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

[34]

I think it will 100% come down to Andersen's preformance

Fully agree with this. If Andersen plays as bad as he has this season, the Leafs will get swept.

I have never been high on him.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

Fully agree with this. If Andersen plays as bad as he has this season, the Leafs will get swept.

I have never been high on him.

Up until this season I always thought Andersen was really underrated. Seemed like he bailed out the Leafs' porous defense a lot.

I think he is a good goalie, and if he can just get back to solid form (not even amazing- just above average) the Leafs offense can carry them to the win.
But if he completely shits the bed one of the games or has a slow start like a lot of leaf fans says he does, that could be enough to hand Columbus the series.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Stenlund? Wow you really know the Jackets roster.

The Jackets top 4 forwards coming into the year were Dubois, Bjorkstrand, Anderson, and Atkinson. All but Dubois missed significant time. The Leafs big 4 was relatively unscathed.

Well then replace stenlund with anyone you want, it doesnt change anything. He just had the highest ATOI and as good a ppg as any of the rest of the other forwards.

As for "top-4" forwards I don't think Torts agrees with your take:


Average Ice Time this year (minimum 20gms):

1. Foligno 18:40
2. Jenner 18:07
3. Nyquist 18:02

4. Dubois 17:56
5. Bjorkstrand 17:56
6. Atkinson 17:51

7. Wennberg 16:41
8. Anderson 16:05
9. Stenlund 13:59

10. Gerbe 13:45
11. Texier 12:45
12. Bemstrom 12:16

13. Nash 11:51
14. Robinson 10:57
15. Lilja 9:54


Last year (min 20gms of players still here):

1. Atkinson 19:23
2. Dubois 17:43
3. Foligno 17:42

4. Jenner 17:04
5. Anderson 17:01
6. Wennberg 15:05

7. Bjorkstrand 12:20
8. Nash 10:50

Or playoffs:

1. Foligno 18:36
2. Atkinson 18:30
3. Dubois 17:29

4. Jenner 17:14
5. Anderson 16:59
6. Bjorkstrand 15:07

7. Nash 13:32
8. Texier 11:25
9. Wennberg 10:29

 

[Merrrlin]

And will you acknowledge that they were if Colombus wins ?

After I drink away my pain - yes

Those commenting on Anderson are probably right - he started the season as a top 10 goalie, but Nov-Feb, unless I am mistaken he was in the mid-level backup category statistically. I remember someone posting some advanced stats and something like 12 teams had 2 goalies performing better lol.

 

[Adtar02]

Well then replace stenlund with anyone you want, it doesnt change anything. He just had the highest ATOI and as good a ppg as any of the rest of the other forwards.

As for "top-4" forwards I don't think Torts agrees with your take:


Average Ice Time this year (minimum 20gms):

1. Foligno 18:40
2. Jenner 18:07
3. Nyquist 18:02

4. Dubois 17:56
5. Bjorkstrand 17:56
6. Atkinson 17:51

7. Wennberg 16:41
8. Anderson 16:05
9. Stenlund 13:59

10. Gerbe 13:45
11. Texier 12:45
12. Bemstrom 12:16

13. Nash 11:51
14. Robinson 10:57
15. Lilja 9:54


Last year (min 20gms of players still here):

1. Atkinson 19:23
2. Dubois 17:43
3. Foligno 17:42

4. Jenner 17:04
5. Anderson 17:01
6. Wennberg 15:05

7. Bjorkstrand 12:20
8. Nash 10:50

Or playoffs:

1. Foligno 18:36
2. Atkinson 18:30
3. Dubois 17:29

4. Jenner 17:14
5. Anderson 16:59
6. Bjorkstrand 15:07

7. Nash 13:32
8. Texier 11:25
9. Wennberg 10:29

Would better players missing games due to injury increase other players playing time?

 

[LeafsNation75]

Would better players missing games due to injury increase other players playing time?

Sure, maybe a bit. But they were all healthy in the playoffs last year and still those were the top 4.

 

[majormajor]

Well then replace stenlund with anyone you want, it doesnt change anything. He just had the highest ATOI and as good a ppg as any of the rest of the other forwards.

As for "top-4" forwards I don't think Torts agrees with your take:


Average Ice Time this year (minimum 20gms):

1. Foligno 18:40
2. Jenner 18:07
3. Nyquist 18:02

4. Dubois 17:56
5. Bjorkstrand 17:56
6. Atkinson 17:51

7. Wennberg 16:41
8. Anderson 16:05
9. Stenlund 13:59

10. Gerbe 13:45
11. Texier 12:45
12. Bemstrom 12:16

13. Nash 11:51
14. Robinson 10:57
15. Lilja 9:54


Last year (min 20gms of players still here):

1. Atkinson 19:23
2. Dubois 17:43
3. Foligno 17:42

4. Jenner 17:04
5. Anderson 17:01
6. Wennberg 15:05

7. Bjorkstrand 12:20
8. Nash 10:50

Or playoffs:

1. Foligno 18:36
2. Atkinson 18:30
3. Dubois 17:29

4. Jenner 17:14
5. Anderson 16:59
6. Bjorkstrand 15:07

7. Nash 13:32
8. Texier 11:25
9. Wennberg 10:29

I think I've figured out what's going on here.

