorer, I am more open to keeping Bozak because I believe his faceoff ability, skating ability, and foechecking ability have value moving forward. I also consider the fact that he is more likely to sign a reasonable extension than JVR is as a selling point of keeping him
6. Hunlak was great down the strech for us. I dont think we can afford to bring both back, especially with Carrick / Marincin / Marchenko all under contract, but I would be open to one returning. Polak's size and strength is desirable, but Hunwick at his best handles the puck a lot better. I would say it depends on the UFA market
1. This team absolutely exceeded pre-season expectations, so it was been an absolute success of a season. Over the course of 82 games, I can only think of a handful of guys on our team who didnt play to expectations, but on the whole our team was awesome!
2. I absolutely loved how hard our guys battled and worked - one thing Mirtle and Seigal mentioned on the Leafs Report which I realized is 100% true is that Babcock has gotten everyone on the team to work their butts off. This bodes well for the future.
3. On to the game - the game winning goal resulted directly from Brian Boyle taking the wrong guy off the draw. Kuznetsov wins the draw back to the point, and Matt Martin does the right thing going to the point. Kuznetsov and Justin Williams are close together and Williams stays on the half-wall, while Kuznetsov cuts to the middle. Boyle and Zaitsev are covering. As the man farther up, Boyle should have gone up to Williams, but instead follows Kuznetsov. You see Zaitsev get surprised by this and he kind of has to skate around Boyle and try and get up there. By that time the puck is one net. Boyle (off an icing) made a big positional error. Tough one.
4. That being said, Boyle's line on the whole was much better than the Bozak line, which basically got pinned in their own end every shift. Last night I realized maybe for the first time that Bozak is not the possession anchor on that line... JVR is. Most of the problem is that JVR and Mitch were just looking to counterattack, even on the end of the shift, and several occasions, late shift turnovers just resulted in more D-zone time. Bozak is the one skating hard, trying to get pucks out.
5. Based on point 4, even though JVR is a much better scorer, I am more open to keeping Bozak because I believe his faceoff ability, skating ability, and foechecking ability have value moving forward. I also consider the fact that he is more likely to sign a reasonable extension than JVR is as a selling point of keeping him
6. Hunlak was great down the strech for us. I dont think we can afford to bring both back, especially with Carrick / Marincin / Marchenko all under contract, but I would be open to one returning. Polak's size and strength is desirable, but Hunwick at his best handles the puck a lot better. I would say it depends on the UFA market
Loosie
The Eternal Optimist
Upset that it's over, but that was a good season overall. Not many people gave us a chance to make the playoffs and when we did we were supposed to get 'steamrolled' by the Caps.
Can't wait for next year, a few upgrades on D and we should be a force next year.
Can't wait for next year, a few upgrades on D and we should be a force next year.
Seath The Scaleless
Paledrake
hockeykicker
Moderator
- Dec 3, 2014
- 35,221
- 12,831
hey all, I had a question, was zaitsev playing with a concussion?
cause this tweet makes it sound like he was which is scary
cause this tweet makes it sound like he was which is scary
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
- 74,003
- 39,748
I'm not turning this into a national anthem singer debate. This guy is alright but the 16 year old girl has some vocals.
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
- 74,003
- 39,748
They are both good.
I've warmed up to Martina, thought she was a little over the top at first but she's settled in. I do like the idea of one singer and watching her grow with the Team, hopefully they don't replace her next year.
PromisedLand
I need more FOOD
Just remember one thing, Folks...
This is the only the beginning... The next 100 years of Leafs history has just begun...
The "Leafs" are rising off the ground.., back onto the tree..
Washington Capitals vs Toronto Maple Leafs - Game Highlights - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Mike Babcock - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Frederik Andersen - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Auston Matthews - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Morgan Rielly - April 23, 2017
Maple Leafs Post-Game: Nazem Kadri - April 23, 2017
post series availability for interviews pretty much shows (IMO) the leadership group for next year
Matthews (C)
Rielly (A)
Kadri (A)
Andy (leader without letter - backbone of the team)
Mess
Global Moderator
Once again this series showed that "defense wins" in the playoffs and Holtby and the Caps held the Leafs to just 1 goal in pivotal games #5 and #6.
Only Awesome Auston was able to score in the final 2 games and Leafs offense dried up and it was game over.
Only Awesome Auston was able to score in the final 2 games and Leafs offense dried up and it was game over.
Suntouchable13
Registered User
It dried up, plus we stopped getting bounces (the bounce of the glass notwithstanding).
Mess
Global Moderator
Early one Leafs did get some bounces going their way no doubt as strange goals were going past Holby that tipped off players or deflected right to open Leafs.
Without the help of the glass yesterday it would have been a shutout for Caps in the deciding game.
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