Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins - Round 1

[Guilt Trip]

In case you're wondering what the rationale is for splitting up Matthews and Nylander (initially)...

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2019/04/08/mike-babcock-on-playoff-hockey-the-real-world-is-coming-right-away-here-no-time-no-space/

You have the luxury of Matthews and Tavares, they have the luxury of Bergeron and Krejci. How much do you think this series will come down to who among those stars will be able to beat the others?

Babcock: It is, but a lot of the times those guys cancel each other out and it is the rest of the guys that matter. The more depth you have, the better off you are. But there is no question I have been in a lot of playoff series where your stars had no points after the first round and hardly any after two rounds, but by the end, they were leading the team in scoring. The other guys got them through. That is what depth on a team is all about. That is the great thing about hockey: It is a team game. You need everybody. You need all 20 guys. All 20 guys are going to have to play well. That is what makes it fun.

It's going to be a lot of Marleau-Kadri-Nylander, Gardiner-Dermott vs Boston's bottom 6 and third pair...

The only problem is that we have had plenty of that line in the last 30 games and it really hasn't been effective at putting the puck in the net.  Marleau has been hit by the old tree, and Kadri and Nylander are paying sins for who knows what as the hockey gods apparently hate them.

I don't think Willy or Kadri are paying for sins. Simply, neither has been overly good this year. Both can redeem themselves in the playoffs. I think Marleau will be fine come playoff time. I think he cranks it up.

 

[lamajama]

Listening to the radio the last 2 days is confusing. Basically the leafs will get pummeled in the first round, have no chance of winning and for the reasons that all these experts have been saying all season; lack of denfesive talent.

However, when they lose it?ll be a big disappointment and should Babcock continue to coach this team.

How can it be a disappointment if that?s the expectation? And if it?s a talent issue then why should the coach pay for it?

Personally I never thought this was the leafs year and it?s unfortunate the way the playoff format has pitted these 2 games against each other. But I just don?t understand how on the one hand you expect them to lose and on the other hand be disappointed when they do. That?s

Is it his fault the D isn't great, no.

However, if he plays role players more then Matthews and Marner again he should be fired. Looking at the practice lines it seems that Babs is planning matching best on best this time around. Last year Babcock was a large reason they lost. This year he cannot be out coached, not at his salary.

I agree with all you state and add that to me TEAM D is his fault. Yes we want ?better? D but all teams have issues on their blueline (in this case). His inability to get the team to adhere to some type of D in their own end is very disturbing to me. Either that or his system does not work.

 

[Frank E]

https://theathletic.com/899580/2019/04/08/the-maple-leafs-under-pressure-rankings-whos-under-the-biggest-microscope-in-the-playoffs/

4. William Nylander
From Jan. 20 onward, Tavares, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were the only Leafs to outscore Nylander, who managed 24 points over the final 35 games. The Leafs pounded teams when he was out there with five a side, grabbing 58 percent of the scoring chances and 63 percent of the goals.

?\_(ツ)_/?

This might be Nylander's series to win it for the team.  Goodness knows he's got the talent, but let's see him get down and dirty.  If the 2 top lines go head to head, then maybe it's Kadri's line that's the difference maker in the playoffs.

 

[Bender]

Leafs in 6 is my call. I just feel there due.

You know, I never thought I'd say this before, but we really need you posting more [emoji3]

 

[Bender]

Listening to the radio the last 2 days is confusing. Basically the leafs will get pummeled in the first round, have no chance of winning and for the reasons that all these experts have been saying all season; lack of denfesive talent.

However, when they lose it?ll be a big disappointment and should Babcock continue to coach this team.

How can it be a disappointment if that?s the expectation? And if it?s a talent issue then why should the coach pay for it?

Personally I never thought this was the leafs year and it?s unfortunate the way the playoff format has pitted these 2 games against each other. But I just don?t understand how on the one hand you expect them to lose and on the other hand be disappointed when they do. That?s

Is it his fault the D isn't great, no.

However, if he plays role players more then Matthews and Marner again he should be fired. Looking at the practice lines it seems that Babs is planning matching best on best this time around. Last year Babcock was a large reason they lost. This year he cannot be out coached, not at his salary.