Stenlund and Gerbe were something like the 4th and 5th forward call-ups from the Cleveland Monsters after the injury crisis started. That they managed to stay in the lineup is evidence of the injury crisis, not evidence of the absence of an injury crisis. When your #18F is 9th in ice time, shit has gone wrong.

Anderson played 18 minutes a night 2 years back and 17 minutes a night a year ago. There's no question he was the best player on his line last year with Foligno and Jenner. And if his minutes dipped this year it shouldn't be that surprising given he was playing with an injured shoulder and was pretty much ineffective.

Bjorkstrand was more my opinion than Torts', who has been slow in recognizing Bjorkstrand's abilities. But the kid has scored 14 goals in his last 17 games and racked up big ice time before injury so I think that should safely mark him as a hell of a player, no? It's a pretty big loss when your team scores 2 goals per game and the guy getting hurt scores half of them.

 

[34]

Up until this season I always thought Andersen was really underrated. Seemed like he bailed out the Leafs' porous defense a lot.

I think he is a good goalie, and if he can just get back to solid form (not even amazing- just above average) the Leafs offense can carry them to the win.
But if he completely shits the bed one of the games or has a slow start like a lot of leaf fans says he does, that could be enough to hand Columbus the series.

Sounds about right.

 

[Dion TheFluff]

Stenlund? Wow you really know the Jackets roster.

The Jackets top 4 forwards coming into the year were Dubois, Bjorkstrand, Anderson, and Atkinson. All but Dubois missed significant time. The Leafs big 4 was relatively unscathed.

not meaning to nitpick but Nyquist was coming of a 60 point season and at the time would have been seen better than Bjorkstrand by most at the very least.

 

[Hostile Offer]

Columbus because Torts.

 

[NyQuil]

Part of me thinks that, with the layoff, the skilled teams are a bit of a disadvantage.

It's hard to get rid of all the rust that quickly in a five game series, no matter how much prep there is.

 

[FourRings]

A toss-up. I'm going with the Leafs though. They have more top-end talent.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Columbus because Torts.

While it's obvious that Tortorella has the coaching experience over Keefe, let's remember this factor. Last year when Columbus defeated Tampa it was the first time since 2013 when he was coaching the Rangers that his teams won a playoff series.

In 2014 coaching the Canucks they missed the playoffs.

2016 he missed with the Blue Jackets, although that year he took over during the season.

In 2017 and 2018 the Blue Jackets lost in the first round, plus in 2018 is when they blew a 2-0 series lead against the Capitals.

 

[Pyrophorus]

The only series on the main board....hmmmm

The hate is strong.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Coin flip but pressure is on Toronto.

 

[biturbo19]

Leafs are the favs. But who knows, Elvis may get 3 straight SO.

This is really the only way i see CBJ coming out ahead. Elvis standing on his head and having one of those crazy hot streaks again, is the sort of thing that can always turn any serious upsidedown. The Jackets defence is a lot stronger too, but i just think there's too big of a gap in the offensive talent level.

 

[Pyrophorus]

This is really the only way i see CBJ coming out ahead. Elvis standing on his head and having one of those crazy hot streaks again, is the sort of thing that can always turn any serious upsidedown. The Jackets defence is a lot stronger too, but i just think there's too big of a gap in the offensive talent level.

So as was said, it comes down to the goaltending.

 

[TS Quint]

Excellent point and it's funny how people always brought up how the Leafs were lucky to make the playoffs in 2017 with so little injuries.

 

[dukeofjive]

I see leaf winning the 2 first game, but lose in 5. Mathews will score at least 2 goals in the first game back.

 

[Rude Dog]

Leafs in 3 or 4. I get the physical match up issue but it’s not like the Leafs are playing the broad street bullies. They won’t be intimidated by Josh Andersen and company. If they can’t play through that Dubas really has to reassess certain guys that wilt. Having said that leafs win. Best first round match up they could have gotten.

 

[Adtar02]

Don’t think it’s hate. This series just seems to have two teams that play very different styles with very similar results on the regular season

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

After I drink away my pain - yes

Those commenting on Anderson are probably right - he started the season as a top 10 goalie, but Nov-Feb, unless I am mistaken he was in the mid-level backup category statistically. I remember someone posting some advanced stats and something like 12 teams had 2 goalies performing better lol.

You're a good person.

May I suggest two whiskies: Jamieson, from Ireland, and Bulleit Frontier, a Bourbon from Kentucky.

If you're a Scotch person, try Quarter Cask from Laphroaig.

If you're a wine person, if available in your corner of the world, a Il Falcone from Rivera (Puglia - Castel del Monte), or any good Taurasi, Barolo or Barbaresco should do the trick.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

The only series on the main board....hmmmm

The hate is strong.

As is the persecution complex. Are you a candidate for an upcoming eletion in your neck of the woods ?

 

[dubey]

Leafs ez pz

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Leafs in 3 or 4. I get the physical match up issue but it’s not like the Leafs are playing the broad street bullies. They won’t be intimidated by Josh Andersen and company. If they can’t play through that Dubas really has to reassess certain guys that wilt. Having said that leafs win. Best first round match up they could have gotten.

Witten with .