R1G4: Bruins @ Leafs - May 8th, 7:00pm - CBC, Fan 590

[brothert]

Kinda disappointed that Frattin really hasn't picked it up all that much.  I was hoping for bigger things.  I know he's been injured this season but I thought he was a more dangerous player last year.  He seemed to find his spots and showed confidence.  This year he's been really flat, almost to carter ashton and luca caputi levels.  I also have some more respect for macarthur, I like his effort level and creativity for a 3rd liner.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

You know I'm just not angry about this... The bruins are a good tough team, and the leafs are holding their own against them...

This reminds me of the 91 jays that got spanked by the twins. The jays were a good team but there was just a player or 2 missing to push them over the top. I think this a preview of better days to come.

I kind of feel the same way. I didn't really have high expectations for the team going into the playoffs. As long as they didn't get embarrassed, I was going to be content with their performance - and they certainly have not been embarrassed, as far as I'm concerned. This only a step in the process.

Yep.  Regardless of what happens in the rest of the series, the Leafs have already exceeded my expectations this year.  They had a generally solid regular season and have been very competitive with a team that's really had their number for years now, and I feel like Kessel has finally got the Boston monkey off his back, both in his head and in the media.  They're playing like they could at least be competitive in any series with any opponent.  They have more steps to take, for sure, but right now they're on a decent path.  And they've lasted longer than Vancouver.

Make Boston earn their last win, boys.  Watch tape of them blowing 3-0 against Philly and believe you can win.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 38s
Hate to ruin a great story, but I think the eye roll is a mutual one at a fan's comment

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[CupOneDay]

Really? Are you joking?

The entire premise of the Leafs making the playoffs this year was to gain experience and mature as players. You are seriously going to say they won't be better next year? Unless half the team gets hit by a friging bus they will be better next year and I feel bad for the team who gets them first round.

But as much as that might be the hope the reality of the new NHL isn't quite as linear as that. Teams fluctuate up and down year to year. If the Leafs had an unbelievable group of NHL ready prospects or guys coming back from injury then it'd be a safer bet but there really is no way to know if the Leafs will be able to build on this.

You are right, but how can you say having almost no post season experience is worth nothing when we have just watched Boston, who has been out played most of the series, take a 3 to 1 lead on mostly one off plays? It's obvious that this plays a big role and unless you trade half the players there is no way they do worse next year.

 

[Kin]

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 38s
Hate to ruin a great story, but I think the eye roll is a mutual one at a fan's comment

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

How would he know? And of course that's what they'd say afterwards.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

As far as Im concerned the playoffs have been a rousing success...we won at least a game against a team that everyone predicted was waaaayyy better then us and we've won more games then Vancouver. Our team will be much stronger next near for this.

Maybe, maybe not. You never know what the future holds in store for you.

Really? Are you joking?

The entire premise of the Leafs making the playoffs this year was to gain experience and mature as players. You are seriously going to say they won't be better next year? Unless half the team gets hit by a friging bus they will be better next year and I feel bad for the team who gets them first round.

I'm not joking, you may think it's a foregone conclusion that they'll be in this position next year and they will be better, but it doesn't work that way.

I'm optimistic, but I agree.  The swing from one year to another can be mind-boggling.  Cup finalists missing the playoffs the next year, bottom feeders winning their division the next year...

 

[Kin]

You are right, but how can you say having almost no post season experience is worth nothing when we have just watched Boston, who has been out played most of the series, take a 3 to 1 lead on mostly one off plays?

I didn't say that, or anything like it, I just said the team might not be as good next year.

It's obvious that this plays a big role and unless you trade half the players there is no way they do worse next year.

Considering that we don't even know who'll be on the team next year there's no chance in heck it would be that certain. Regardless the only thing that needs to happen next year for the Leafs to be significantly worse is a Reimer injury/off year.

 

[PG]

A full season of Lupul should help.

Sure, although I might say that a full season of Lupul is never a sure thing regardless. I don't mean to sound pessimistic because, really, I'm not. That's just the way the league is now. Like you say, Reimer might not be as good, Grabo might be better, Kadri might take a step forward, Franson might price himself into crazy-town....

The same sort of list probably exists for every team.

