It’s too late

[Goonface2k14]

I know its a big stretch and this is anecdotal, but this is what I thought of when we went down 2-0 on Saturday night...

Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs Box Score — April 23, 1993 | Hockey-Reference.com

That was game 3 after returning home, and we all know what happened after that.

 

[ottomaddox]

I know its a big stretch and this is anecdotal, but this is what I thought of when we went down 2-0 on Saturday night...

Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs Box Score — April 23, 1993 | Hockey-Reference.com

That was game 3 after returning home, and we all know what happened after that.

Do you know who DET's starting goalie was?

 

[NoName]

We have gotten blown out twice, so it looks bad. It is bad, but not quite as bad as the optics suggest:

We now have two games at home; we have no room for error and have to win both those games, but two narrow victories at home and we would be all knotted up in the actual best-of-seven series; goal differential is irrelevant... Of course if Boston wins either of the next two the series is pretty much done.

Case in point, we are in a better situation then the Kings, who even though they have largely dominated Vegas and all the games have been razor close on the score-sheet, find themselves down 3-0 in the series.

 

[Goonface2k14]

Do you know who DET's starting goalie was?

Chevy.

I loved his mask, that bright red paint with the white cage... solid look, not so solid goaltending.

 

[Tak7]

We have gotten blown out twice, so it looks bad. It is bad, but not quite as bad as the optics suggest:

We now have two games at home; we have no room for error and have to win both those games, but two narrow victories at home and we would be all knotted up in the actual best-of-seven series; goal differential is irrelevant... Of course if Boston wins either of the next two the series is pretty much done.

Case in point, we are in a better situation then the Kings, who even though they have largely dominated Vegas and all the games have been razor close on the score-sheet, find themselves down 3-0 in the series.

Vegas dominated the Kings in the 2 games in Vegas.

Thought the Kings were unlucky last night, but Vegas is every bit worthy of their 3-0 lead.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Jeff O’Neill articulates the Leafs looming playoff crisis, can they with-stand the physical pounding as opponents focus on their frailty.

Jeff O’Neill, the TV commentator/analyst, opined that the Leafs has “no pyhsicality’ and that this needed to change or they would be physically crushed in the playoffs.

Heh.
So for those predictions look PRETTY GOOD.

 

[ToneDog]

Heh.
So for those predictions look PRETTY GOOD.

Healy also predicted Leafs would get crushed.

 

[ottomaddox]

Just to add Tampa showed a lot of physicality this season against the leafs too.

 

[NoName]

Vegas dominated the Kings in the 2 games in Vegas.

Thought the Kings were unlucky last night, but Vegas is every bit worthy of their 3-0 lead.

The gap between the Kings and the Golden Knights (and as another example the Capitals and the Blue Jackets) is far more narrow then the Bruins and the Leafs, where the Buds have gotten absolutely crushed about 4 periods out of 6 and suffered two blowouts... but overall they are still in a much better position then either the Kings or the Caps (who now have to win in Columbus to stay alive).

And as far as 3-0 series leads go, yes Vegas' is deceptive. They haven't blown away the Kings three straight games, they won two very narrowly at home and stole a win on the road while being outplayed. Vegas is doing what Vegas does here; pull wins out of their a*s. Respect to them for that.

 

[Tak7]

The gap between the Kings and the Golden Knights (and as another example the Capitals and the Blue Jackets) is far more narrow then the Bruins and the Leafs, where the Buds have gotten absolutely crushed about 4 periods out of 6 and suffered two blowouts... but overall they are still in a much better position then either the Kings or the Caps (who now have to win in Columbus to stay alive).

And as far as 3-0 series leads go, yes Vegas' is deceptive. They haven't blown away the Kings three straight games, they won two very narrowly at home and stole a win on the road while being outplayed. Vegas is doing what Vegas does here; pull wins out of their a*s. Respect to them for that.

Quick is the only reason the Vegas games were close - they were heavily outshot, outchanced, and outplayed.

The only thing deceptive has been the low scoring.

