Pre-Game Talk: Time to talk Playoffs

[Stephen]

I mean....the leafs were in control of the game all the way.

2 goals when they had an extra skater. It happens.

Can’t win them all. No real strong feelings about this one.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Except the one I've been cheering for has been the exact same my entire life except for 4 years. I get what you are saying. I will patiently wait for the playoffs to come to be amazed... hopefully. I am 100% onboard, but a big piece of me is saying 'hey man, been down this road before, calm your shit'.

Sure, I get what you're saying as well, probably best to not get too excited. Don't get too high when things are going good, don't get too down when things are going bad and just stay steady is probably a good idea for life in general. So if the excitement of the last few months is tempered by the decades that came before that, that's completely understandable. And if would be very Leafy if last nights loss costs us the 1st round MTL matchup that I've been waiting for for 42 years, I'm still pissed TBH and if I believed in signs, that would not be a good one.

 

[The Assclown]

Sure, I get what you're saying as well, probably best to not get too excited. Don't get too high when things are going good, don't get too down when things are going bad and just stay steady is probably a good idea for life in general. So if the excitement of the last few months is tempered by the decades that came before that, that's completely understandable. And if would be very Leafy if last nights loss costs us the 1st round MTL matchup that I've been waiting for for 42 years, I'm still pissed TBH and if I believed in signs, that would not be a good one.

Well said. I completely agree. I've been dying to see a Leafs-Habs matchup in the playoffs and that outcome just took a significant hit.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Legitimately thinking that the Oilers run the table against Vancouver in their remaining 4 games .. With two more games left against the Habs.

The divisional race could be a lot closer than we think.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Legitimately thinking that the Oilers run the table against Vancouver in their remaining 4 games .. With two more games left against the Habs.

The divisional race could be a lot closer than we think.

Yeah it's pretty amazing how much so many different aspects of our divisional race have changed in such a short time. I want to play MTL and I've gone from hoping they stay ahead of CAL to hoping they don't pass WPG and now considering the possibility of EDM catching us all in the span of a week or so, just ridiculous.

I can even live with EDM catching us if it means we play MTL, I just want MTL and I want them bad. I don't care if we get them in the 1st round or the 2nd round, please just make it happen. If it doesn't happen this season then I just dunno, might not ever get to see it in my lifetime. I understand that life's not fair but damn it, it's so hard to take sometimes.

 

[Mess]

idk playoff McD could be the second coming of the great one...we cant take any team lightly. our playoff history has been very bad. i would be happy to just get past the first round vs the Jets.

Montreal's best player Carey Price is in concussion protocol .. The Jets have lost 7 straight games and Tyson Barrie is playing what they call Defense in Edmonton.

Montreal, Winnipeg and/or Edmonton are the only 3 teams standing between Leafs and the final 4. There isn't a serious legitimate Cup contender among them. IMO

Toronto has been gifted a golden opportunity here for a path to success. So while I agree 100% you can't take any team lightly nor for granted, but this is likely going to be the easiest path for Toronto to advance as Div champs and play as the favourites in the 1st 2 X rounds in a long time, and disappear once we return to normalcy again starting next year.

Toronto will enter the first 2 rounds as the heavy favourites in their series and if they lose it would be considered an upset and the underdogs having prevailed.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Legitimately thinking that the Oilers run the table against Vancouver in their remaining 4 games .. With two more games left against the Habs.

The divisional race could be a lot closer than we think.

I mean...they run the table that puts them at 76 points. We are at 72 points right now. So if we go 2-2 the Oilers have to win there next 6 games straight. That doesn't exactly sound close to me. Not to mention that if we get a 5th point it is just over and they can't catch us.

 

[TheProspector]

Ye all of little faith. This is the team, boys.

 

[seanlinden]

You look at the powerplay goal that Mtl scored last night, and wonder if the simplest solution might be moving, or removing Marner on the PP.

With these 2 guys on the half boards / faceoff dot areas, every play is "telegraphed". Teams know that Marner isn't shooting it, and that he's simply looking to get the puck to Matthews. Imagine putting William Nylander in that spot -- a guy who is a dual threat to both pass and shoot. It'll create more rebound opportunities for JT. Either put Marner down low, or take him off PP1 entirely.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I mean...they run the table that puts them at 76 points. We are at 72 points right now. So if we go 2-2 the Oilers have to win there next 6 games straight. That doesn't exactly sound close to me. Not to mention that if we get a 5th point it is just over and they can't catch us.

