Playoff series: Toronto vs. Montreal. Who takes it?

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

This is the best possible matchup for Toronto. Even their D is better than Montreals. Everything on Price, but still went Toronto in 5.

The best possible matchup would be either Calgary or Vancouver, for the exact same reason and that is that either team would have to go on a wild run to get in leaving both completely spent by playoff time.

 

[Captain97]

This is the best possible matchup for Toronto. Even their D is better than Montreals. Everything on Price, but still went Toronto in 5.

Actually it's probably their second worst. Toronto has struggled ginding against physical teams in the playoffs recently.

We also saw similar problems faced by Tampa.

Only team I think that would be worse for the leafs in the Canadian division is the Jets as I feel like they are a better version of the Habs the same way the leafs are a better version of the Oilers.

 

[SpezDispenser]

The best possible matchup would be either Calgary or Vancouver, for the exact same reason and that is that either team would have to go on a wild run to get in leaving both completely spent by playoff time.

Yeah, probably. I didnt realize how adequate Vancouver was until recently

 

[CherryToke]

The Leafs should take this if Thornton can hold his emotions in check

 

[Garthinater]

Leafs like making it close but have yet to win a single series with this core. Add on how few teams have won even a single round with one player making over 10mil. I'd say Montreal in 7.

I could've made so much money betting against the leafs over the years.

 

[Taluss]

Leafs in 6, but I think the Habs can definitely give em a run for their money or stretch it out t0 7 games

 

[Future GOAT]

I think the Leafs would handle the Abs in 5.

 

[Knies iT]

Actually it's probably their second worst. Toronto has struggled ginding against physical teams in the playoffs recently.

We also saw similar problems faced by Tampa.

Only team I think that would be worse for the leafs in the Canadian division is the Jets as I feel like they are a better version of the Habs the same way the leafs are a better version of the Oilers.

Hilarious that you are conflating the Habs "grinding" game with that of prime Boston, Washington, and Columbus. All three of those teams were some of the heaviest clubs in the league with top notch coaching/systems. MTL has nothing close to Werenski-Jones or Chara-McAvoy and Ducharme is clueless.

The Habs are a homeless version of those teams. The Leafs were also overwhelming underdogs in 3/4 of those series, yet they "struggled" to take the favourites to 7 games, down to the wire. Not to mention this Leafs team is way more built for a dog fight of a series. Simmonds, Foligno, Bogosian, Muzzin, Holl, Hyman, Thornton, Noesen, etc. can hang in there physically with anything in the division.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

The #4 seed in the North is complete ass, regardless of which team ends up in that spot between Vancouver, Montreal or Calgary. Toronto is winning in 5 games regardless of who they face (gotta give a bit of leeway for a hot goaltending performance or poor puck luck in one game).

 

[Hostile Offer]

Jake Allen would be #3 on the depth chart in Toronto

While I don't think a team that has Jake Allen as their starter in the playoffs is gonna go far, LOL no he wouldn't be the 3rd string guy on the Leafs.

 

[The90]

I feel like if it gets to game 6 the Habs win in 7

A long series against the Habs will be brutal.

So I think it will either be

Leafs in 5

Or

Habs in 7

Habs biggest issue for a lot of the season is dumb penalties from being overly aggressive. Those don't get called in the playoffs much.

Our starting Dcore

Chiarot 6'3 - Weber 6'4
Edmunson 6'4 - Petry 6'3
Romanov 6'0 - Merril 6'3

(Romanov lays the most big hits)

Along with Anderson, KK, Perry, Armia. That's a lot of big bodies to wear down players.

In the end I'll vote for the Habs in 7 cause murder is legal in the playoffs.

Now do size as a team. Who’s a bigger team? Oh, right. We had to nit pick a stat to show the Habs are bigger. They also have lead feet back there aside from Romanov and Petry to a lesser extent.

 

[Mattavarner]

Now do hutch vs Allen. Good times

"Compare your 4th stringer to our backup so I can find a stat that supports my argument"

 

[bobholly39]

The best possible matchup would be either Calgary or Vancouver, for the exact same reason and that is that either team would have to go on a wild run to get in leaving both completely spent by playoff time.

For Calgary or Vancouver to make the playoffs, they'd have to go on some crazy winning streak - like 7-8 straight wins or something.

That's your best case scenario? Leafs haven't won a playoff round in ages, and to counter that you're hoping to play the hypothetical hottest team in the league heading into the playoffs?

