Pre-Game Talk: Leafs @ Lightning, Thursday Night

[Mugzy97]

Don't need to say much more than this being a major game tomorrow night in terms of playoff positioning.

Boston has 2 games in 2 nights here that won't be easy. If they can throw up two regulation L's it'll give us a better shot in the long run.

Other important games tonight, tomorrow, and Friday:

BOS @ CAL

WIN @ NYI
FLA @ CLB
TOR @ TBL
BOS @ EDM

FLA @ NYR

Underlined teams in the thick of the Eastern Playoff chase.

Click to read more...

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Calgary's streak will end tonight.

(Just Leafy things!)

 

[Xscout*]

Yeah I've no hope for playoffs anymore.
Seems like everyone we're in the race with has an easier schedule and we're facing Washington and Pittsburgh every other night...

Good example ... hearing stammer might be back in the lineup for tb Thursday...

Hope springs eternal.. but bummer

 

[Suntouchable13]

Yeah I've no hope for playoffs anymore.
Seems like everyone we're in the race with has an easier schedule and we're facing Washington and Pittsburgh every other night...

Good example ... hearing stammer might be back in the lineup for tb Thursday...

Hope springs eternal.. but bummer

I still have hope that this will come down to the last 2 games or so. I guess we'll see if we still have a chair once the music stops playing. But, Leafs have to have this game. If not, then my hope definitely dwindles by a lot.

 

[Community]

I just find it funny how so many people think our playoff chances are over (good portion of them are probably the doom and gloom posters that thought our team would be bottom 3 again). Leafs are 1pt behind with 1 less game played. They beat TBay in regulation they're in a great position. Hell, even if we lose we'll be 3pts back with a game in hand on Tbay with another game against them.

A win here would be huge, but even this game is not season ending so stop with all the doom and gloom in the GDT please!


On to the actual game. TBL are grinding out wins so I hope our skill is evident in this one as, with their injuries, we are definitely the more skilled team. Gotta work on our team defense and we better come out flying for once after that **** show last night.


Edit: Gotta shut down Drouin, Kucherov, and Hedman. A tough task, but after that their offensive talent takes a significant dip.

 

[Suntouchable13]

I just find it funny how so many people think our playoff chances are over (good portion of them are probably the doom and gloom posters that thought our team would be bottom 3 again). Leafs are 1pt behind with 1 less game played. They beat TBay in regulation they're in a great position. Hell, even if we lose we'll be 3pts back with a game in hand on Tbay with another game against them.

A win here would be huge, but even this game is not season ending so stop with all the doom and gloom in the GDT please!


On to the actual game. TBL are grinding out wins so I hope our skill is evident in this one as, with their injuries, we are definitely the more skilled team. Gotta work on our team defense and we better come out flying for once after that **** show last night.

Meh, if they lose they are donezo. Not going to make the playoffs by winning 3 then losing 2. 13 games left after, when are they going to get hot? When it's too late?

 

[stickty111]

One bad game and all hope is lost?
I think the Islanders should have packed it in after allowing 8 goals. Oh wait they dont think that way.

 

[member 262271]

Will the team show up for the whole 60 minutes? We'll see..

EDIT: Showing up for the first minute would be cool too.

 

[frog]

Meh, if they lose they are donezo. Not going to make the playoffs by winning 3 then losing 2. 13 games left after, when are they going to get hot? When it's too late?

Agreed, tomorrow is make or break. If they win I like their chances.. if they lose its hard to catch up to both bolts and islanders. Bruins are hot right now too.

 

[kk87]

Off the top of my head, the Lightning have six centres missing that they had at the start of the year. SIX. Stamkos, Johnson, Boyle, Filppula, Namestnikov, Paquette. That is utterly ridiculous, we have to win this game

 

[Daisy Jane]

for the most part the Leafs need to go 8-6-3 (1?) i can't remember and i'm in a rush.

we have 1 in the loss row. so it's not a "must win" - just try to get a point.

 

[stickty111]

for the most part the Leafs need to go 8-6-3 (1?) i can't remember and i'm in a rush.

we have 1 in the loss row. so it's not a "must win" - just try to get a point.