 

[Goonface2k14]

Leafs started badly in game 1 and could never catch up, despite a tying goal from Hyman and a stronger second period where they did everything but tie it. Maybe that game turns out differently if Marner's shot goes into the open net (not saying he should've scored, just saying how close it was). That felt like a big turning point, in that moment.

Great start to game 2, but partly the same story, as Boston is more opportunistic. Terrible defensive zone coverage (especially Zaitsev) and coaching (Leo should not be on the top line) is most worrying, but maybe that game goes differently if Kap scores instead of hitting the post. Memories of Matt Frattin for all.

There's a chance, but it must start tonight, or the season is over.

Let's go.

 

[Dzonna]

Do you know who DET's starting goalie was?

Was it Steve Yzerman ?

 

[Menzinger]

A lot of people need to return to this thread and eat crow.

My sadness / disappointment started at the trade deadline. When Plekanec was our only deadline move I knew we were in trouble.

I understand that if the deals aren't there then there's nothing you can do about it.

I know the series isn't over, but I wouldn't be surprised if Babcock doesn't throw in the towel (first time in NHL history that a 7 game series was won in 3). I am shocked by TOR's response to Boston, but I am not surprised that the ref's whistles have been put away.

Keeping things in perspective we are early in the rebuild and a lot of teams like TOR go through these issues. Perhaps we don't know the extent of Matthews' injuries either.

I love the Leafs. I hope something positive comes out of this disaster.

But the Leafs HAVE been matching the Bruins in terms of hits and puck battles, folks are acting.

Biggest problem so far has been special teams - the Leafs PK is garbage and a Bruins ultra skilled PP is lightening them up. The Bruins so far this series are averaging 2.5 pp goals a game - any team that does this is going to dominate the scoreboard

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Hitting isn't why the Leafs are losing. Boston was overwhelming in the first ten minutes of game one but haven't been anything crazy in the last 50 minutes. Not scoring on the PP, bad goaltending, no PK etc is why the Leafs are down 2. Physicality isn't even in the top 5 reasons.

 

[Stephen]

I know its a big stretch and this is anecdotal, but this is what I thought of when we went down 2-0 on Saturday night...

Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs Box Score — April 23, 1993 | Hockey-Reference.com

That was game 3 after returning home, and we all know what happened after that.

Problem with this analogy is we are more the young Detroit Red Wings than the Toronto Maple Leafs of 1993 with the veteran savvy to come back. We will see though.

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

It's never too late but the way this team played the first 2 games, it's pretty hard to comeback from that because the other team is full of confidence after dominating opponents in every single way.

Dominated on PK-check
Dominated on PP-check
Dominated on ES-check
Dominated by goalie-check
Dominated by defence-check
Dominated by offence-check.

There is not a single flaw in their game and there is not a single good thing in our game.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

There is always puck luck.

 

[Goonface2k14]

Problem with this analogy is we are more the young Detroit Red Wings than the Toronto Maple Leafs of 1993 with the veteran savvy to come back. We will see though.

Yes, two very different teams, just pointing out the 2-0 deficit on the road. Nobody expected them to come back, and they did.

Gotta win tonight.

 

[Stephen]

Yes, two very different teams, just pointing out the 2-0 deficit on the road. Nobody expected them to come back, and they did.

Gotta win tonight.

The Leafs took a 2-0 lead against the Blackhawks in 1994 and 1995 and the Hawks came back to lose in 6 in 94 and won in 6 in 95.

The 2013 Leafs fell behind 3-1 to the Bruins which is way worse than 2-0. They came back to force a game seven.

 

[SportsJunkie]

Please win tonight! Let us enjoy some playoff hockey.

 

[nsleaf]

One win means at least one more game to watch, Go Leafs!

 

[NoName]

Quick is the only reason the Vegas games were close - they were heavily outshot, outchanced, and outplayed.

The only thing deceptive has been the low scoring.

The only game Vegas outshot LA was game 2. This has been a hard-fought series, not a slaughterhouse, as the 3-0 Vegas lead would suggest, but that is the playoffs for you.

 

[klamla]

they won