 

[The90]

"Compare your 4th stringer to our backup so I can find a stat that supports my argument"

Literally the point of what I said. He made something up and I proved how stupid it was. I don’t think hutch is as good as Allen, but campbell has had better numbers over multiple seasons, yes in less games.

 

[bobholly39]

Just to put this out there.

Montreal is 6 points behind Winnipeg, with 1 game in hand. Let's say they win that game in hand, it's now 4 points. And the 2 teams play each other this week.

I'd love a Toronto/Montreal matchup, but I don't think the standings are necessarily set in-stone yet. Montreal seems to have a better chance of catching Winnipeg than they do of falling out of playoff spot.

 

[ole ole]

The truth is Carey Price isn't Carey Price anymore and hasn't been in years, at his peak he was the best goalie in the game but he's not that anymore and without him being that guy I don't see how Montreal wins

He just has to be better than what the Leafs have in net and that should be quite easily done.

But in all seriousness it depends on which team we face. The regular season Leafs or the constant choking playoff Leafs.

 

[sharks9]

Depends how healthy we are when the playoffs start. Obviously getting Gallagher back would be a huge boost, along with if Byron, Drouin, and Tatar who have all been day-to-day lately can be fully healed in time for the playoffs

But we've been competitive in pretty much every game with the Leafs this year, obviously their high-powered offense will always be dangerous but the lack of penalties in the playoffs should favour us over them

 

[GoBuds14]

I find the Leafs round 1 struggles a bit overblown. They were not the better team against Boston either time, and especially against Washington. They were very competitive in those series. The Columbus series was one that they absolutely should have won. This years team is quite different from years past.

That being said, Montreal has the ability to steal a series. The potential for hot goaltending is there and they have good depth. They have huge question marks still on elite skill, defence, and goaltending has been mediocre at best.

The Leafs certainly have goaltending and defence issues as well which can open the door for a hardworking team like Montreal

 

[Byron Bitz]

Only way the Habs win is if they rise to the occasion to perform at their best and the Leafs falter. This very well could happen. But when you look at both rosters and look at the standings the Leafs should win this series.

 

[Byron Bitz]

I find the Leafs round 1 struggles a bit overblown. They were not the better team against Boston either time, and especially against Washington. They were very competitive in those series. The Columbus series was one that they absolutely should have won. This years team is quite different from years past.

That being said, Montreal has the ability to steal a series. The potential for hot goaltending is there and they have good depth. They have huge question marks still on elite skill, defence, and goaltending has been mediocre at best.

The Leafs certainly have goaltending and defence issues as well which can open the door for a hardworking team like Montreal

I’m not convinced the Habs have better defence

 

[93gilmour93]

Habs will get killed down the middle by Matthews/Tavares and don't have a winger that can match the skill of Marner or Nylander. The leafs offense will be to much for Montreal

 

[Garthinater]

I find the Leafs round 1 struggles a bit overblown. They were not the better team against Boston either time, and especially against Washington. They were very competitive in those series. The Columbus series was one that they absolutely should have won. This years team is quite different from years past.

That being said, Montreal has the ability to steal a series. The potential for hot goaltending is there and they have good depth. They have huge question marks still on elite skill, defence, and goaltending has been mediocre at best.

The Leafs certainly have goaltending and defence issues as well which can open the door for a hardworking team like Montreal

You don't have to be the better regular season team to win a series in the playoffs.

The fact this core hasn't been able to rise above and win even a single series is definitely cause for concern. Losing to columbus proved that having more skill doesn't automatically mean we win. It takes heart and will, something the leafs haven't shown yet.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Habs will get killed down the middle by Matthews/Tavares and don't have a winger that can match the skill of Marner or Nylander. The leafs offense will be to much for Montreal

Toffoli and Anderson have 11 more goals than Marner/Nylander.

 

[93gilmour93]

Toffoli and Anderson have 11 more goals than Marner/Nylander.

Well if we are comparing the goal scorers let's compare Toffoli and Anderson to Matthews and Tavares.

If you want to compare play makers who's better than Marner and Nylander?

 

[Golden_Jet]

Well if we are comparing the goal scorers let's compare Toffoli and Anderson to Matthews and Tavares.

If you want to compare play makers who's better than Marner and Nylander?

I chose to compare wingers, as you said who’s better than Marner , Nylander on wing.
Centre comparisons you win.