2017-18 Toronto Maple Leafs - Playoffs Edition

[jdh1]

  I'm feeling confident that the Leafs will take this series.  No more than 5 or 6 games. Better goal tending,better coach.

 

[TimKerr]

GO LEAFS GO!

[tweet]983586645898334208[/tweet]

There is way too much positivity surrounding this team.  We are setting ourselves up to fall from a very great height indeed.

We're in uncharted territory. My grumpy die hard self is very confused. It's not just "homer" talk anymore. We're actually a pretty good franchise?

May I? The Leafs are a team that is the forerunner of how the game is going to be played for the next 10-15 years. Quick and speedy forwards and fast puck moving defencemen is where they shine. A fourth line that is not just a checking unit or bruisers but can actually move the puck and attack the other team? How rare is that?
I don't know how well they are going to do in the playoffs this year, I think it all relies on Andersen, but if they continue this style of play they are going to be top 5 for a while.
Now excuse me while I go put on my Luke Schenn jersey.

 

[ZBBM]

I'll be rooting for your Flyers in the first round.  A threepeat is good for nobody outside of Pittsburgh.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'll be rooting for your Flyers in the first round.  A threepeat is good for nobody outside of Pittsburgh.

Same... can't see Philly taking this one though.

 

[cabber24]

GO LEAFS GO!

[tweet]983586645898334208[/tweet]

There is way too much positivity surrounding this team.  We are setting ourselves up to fall from a very great height indeed.

We're in uncharted territory. My grumpy die hard self is very confused. It's not just "homer" talk anymore. We're actually a pretty good franchise?

May I? The Leafs are a team that is the forerunner of how the game is going to be played for the next 10-15 years. Quick and speedy forwards and fast puck moving defencemen is where they shine. A fourth line that is not just a checking unit or bruisers but can actually move the puck and attack the other team? How rare is that?
I don't know how well they are going to do in the playoffs this year, I think it all relies on Andersen, but if they continue this style of play they are going to be top 5 for a while.
Now excuse me while I go put on my Luke Schenn jersey.

I have some awful Leaf jerseys in my house: Kessel, Phaneuf and McCabe. The only one that I'm proud of is Clark. My next one will be a Matthews with the C on the front. We really have come along way.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

I'll be rooting for your Flyers in the first round.  A threepeat is good for nobody outside of Pittsburgh.

Same... can't see Philly taking this one though.

Claude Giroux would like to speak with you (line 2).

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'll be rooting for your Flyers in the first round.  A threepeat is good for nobody outside of Pittsburgh.

Same... can't see Philly taking this one though.

Claude Giroux would like to speak with you (line 2).

It's not Giroux that I'm worried about... it's Nolan Patrick going up against Malkin every shift.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Got my son a Matthews Jersey the other day. He's 8.  Tomorrow is jersey day at his school for Humboldt.  He will have the jersey on all day until bed time. 

 

[cabber24]

Sportsnet Predictions:

Jeff Marek: Maple Leafs in 6
Eric Francis: Bruins in 7
Mark Spector: Maple Leafs in 7
Gord Stellick: Maple Leafs in 6
Colby Armstrong: Bruins in 7
Scott Morrison: Maple Leafs in 7
Kelly Hrudey: Maple Leafs in 7
John Shannon: Bruins in 7
Eric Engels: Bruins in 7
Sean McIndoe: Bruins in 6
Christine Simpson: Maple Leafs in 7
Iain MacIntyre: Bruins in 6
Luke Fox: Maple Leafs in 7
Nick Kypreos: Bruins in 7
David Amber: Maple Leafs in 6
Damien Cox: Maple Leafs in 6
Daren Millard: Maple Leafs in 7
Rory Boylen: Bruins in 6
Chris Johnston: Maple Leafs in 7
Kristina Rutherford: Maple Leafs in 7

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/domluszczyszyn/status/984190759644561408

 

[Zee]

Got my son a Matthews Jersey the other day. He's 8.  Tomorrow is jersey day at his school for Humboldt.  He will have the jersey on all day until bed time. 

You are an awesome dad.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Got my son a Matthews Jersey the other day. He's 8.  Tomorrow is jersey day at his school for Humboldt.  He will have the jersey on all day until bed time. 

You are an awesome dad.

Thanks, still haven't replaced my Sundin jersey yet. 