Most fans always think their team's players will all have career years the following year. There is always a key player or two that will regress or have an off year. Happens to every team in every sport.

It's hard to gauge what this season means going forward because they didn't have the rigors of a real travel schedule. Any East Coast-based player will tell you some of those Western road trips are killers on the body and mind.

 

[riff raff]

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 38s
Hate to ruin a great story, but I think the eye roll is a mutual one at a fan's comment

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

How would he know? And of course that's what they'd say afterwards.

For what it's worth:

April Reimer ‏@april_reimer  4m 
For those who were thinkin @happyelishas and I were rolling our eyes @ eachother. Was the jerk beside us #rudecomment

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 38s
Hate to ruin a great story, but I think the eye roll is a mutual one at a fan's comment

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

How would he know? And of course that's what they'd say afterwards.

For what it's worth:

April Reimer ‏@april_reimer  4m 
For those who were thinkin @happyelishas and I were rolling our eyes @ eachother. Was the jerk beside us #rudecomment

Followed

 

[Kin]

For what it's worth:

April Reimer ‏@april_reimer  4m 
For those who were thinkin @happyelishas and I were rolling our eyes @ eachother. Was the jerk beside us #rudecomment

I maintain my belief!

 

[maplesyrup]

I'm still proud of the team regardless but if it's all the same with you guys, I've decided to pout for a while.

 

[Sudafederov]

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 38s
Hate to ruin a great story, but I think the eye roll is a mutual one at a fan's comment

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

How would he know? And of course that's what they'd say afterwards.

For what it's worth:

April Reimer ‏@april_reimer  4m 
For those who were thinkin @happyelishas and I were rolling our eyes @ eachother. Was the jerk beside us #rudecomment

Followed

Aha! Feschuk lives!

 

[MetalRaven]

As far as Im concerned the playoffs have been a rousing success...we won at least a game against a team that everyone predicted was waaaayyy better then us and we've won more games then Vancouver. Our team will be much stronger next year for this.

Maybe, maybe not. You never know what the future holds in store for you.

The greater the foe the harder you play...the harder you play the better you play...Strong competition breeds strong competitors...usually...unless they get injured...at the very least the weaknesses will be magnified...also I meant year...but im sure everyone got that

 

[Joe S.]

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 38s
Hate to ruin a great story, but I think the eye roll is a mutual one at a fan's comment

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

How would he know? And of course that's what they'd say afterwards.

For what it's worth:

April Reimer ‏@april_reimer  4m 
For those who were thinkin @happyelishas and I were rolling our eyes @ eachother. Was the jerk beside us #rudecomment

Oh Lord I feel so old... I have no idea what any of that means!

 

[Jimmified]

For what it's worth:

April Reimer ‏@april_reimer  4m 
For those who were thinkin @happyelishas and I were rolling our eyes @ eachother. Was the jerk beside us #rudecomment

I maintain my belief!

The players' wives must also get MLSE PR training.

 

[Kin]

Also, I can't get on board with the idea that the Leafs have outplayed Boston for "most of the series". Pace isn't the be all and end all, neither is possession. Execution is part of the game and, in that regard, the Leafs have been significantly outclassed.

 

[Kin]

For what it's worth:

April Reimer ‏@april_reimer  4m 
For those who were thinkin @happyelishas and I were rolling our eyes @ eachother. Was the jerk beside us #rudecomment

I maintain my belief!

The players' wives must also get MLSE PR training.

It doesn't take a genius to know you start the spin immediately to control the narrative. THERE IS DISCORD AMONG THE WIVES!

 

[maplesyrup]

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 38s
Hate to ruin a great story, but I think the eye roll is a mutual one at a fan's comment

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

How would he know? And of course that's what they'd say afterwards.

For what it's worth:

April Reimer ‏@april_reimer  4m 
For those who were thinkin @happyelishas and I were rolling our eyes @ eachother. Was the jerk beside us #rudecomment

Oh Lord I feel so old... I have no idea what any of that means!

Very random but you want to feel older? Will Smith is 44. The dude who played Uncle Phil was 43 when The Fresh Prince first aired.

Have a nice day.

 

[PG]

What are Justin Pogge and Andrew Raycroft up to these days anyway?