I think its 7-4-3. We have 14 games left.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[Duffman955]

Lightning lineup looks like ****. We should win easy if we actually are a playoff team

 

[Mugzy97]

Wonder what's going on with him? Rest day? Visiting friends?

 

[BertCorbeau]

Lightning lineup looks like ****. We should win easy if we actually are a playoff team

Despite their injuries Tampa is on a really good run right now somehow.

It's not an easy win

 

[hamzarocks]

If leivo doesnt play this game than the media has to call babcock out. He needs to be reinserted in the lineup aND play with Matthews

 

[BertCorbeau]

for the most part the Leafs need to go 8-6-3 (1?) i can't remember and i'm in a rush.

we have 1 in the loss row. so it's not a "must win" - just try to get a point.

The X factor though is that this game is against a team they're in direct competition for a playoff spot .. It could be a potential 4 point swing if it ends in regulation.

I wouldn't say it's a "must win" but it's certainly a big opportunity that shouldn't be missed out on.

 

[Hotlanta]

Would love to see Marchenko and Leivo in. Shake everything up.

Leivo - Matthews - Marner
Komarov - Kadri - Nylander
JVR - Bozak - Brown
Hyman - Boyle - Sosh

Gardiner - Zaitsev
Rielly - Marchenko
Hunwick - Polak

Would take Carrick over Marchenko if he is ready to go. Only reason for Hyman/Sosh over Martin is their PK skills.

 

[ryno23]

If I am babcock tonight I am going all bat**** crazy and swapping everything up and putting the kids out there and testing them saying you go we go.

I am running this lineup

Nylander - Matthews - Marner
Reilly - Gardiner

Let our 5 best skill guys run wild tonight and hopefully they own the puck the whole night and you don't have to worry about playing D. Reilly and Gards actually played together for a while was it last year or the year before and were an actual decent pair as they know each other so well they moved the puck with little plays and avoided getting pinned in their own zone.

play them head to head against TB best line

Komorov - Kadri - Hyman
Hunwick -Polak

use this a a defensive line and let them grind out the other teams 2nd line and hopefully chip in offensively

JVR - Bozak - Leivo
Marchenko - Zeitsev

A better D pairing to go with this line and they can dominate TB 3rd line and become our biggest scoring threat line

Martin - Boyle - Sosh
any pairing split up ice time between the 3 pairings

I would sit Hyman before Brown but we know Babs won't so no need to write Hyman out of the lineup.

I don't mind giving Brown a breather and a night sitting out won't hurt.

I really want to see that 1st group run wild

 

[ACC1224]

I'm guessing there were some butts kicked at practice today?

 

[PuckMagi]

Would love to see Marchenko and Leivo in. Shake everything up.

Leivo - Matthews - Marner
Komarov - Kadri - Nylander
JVR - Bozak - Brown
Hyman - Boyle - Sosh

Gardiner - Zaitsev
Rielly - Marchenko
Hunwick - Polak

Would take Carrick over Marchenko if he is ready to go. Only reason for Hyman/Sosh over Martin is their PK skills.

This would be awesome. So much better than Babcrap's lines.

I would also be tempted to go with Dermott - Carrick over Hunlack for a playoff push.

 

[member 262271]

Lightning lineup looks like ****. We should win easy if we actually are a playoff team

Other than the easy part I totally agree. If we win it'll likely look like crap but still feel pretty damn good.

 

[stickty111]

Would love to see Marchenko and Leivo in. Shake everything up.

Leivo - Matthews - Marner
Komarov - Kadri - Nylander
JVR - Bozak - Brown
Hyman - Boyle - Sosh

Gardiner - Zaitsev
Rielly - Marchenko
Hunwick - Polak

Would take Carrick over Marchenko if he is ready to go. Only reason for Hyman/Sosh over Martin is their PK skills.

I wouldnt mind this. Not Bab(whatever dumb name they attach to his name) but more like maybe Babcock should try this.

 

[1specter]

Lightning lineup looks like ****. We should win easy if we actually are a playoff team

Tampa is 12-3-3 since February 1st.