 

[disco]

First real chance to arguably go deep since 2004. I haven't felt this alive in years.
Cheers lads and gals

 

[Zee]

Game was brutal, lots of doom and gloom today, but the playoffs can change on a dime.  I still remember way back in 1993 before internet to every home how the Leafs lost both games 1&2 in Detroit in really bad fashion, 6-3, 6-2.  I imagine if Twitter/forums were a thing back then everyone was saying "series over", but they managed to come back.  It can happen.  Leafs need to show up for game 2.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Assuming Kadri is out for a game, what's the plan for game 2?

Marleau-Matthews-Hyman
Johnsson-Nylander-Kapanen
JVR-Bozak-Marner
Komarov-Plekanec-Brown

Matthews will likely continue to see the Bergeron/Chara match-up. Put Marleau on his line to see if a veteran presence might help out a little. I've seen some suggest trying Marner with Matthews, but quite frankly the Bergeron unit is winning this match-up regardless. I'd keep the bigger offensive talents off the Matthews line and hope the other lines do the trick.

The next two lines have offence spread out evenly to take advantage of the fact that they won't be seeing the Bergeron/Chara match-up. Nylander's is speed-speed-speed while the 3rd line tries to re-discover the spark they had last season.

 

[Zee]

Assuming Kadri is out for a game, what's the plan for game 2?

Marleau-Matthews-Hyman
Johnsson-Nylander-Marner
JVR-Bozak-Kapanen
Komarov-Plekanec-Brown

Matthews will likely continue to see the Bergeron/Chara match-up. Put Marleau on his line to see if a veteran presence might help out a little. I've seen some suggest trying Marner with Matthews, but quite frankly the Bergeron unit is winning this match-up regardless. I'd keep the bigger offensive talents off the Matthews line and hope the other lines do the trick.

The next two lines have offence spread out evenly to take advantage of the fact that they won't be seeing the Bergeron/Chara match-up. Nylander's is speed-speed-speed while the 3rd line tries to re-discover the spark they had last season.

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Johnsson-Marleau-Marner
JVR-Bozak-Kapanen
Leivo-Moore-Brown

is what I'd like to see.

 

[herman]

Here's my original mod:

Marleau - Matthews - Marner
Johnsson - Nylander - Hyman
JvR - Bozak - Brown
Komarov - Plekanec - Kapanen

Notes:
- I think your point is a good one, Carlton, that Matthews is not likely to come out on top against Bergeron. I still think Marner needs a left centre to excel and Matthews is the only one left.
- Kapanen had a decent time gaining the zone when he had the chance, but he had no one to finish on his line. Bumping him higher makes sense.
- Strong-side Hyman is best Hyman, but he is not great in transition through the neutral zone. Pairing him at RW with a RH C is where I'd prefer him; Nylander is the best complement in my mind.

Newest Mods:
Marleau - Matthews - Marner
Johnsson - Nylander - Hyman
JvR - Bozak - Kapanen
Komarov - Plekanec - Brown

With more careful deployment of the 4th line, I think we can come out of game 2 looking better.

 

[L K]

Assuming Kadri is out for a game, what's the plan for game 2?

Marleau-Matthews-Hyman
Johnsson-Nylander-Kapanen
JVR-Bozak-Marner
Komarov-Plekanec-Brown

Matthews will likely continue to see the Bergeron/Chara match-up. Put Marleau on his line to see if a veteran presence might help out a little. I've seen some suggest trying Marner with Matthews, but quite frankly the Bergeron unit is winning this match-up regardless. I'd keep the bigger offensive talents off the Matthews line and hope the other lines do the trick.

The next two lines have offence spread out evenly to take advantage of the fact that they won't be seeing the Bergeron/Chara match-up. Nylander's is speed-speed-speed while the 3rd line tries to re-discover the spark they had last season.

The scary thing will be if Kadri is given a multi-game suspension.  I have this uncomfortable feeling he's going to get 3 games.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The scary thing will be if Kadri is given a multi-game suspension.  I have this uncomfortable feeling he's going to get 3 games.

These are playoff games we're talking about. You have to basically murder someone on the ice to get 3 games.

 

[herman]

The scary thing will be if Kadri is given a multi-game suspension.  I have this uncomfortable feeling he's going to get 3 games.

These are playoff games we're talking about. You have to basically murder someone on the ice to get 3 games.

What if they stack Kadri's (incidental) kneeing of Nash on to the decision?