Who wins the best of 5 between the Blue Jackets and the Leafs?

[Kamiccolo]

Kind of interesting given Tampa is built like the Leafs and the Jackets killed them last year, but IMO Leafs are better on paper.

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[hamzarocks]

Very hard to know without seeing how ready the players are. Are the jackets players fully healthy ( Jones, bjorkstad etc) and whether their goalies can bring back strong play from dec 2019 to mid Feb 2020.

Homer voted leafs but if our guys are not in game shape quick enough they could get swept like Tampa did last year

 

[LeafsNation75]

The Leafs because unlike last year the Blue Jackets won't have Duchene and Panrin. Just look at their stats in the 4 games against the Lightning and how they swept them.

2019 NHL Eastern First Round: CBJ vs. TBL | Hockey-Reference.com

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

This one's tough to predict. Toronto is obviously more talented but Jackets play a playoff style. And they both had same points % despite Columbus having the most man games lost in the league.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Tough one, but Torts is the better coach, I would lean to Columbus.

Since January 1, kinda like last year when St Louis took off, Columbus is 7th in league vs Toronto is 19th

 

[Midnight Judges]

flip a coin

 

[Kelly]

Toss up. Leafs have more skill on paper, but hard work trumps skill. Stating the obvious here but it clearly comes down to which team is more 'ready'.

 

[Regal]

Panarin is a huge loss to the Jackets compared to the team that beat the Bolts, but they're still the type of team who could give a skilled team like the Leafs fits, especially since their depth isn't as good as Tampa. I would say the Leafs in 5 under normal circumstances, but who knows with all the time off.

 

[hockeyisgud]

This poll should be an overwhelming win for the Blue Jackets considering both teams had the same amount of points and HF hates the Leafs so much.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Coin flip imo. The are close as the standings show. The one edge I feel that favours the Jackets is coaching. Torts is a master at getting the most out of his players and getting his teams ready. Until he wears out his welcome after a few years.

 

[LeafsNation75]

If you want to take the regular season results into account and keep in mind Toronto only played Columbus two times and there would have been a third game if it wasn't for the season ending earlier than expected. Toronto won the first game 4-1 back on October 4, 2019 and Columbus won the second game 4-3 in overtime on October 21, 2019.

However it should mentioned when Columbus won that game it was due to a penalty shot in the overtime. Plus it was the Leafs who blew a 3rd period lead which is why that game even went into overtime. Also in both those games Mike Babcock was still their coach and we haven't seen what Sheldon Keefe would do any different against Columbus.

 

[Rowlet]

Very close, I think. I feel like Toronto would have the edge in a best of 7, but I think in a best of 5 Columbus could grind out 3 wins

 

[The Moose is Loose]

This is the most even matched 1st round playoff imo. I think it’ll come down to goaltending.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Toronto is better in talent but Columbus is built to beat teams like that in a playoff setting.

 

[Halla]

Kind of interesting given Tampa is built like the Leafs and the Jackets killed them last year, but IMO Leafs are better on paper.

such a different situation. Tampa steamrolled the regular season then did nothing in the playoffs.

I'm thinking leafs in 5. Just too much scoring and they were a lot better under Keefe (.628pt%) which is better than the pens

 

[Halla]

This poll should be an overwhelming win for the Blue Jackets considering both teams had the same amount of points and HF hates the Leafs so much.

yeah but these kind of polls have a pretty quick result and people can come back and see who was wrong. they are bolder in a
McAvoy >>> Rielly type poll because who knows how long that takes to get an answer

 

[McDrai]

The Leafs will beat the Jackets and then get bodied by the Bruins as usual

 

[LeafsNation75]

Coin flip imo. The are close as the standings show. The one edge I feel that favours the Jackets is coaching. Torts is a master at getting the most out of his players and getting his teams ready. Until he wears out his welcome after a few years.

Besides point percentages Toronto was still better in these other categories.

Regulation Wins: 28 Toronto, 25 Columbus.

Regulation plus Overtime Wins: 35 Toronto, 33 Columbus.

Overall wins: Toronto 36, Columbus 33.

Goals For: Toronto 238, Columbus 180.

Goals Against: Columbus 187, Toronto 227.

However the difference in both categories still favors Toronto at +11 and Columbus was -7.

Finally Columbus finished with the most overtime/shootout loses at 15. So all those games that got them 1 point in the standings is a main reason why they are in the play in round and not out completely all together.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Besides point percentages Toronto was still better in these other categories.

Regulation Wins: 28 Toronto, 25 Columbus.

Regulation plus Overtime Wins: 35 Toronto, 33 Columbus.

Overall wins: Toronto 36, Columbus 33.

Goals For: Toronto 238, Columbus 180.

Goals Against: Columbus 187, Toronto 227.

However the difference in both categories still favors Toronto at +11 and Columbus was -7.

Finally Columbus finished with the most overtime/shootout loses at 15. So all those games that got them 1 point in the standings is a main reason why they are in the play in round and not out completely all together.

Well spinning it in Columbus favour there are no shootouts or 3vs3 OT in the playoffs so they should be in better shape. Still a coin flip imo.

 

[JoVel]

flip a coin

Was going to say this.

 

[Golden_Jet]

such a different situation. Tampa steamrolled the regular season then did nothing in the playoffs.

I'm thinking leafs in 5. Just too much scoring and they were a lot better under Keefe (.628pt%) which is better than the pens

Columbus right there
Since Keefe took over, Columbus has 2 more points but played 3 more games.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Well spinning it in Columbus favour there are no shootouts or 3vs3 OT in the playoffs so they should be in better shape. Still a coin flip imo.

That maybe true, however you ca not deny that them just getting to overtime and those 1 point games is why they are not officially eliminated like Buffalo or New Jersey.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Panarin is a huge loss to the Jackets compared to the team that beat the Bolts, but they're still the type of team who could give a skilled team like the Leafs fits, especially since their depth isn't as good as Tampa. I would say the Leafs in 5 under normal circumstances, but who knows with all the time off.

Someone else the Blue Jackets won't have like last year is Bobrovsky, so is Korpisalo going to give them a chance?

I also know that Frederik Andersen hasn't yet won a playoff series with the Leafs and last year he let in some bad goals in Game 6 and Game 7 against Boston. However he still has more playoff experience going back to his time with Anaheim and got to a Game 7 of the Western Conference Final in 2015.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Coin flip imo. The are close as the standings show. The one edge I feel that favours the Jackets is coaching. Torts is a master at getting the most out of his players and getting his teams ready. Until he wears out his welcome after a few years.

Well, Torts has been with Columbus longer than he was with Vancouver or NYR, so I guess he's worn out his welcome.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Someone else the Blue Jackets won't have like last year is Bobrovsky, so is Korpisalo going to give them a chance?

I also know that Frederik Andersen hasn't yet won a playoff series with the Leafs and last year he let in some bad goals in Game 6 and Game 7 against Boston. However he still has more playoff experience going back to his time with Anaheim and got to a Game 7 of the Western Conference Final in 2015.

If I had to guess, it's probably Merzlikins in net for CBJ.