I agree with all you state and add that to me TEAM D is his fault. Yes we want ?better? D but all teams have issues on their blueline (in this case). His inability to get the team to adhere to some type of D in their own end is very disturbing to me. Either that or his system does not work.

Well I mean just listening to Good Show today I believe it was Bourne or one of them who said Trotz took the Isles from last in goals against to first in on year. I'm sure part of it is luck/goaltending but I do believe a lot of it is a sound structure.

Then again I'm sure not all his Washington teams were all that great defensively.

 

[princedpw]

24 in 35 is only a 56-point pace over a full 82-game season.  It's not enough for a guy being paid 6.9 million/year.  He is under pressure to show he deserves that contract.

*sobs* and then... *sniff* and then he... *hic* he waited until the last 40 minutes to *sniff* call Dubas... and signed such an expensive deal! I just don't know why he didn't just take that 5M x 8 yr deal in July!

I have never said any such things.

 

[ZBBM]

The Leafs can win this series but they aren't going to out-defense the Bruins, out-grind them, out-muscle them.  The defense has to be better than it has recently, but the way we win this is by playing to our strengths, which are on offense.  Even though things will be much tighter, we have to keep the speed game going as much as possible.  The only other way we can win the series is if Andersen has an insanely good run.

It's a narrow path for us, narrower than theirs, but not impossible by any stretch.

 

[hockeyfan1]

I?m praying to the hockey gods. 

Leafs in 6.  (I?m too superstitious to say 7). 

I believe we have more than a chance to defeat Boston.  Our offence and our goaltending will be our strengths, as has been the case all year.  Probably not enough to beat the Bruins but I?m still banking on the Leafs to take it.

Let?s face it, the playoffs are a different season and what transpired between these two clubs over the course of the regular season may not be an indication of what most are expecting to see (the Bruins handily winning it).
It may very well be th Leafs turn this time.

GO LEAFS GO!

 

[hockeyfan1]

Just a comparison but a significant one.  All the more reason to stay optimistic.

[tweet]1115602218445467649[/tweet]

 

[herman]

One other thing that several players pointed out in the aftermath of that loss is they felt they got away from their game at times in the series. They were trying to be more aggressive and be more like the Bruins.

They laid far more hits than they did during the regular season ? 31 per game, up from 20, which was almost as many as Boston in the series ? and took some dumb penalties.

The Leafs were shorthanded 21 times in the seven games, six more than the Bruins.

A year later, they realize they have to be who they are and rely on their skill to win.

?When we?re playing our best game, it doesn?t matter (how physical they are),? Hyman explained. ?When we?re playing fast and we?re playing hard, we have the puck the majority of the game. When we?re not giving the other team much space, it doesn?t matter how tough they are. If they don?t have the puck, it doesn?t make a difference really to us. We can outskate anybody I think. We?re a really tenacious team and have really skilled players. If we?re moving and playing the right way, we?re going to have the puck a lot.?

YES (sorry azzuri)

 

[disco]

"What this series really needs is a game." - Jim Hughson

 

[Hobbes]

As much as I hate to say it, I think the Bruins in 7 is the most likely result. The Leafs lack the discipline to play a Bruins style of game and the Bruins will have 4 home games with which to dictate the match-ups. Unless the Leafs go on a shooting percentage tear, I just don't see them getting over the hump. If it does go 7, Bruins will advance.

The one good outcome from this might be to teach the lesson that Tampa seems to have learned: every single regular season game matters, no matter who you're playing or when it is, so play like it. The Leafs took too many "easy games" off this year and it probably cost them home ice advantage...and the series.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

As much as I hate to say it, I think the Bruins in 7 is the most likely result. The Leafs lack the discipline to play a Bruins style of game and the Bruins will have 4 home games with which to dictate the match-ups.

As others have said, the Leafs aren't beating the Bruins by playing a Bruins style of game. They're beating them by playing a Leafs style of game. Why create a fast-paced, offensive team if you're just going to abandon that type of style when the games mean the most?

And for what it's worth, it seems like the Bruins could be adjusting to Toronto's game more than the other way around. Cassidy talked just today about how they're going to try and ice the fastest roster they can (which means no David Backes to start).

