Series Talk: Leafs vs Bruins - 'ah shit here we go again' edition -- Full schedule post #933

[Rob Brown]

The West isn’t playing until Monday

There are two west games on Sunday.

Colorado - two days off like us (last game last night)
Winnipeg - two days off like us (last game last night)

Vancouver - two days off like us (last game last night)
Nashville - five days off (last game Monday, this is the big outlier in terms of time off)

 

[Jmo89]

Can't allow freebies goals in the playoffs, (its always game 7 when the softest goals go in). I'd expect the goalie to always make routine saves.

But the team needs to really crack down on giving up odd man rushes and boxing out in front of the net. Most of the time Toronto gives up high end chances is because they are trying to cheat for offence.

I agree, but then there's the worry that they focus too much on defence and the offence dries up. Boston likely has the advantage in 1-0, 2-1, etc. style games.

They definitely have their work cut out for them. Hopefully the goaltending is decent and Keefe isn't a pumpkin... Then there's the core 4 and their issues.

 

[Divine]

There are two west games on Sunday.

Colorado - two days off like us (last game last night)
Winnipeg - two days off like us (last game last night)

Vancouver - two days off like us (last game last night)
Nashville - five days off (last game Monday, this is the big outlier in terms of time off)

Yeah, but unlike the other teams the Leafs ended the season on a back to back.

A bunch of Monday starts. Carolina/Florida/Boston/NYR/all got more days off despite us ending the season with a back to back.

 

[MSZ]

Glad the games during the week are at 7pm. I need wind down time to sleep

If only those games don't go to double OT.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Can't allow freebies goals in the playoffs, (its always game 7 when the softest goals go in). I'd expect the goalie to always make routine saves.

But the team needs to really crack down on giving up odd man rushes and boxing out in front of the net. Most of the time Toronto gives up high end chances is because they are trying to cheat for offence.

Also the forwards cheating away once our defense gets possession often creates too big a gap between them that leads to a lot of turnovers around our line. Often they turn it over a few feet inside our line which is crazy.

Infuriating to watch the Leafs make the same dumb mistakes over and over and over.

 

[56 Years No Cup]

It's a funny team our Leafs. When we show up, play hard the full game, and play the way that we can, we can be competitive with anyone. When we forget the details, or give less than a whole effort, games like the last few happen.

Which team shows up against Boston... who knows?

 

[Rob Brown]

Yeah, but unlike the other teams the Leafs ended the season on a back to back.

A bunch of Monday starts. Carolina/Florida/Boston/NYR/all got more days off despite us ending the season with a back to back.

It is what it is.

 

[wingman75]

Half the West isn’t playing until Monday

Because a lot of the west playoff teams didn't finish until last night. Rink availability and TV scheduling play a part. Won't be consistent for all.

I feel 2 days off is more than enough.

 

[Evilhomer]

I expect almost every game in this series to go to overtime, which I think will favour the Leafs with their offense. Samsonov has a funny way of elevating his play later in games (most of his blow-ups have generally been early in games), and the Leafs' ability to generate chances should lead to OT goals.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Game 3 Wednesday and game 4 Saturday is a nice break in the middle of the series. Lets hope we are up 2-1 heading into that break.

 

[Torontonian]

I agree, but then there's the worry that they focus too much on defence and the offence dries up. Boston likely has the advantage in 1-0, 2-1, etc. style games.

They definitely have their work cut out for them. Hopefully the goaltending is decent and Keefe isn't a pumpkin... Then there's the core 4 and their issues.

Sadly, that's how you win in the playoffs. Grind it out defensively and work hard in the o-zone to get your chances.

Toronto has to be and should be comfortable (they are not, which is why we haven't won more then a round in 7 years), playing in 2-1 games, 3-2 games.

The really solid contenders in the league make it hell for you to get your chances in the o-zone, they don't gift 5 or 6 quality chances a night.

 

[crump]

Wow... finally saw the first round schedule. Kinda surprised. Not big on the 8pm starts but really I can't complain too much. That's a pretty nice opening round schedule I think.

No back to backs is good

 

[Jmo89]

Sadly, that's how you win in the playoffs. Grind it out defensively and work hard in the o-zone to get your chances.

Toronto has to be and should be comfortable (they are not, which is why we haven't won more then a round in 7 years), playing in 2-1 games, 3-2 games.