This is the Leafs' we're talking about. Losing the division in the final games of the season after holding the lead for so long, is a Leaf-y thing to happen.

Also they've won 1 division title in the last 50 years. It'd be a nice thing to have.

 

[Carltons Cup]

Can’t win them all. No real strong feelings about this one.

Agreed. They controlled most of the game.

My biggest takeaway from this game was Foligno leaving the game. Hopefully, it's nothing major.

 

[Mess]

Vegas Stanley Cup oddsmakers .. Our Leafs are clear favourites to come out of the North Div.

Leafs are at 8-1 odds while Edmonton is 20-1 and Winnipeg and Montreal both at 25-1 currently.

2021 NHL Stanley Cup Odds

Odds To Win 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final

Team	American	Fractional
Colorado Avalanche	+450	9/2
Vegas Golden Knights	+550	11/2
Tampa Bay Lightning	+750	15/2
Toronto Maple Leafs	+800	8/1
Carolina Hurricanes	+1000	10/1
Boston Bruins	+1200	12/1
Pittsburgh Penguins	+1200	12/1
Washington Capitals	+1200	12/1
New York Islanders	+1600	18/1
Edmonton Oilers	+2000	20/1
Minnesota Wild	+2000	20/1
Florida Panthers	+2200	22/1
Montreal Canadiens	+2500	25/1
St. Louis Blues	+2500	25/1
Winnipeg Jets	+2500	25/1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[ToneDog]

Vegas Stanley Cup oddsmakers .. Our Leafs are clear favourites to come out of the North Div.

Leafs are at 8-1 odds while Edmonton is 20-1 and Winnipeg and Montreal both at 25-1 currently.

2021 NHL Stanley Cup Odds

Odds To Win 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final

Team	American	Fractional
Colorado Avalanche	+450	9/2
Vegas Golden Knights	+550	11/2
Tampa Bay Lightning	+750	15/2
Toronto Maple Leafs	+800	8/1
Carolina Hurricanes	+1000	10/1
Boston Bruins	+1200	12/1
Pittsburgh Penguins	+1200	12/1
Washington Capitals	+1200	12/1
New York Islanders	+1600	18/1
Edmonton Oilers	+2000	20/1
Minnesota Wild	+2000	20/1
Florida Panthers	+2200	22/1
Montreal Canadiens	+2500	25/1
St. Louis Blues	+2500	25/1
Winnipeg Jets	+2500	25/1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Pretty much confirms the weakness of the North. Minny and STL have same odds as Edm, MTL and Winninpeg while playing in the same division as the two favourites. Anything less than a round #3 appearance is a lost season.

 

[GoLeafsGo96]

Both teams had some chances last night and the goalies were pretty good for most of the way. Wouldn't be too concerned about it.

Marner breakaway, Willy breakaway, 2-0 in OT. They didn't play great and yet they still had ample chances to win.

Playoff series vs either WPG or MTL shoukd have Toronto being a heavy favourite. The nature of the sport though is that shooting percentage and goaltending vary so much that yes - it could be very tight and they could lose. I'll be nervous like anyone else, but I also feel as good as I think anyone should feel in general going in.

All you can do is create the best team you can and go for it as many times as possible. This is the best Leafs team in quite a while - largely because of how good their defense is with the addition of Brodie.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Am I the only one that just does not give a shit who we play in the 1st round? Like it is entirely irrelevant to me. Just beat them and we should beat whoever it is.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

You look at the powerplay goal that Mtl scored last night, and wonder if the simplest solution might be moving, or removing Marner on the PP.

With these 2 guys on the half boards / faceoff dot areas, every play is "telegraphed". Teams know that Marner isn't shooting it, and that he's simply looking to get the puck to Matthews. Imagine putting William Nylander in that spot -- a guy who is a dual threat to both pass and shoot. It'll create more rebound opportunities for JT. Either put Marner down low, or take him off PP1 entirely.

I highly doubt the Leafs take him off of PP1, but if I had to pick one guy to blame on the PP right now, it would probably be him. It is kind of hard not to when he is responsible for most things on the PP and handles the puck the most often. If we struggle to break in on a PP, it is usually because he messed up since he is the guy who usually breaks in. If we struggle to move the puck around, it is usually on him because he handles the puck the most often.