 

[ZBBM]

As much as I hate to say it, I think the Bruins in 7 is the most likely result. The Leafs lack the discipline to play a Bruins style of game and the Bruins will have 4 home games with which to dictate the match-ups.

As others have said, the Leafs aren't beating the Bruins by playing a Bruins style of game. They're beating them by playing a Leafs style of game. Why create a fast-paced, offensive team if you're just going to abandon that type of style when the games mean the most?

And for what it's worth, it seems like the Bruins could be adjusting to Toronto's game more than the other way around. Cassidy talked just today about how they're going to try and ice the fastest roster they can (which means no David Backes to start).

True, but Hobbes' points about the regular season and home ice stand.  It would be nice to have, especially for a young team.

 

[herman]

As Carlton outlined, the problem isn't going to be whether or not we can play Bruins' style hockey, it's whether we can maintain our composure against a patient counter-attacking team if the percentages don't break our way in the early goings. Our high flying offense got stymied by cloggy boring teams whenever we hit the post early and tried opening up further and got burned on DZ blue line turnovers. That's where we have to stay in our process to keep playing with the puck, stretching their D when the opportunity arises, and generating dangerous chances, and building 2nd, 3rd, 4th efforts (which is what Tampa does well).

 

[Hobbes]

As much as I hate to say it, I think the Bruins in 7 is the most likely result. The Leafs lack the discipline to play a Bruins style of game and the Bruins will have 4 home games with which to dictate the match-ups.

As others have said, the Leafs aren't beating the Bruins by playing a Bruins style of game. They're beating them by playing a Leafs style of game. Why create a fast-paced, offensive team if you're just going to abandon that type of style when the games mean the most?

And for what it's worth, it seems like the Bruins could be adjusting to Toronto's game more than the other way around. Cassidy talked just today about how they're going to try and ice the fastest roster they can (which means no David Backes to start).

I didn't say that properly. I'm not suggesting the Leafs try to play Bruins style hockey. I'm suggesting that the Leafs' high skill up-tempo speed style of play doesn't match up well against the Bruins' style when the Bruins have last change and can dictate the match-ups.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I didn't say that properly. I'm not suggesting the Leafs try to play Bruins style hockey. I'm suggesting that the Leafs' high skill up-tempo speed style of play doesn't match up well against the Bruins' style when the Bruins have last change and can dictate the match-ups.

Ah ok, yeah I get that then. Boston is probably the toughest match-up league-wide for the Leafs stylistically. It really blows that odds are we'll see 3 straight years of us having to get past them in the 1st round. But it is what it is.

I really don't think not having last change is going to be a determining factor in this series though. Boston is going to put the Bergeron line out against the Tavares unit, but Babcock is going to want that same match-up as well. It's not like last year where Boston wanted Bergeron vs. Matthews and Babcock wanted Kadri/Plekanec vs. Bergeron. So I mean I just don't think not having home ice would have really changed things in that particular regard.

 

[Coco-puffs]

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/1115650612199415808

This is 100% an avoid Chara vs Nylander thing.  He really struggled up against Chara last year.

So, if Cassidy is going to play Chara vs Matthews line- you'll see Kapanen on Matthews wing.  If Chara is out against the Tavares line, I'd expect Nylander on Matthews line. 

I'm expecting Bergeron line to be matched against Tavares line, with Chara-McAvoy facing Matthews line.  But we will see as the series moves along if Cassidy sticks to that.

 

[disco]

When the Leafs win the Cup 2 months from now, who takes it from Gerry and who's the first guy he gives it too? Don't think they haven't thought about it in the wee hours of the morning

Tavares(A)>>>Matthews(MVP)>>>Marleau(A/21-yr career w/o Cup)>>>Reilly(A)>>>Andersen>>>Marner

 

[Coco-puffs]

Marleau gets it first.  I don't care if he's healthy scratched at some point in the playoffs, he still gets it first.  No Captain and he's one of the assistants.  Rielly MIGHT get it first because he's the longest tenured Assistant Captain, but he'd hand it over the Marleau before raising it.