The really solid contenders in the league make it hell for you to get your chances in the o-zone, they don't gift 5 or 6 quality chances a night.

Agreed. They'll have a better chance if they're playing by the same rulebook as Boston.

 

[OVO16]

Was hoping for a later start date and some recovery time.

Domi and McMann us crucial for us to have for both offensive and physicality purposes

 

[OddyOh]

Just hoping Sammy can stop the first shot each game. Didn’t see enough of that this year.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

It seems in the past with the goalies the biggest issue was giving up the untimely soft goal.
I don't think there's much the defense can do about that.


Why is that important?

I just love a Saturday night playoff game

 

[crump]

ulmark/swayman had been horrible last 2 year in playoff and the main reason they lost

Good point. If we/others are going to use narratives from our past failures then we can do it for the Bruins as well. Hopefully their goalies fold again this year.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I'll be disappointed if Marchand doesn't troll Marner.

"Highly skilled player, probably should get 14AAV" type comment.

Just hoping Sammy can stop the first shot each game. Didn’t see enough of that this year.

Dare to Dream.

 

[1specter]

Matthews vs McAvoy this year (5v5):
23min, 80% CF, 89% xGF, 100% GF

Matthews vs Lindholm this year (5v5):
22min, 53% CF, 52% xGF, 33% GF

I see why Boston is putting them together as they'll need both guys to have any hope of locking down Matthews. JT/Marner/Nylander will need to exploit their matchups cause they'll be getting the leftovers, at least to start.

 

[Mess]

Not exactly entering the playoffs on a strong note.

4 straight losses while attempting to secure home ice in round #1 with 3 different Leaf goalies all surrendering 5 or more goals.

Leafs likely starter Sammy allowing 11 goals against posting a .700 sv% surrendering 6 against NJ and then 5 goals (.844 sv%) against 2 non playoff teams.

A Leafs team far to focused on personal best player marks, then preparing as a team for what is expected to be a hard fought and physical series, which to me shows a lack of maturity and misguided priorities not putting team and playoff success first and foremost in preparation for what is ahead. IMO

 

[Rob Brown]

Not exactly entering the playoffs on a strong note.

4 straight losses while attempting to secure home ice in round #1 with 3 different Leaf goalies all surrendering 5 or more goals.

View attachment 855128

Leafs likely starter Sammy allowing 11 goals against posting a .700 sv% surrendering 6 against NJ and then 5 goals (.844 sv%) against 2 non playoff teams.

A Leafs team far to focused on personal best player marks, then preparing as a team for what is expected to be a hard fought and physical series, which to me shows a lack of maturity and misguided priorities not putting team and playoff success first and foremost in preparation for what is ahead. IMO

You were expecting a chance at home ice? I thought that idea was gone a long time ago.

Your posts in general always sound so negative lol.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

This has to be or should be concerning and that is goaltending.

Save Percentage and Goals Against Average

View attachment 854526

VS.

View attachment 854527

& Goals Saved Above Expected

View attachment 854528

Hard to ignore this vastly difference in goalie performance heading into this series as this position is mission critical to playoff success IMO.

If one looked at those figures then Leafs chances of success realistically don't look very good and that doesn't even factor in Boston has home ice advantage in the Series.

Very depressing.

 

[kevsh]

Vasi was horrible last year and was the main reason they lost.

Yes, and that's the problem with assuming that we have any disadvantage in net vs. other teams: Other goalies can be bad too.
And the Bruins' goalies don't exactly have a stellar post-season record to date. Perception vs. reality, and reality is Samsonov can be as good as either of them (or just not as bad).

 

[Drytoast]

It's a funny team our Leafs. When we show up, play hard the full game, and play the way that we can, we can be competitive with anyone. When we forget the details, or give less than a whole effort, games like the last few happen.

Which team shows up against Boston... who knows?

That's every team in the league. The difference is how many times each team has the ability to do this.

Boston does it way more frequently than we do.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

And the Bruins' goalies don't exactly have a stellar post-season record to date.

They are on pace, barring some miracle, to pad their post season stats.

Swayman HAS OWNED the Leafs this year. 4 GAA total in 3 games.

We'll need the Hockey Gods and their puck luck to beat Boston.

We matchup better against probably any other team in the League.

Nightmare scenario.