 

[Brown Dog]

The last time the Leafs won a playoff series, Auston Matthews was 6 years old.

 

[seanlinden]

I highly doubt the Leafs take him off of PP1, but if I had to pick one guy to blame on the PP right now, it would probably be him. It is kind of hard not to when he is responsible for most things on the PP and handles the puck the most often. If we struggle to break in on a PP, it is usually because he messed up since he is the guy who usually breaks in. If we struggle to move the puck around, it is usually on him because he handles the puck the most often.

Yeah, I just don't see what real "value" he brings to this powerplay. In the "traditional" sense... you might have a passing forward play the point because you've got a defenceman with a big shot. IIRC, Jason Spezza did it for a couple of years in Dallas. IMO, that only really makes sense if you're "shooting for rebounds / traffic", which the Leafs don't do.

The Leafs don't really do that, they work for goalie movement and shoot to score. If you're going to do that, great, but there has to be a legitimate shooting threat from both sides. Marner isn't that, Nylander is. Take him out and get a true net-front presence in there (maybe Foligno, Simmonds), and I think you're much better off / can beat teams multiple ways, especially with Tavares & Matthews coming in for Nylander rebounds, and Nylander/Tavares crashing for Matthews rebounds.

Realistically, Marner, Rielly, and Sandin all belong in the same "spot" on the powerplay, and there's only room for 1 of them. Marner may be the best passer of the 3, but I think you want at least 1 D out there. I think he could contribute to a really dangerous 2nd unit though.

 

[Rude Dog]

I just can't get comfortable with the bottom six right now. The Hyman, Mikey, Engvall line was a revelation during the Oilers series. It feels like Mikey and Engvall are only effective when they play together taking advantage of their speed. They generate so many chances out of nothing. Even if they don't score, it forces the other teams D to back off in the middle of the ice. That three game stretch was the only time this year that our 3rd line has looked dangerous and hard to handle. Simmonds is useless in that spot. No chance he keeps up. Either play Engvall and Mikey together or scratch them both.

Spezza thrives with younger faster players on his line. Thornton isn't the answer. I think you have to give Thornton & Simmonds the first two games in the play-offs but if they look like they did last night, Keefe has a tough decision to make.

 

[Rude Dog]

I noticed Marner played the majority of the PK last night. While I don't mind him out there for 30 seconds, I would rather him save his energy for the PP or simply playing with Mathews. We don't need him getting hurt blocking a shot in the playoffs which he has shown he will do. Leave those minutes for Foligno, Mikey, Nash, Hyman. Buds can't afford to lose Mathews or Marner especially trying to be a hero blocking a Weber shot from the point.

 

[Thissiteisgarbage]

Anyone else feel that Mikheyev should sit out versus Galchenyuk? Besides being fast and putting in a good effort for the most part, he's a PK specialist and that's about it. Is he better at PK than the others? Not really.
I like him enough (Mikheyev) but somebody is going to have to sit if you bring in Nash and Hyman returns.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

Anyone else feel that Mikheyev should sit out versus Galchenyuk? Besides being fast and putting in a good effort for the most part, he's a PK specialist and that's about it. Is he better at PK than the others? Not really.
I like him enough (Mikheyev) but somebody is going to have to sit if you bring in Nash and Hyman returns.

Mikheyev isn't sitting. He's one of the best defensive forwards on the team.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

Foligno - Matthews - Marner
Galch - - Tavares - - Nylander
Kerfoot - - - Nash - - - Hyman
Thornton - Spezza - Simmonds/Engvall - Brooks - Mikheyev

 

[Suntouchable13]

How about this for game 1:
Hyman-Matthews-Marner
Chucky-JT-Willy
Foligno-Kerfoot-Simmonds
Jumbo-Brooks-Spezza

I really love the idea of a crash and bang line with Foligno and Simmonds.

Mik sits, I think we need more 2 way forwards in our bottom 6 so they can chip in once in a while. That was a big problem against Columbus last year. I know, probably won’t happen but that’s my preference.

 

[Joey Hoser]

Except the one I've been cheering for has been the exact same my entire life except for 4 years. I get what you are saying. I will patiently wait for the playoffs to come to be amazed... hopefully. I am 100% onboard, but a big piece of me is saying 'hey man, been down this road before, calm your shit'.

Gotta be careful. Don't want to get caught having fun watching sports.