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2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Round 1/Qualifier - Maple Leafs vs Blue Jackets

Bender said:
Significantly Insignificant said:
OldTimeHockey said:
Significantly Insignificant said:
bustaheims said:
Significantly Insignificant said:
I saw some people who thought that the Rangers were the dark horse in these playoffs.  It's not playing out that way, but some people had picked the Rangers to win.
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Dark horse, yeah, but they were certainly not the favourites. If they bow out quickly, it won't be much of a surprise, really.
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Would you be surprised if the Blue Jackets sweep the Leafs?  Also the original point was that nobody picked the Rangers.  I think there were some people who picked the Rangers and thought that they had a chance to win.  Perhaps what I didn't convey in my original post was just how out of sync the Rangers looked like in the first game, and even in the second game now.  They have had an incredibly hard time manufacturing offence against the Canes.  A lot of rushes go nowhere due to a bad pass, or a puck bouncing, or a misplay.  How much of that is rust, and how much of that is Carolina, is the question in my mind. 

How it applies to the Leafs is that they looked very similar in that they couldn't get anything going, and I am wondering if the way things have shook out, if playing a defensive style of hockey in this situation is a little more advantageous and maybe even a little easier now, than being a team that is more skilled and wants to play a more open game.
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I think what you're seeing is the difference between an offensive system and a defensive system. Defensive systems are all about blocking out. They're structured.
Offensive systems are a strategy and rely on quick reactions and adjustments. A Defensive system can be off by 5 or 10% and still look pretty good. An offensive system will look horrendous (or out of sync) if it's off as it all relies on things being done at full speed. So, if the passing is off, the whole system falls apart. And when the offensive system is off, it makes the defensive system look better than it may actually be.

I guess what I'm trying to say is offensive systems are fluid and defensive systems are robotic. Does that make sense?
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Yeah that makes sense.  So the question becomes do the Leafs have the time and the skill to get back into that fluid flow so that they can win three games against the Blue Jackets?  Will getting into that flow be enough to give them a chance?  Or were they in trouble to begin with because the Blue Jackets style was going to cause them fits?
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Let's see what we come up with today before freaking out. We've beaten them in the reg season. It was a 1 goal game and if Robertson or Matthews score the game is basically over the other way. CBJ isn't Boston. Hockey is weird and three games can go every which way. People were questioning the Pens after Game 1 and now it's even. People though Winnipeg was done after losing Scheifele and Laine after Game 1 and they won Game 2. Vancouver got hella stuffed against Minnesota and I'm not writing them off because of one game. Oilers got crushed by Chicago in Game 1 and came back to win Game 2. Boston got thumped by CBJ AND Philly in the last 2 games. I guarantee you they aren't freaking out about how their system is fatally flawed.

Bring on Game 2 and let's see how we respond.
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Instead of a delete button, I would like an "Archive till my next freak-out" button please.
 
Guilt Trip said:
Zee said:
So, Martin Marincin next game eh?
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Probably because Muzz will possibly have to isolate since he's gone outside the bubble.
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If he actually has to miss 4 days, he'll miss minimum 2 games since Thursday & Friday are back to back. Potentially out the rest of the series depending on how the bubble rules are.
 
I didn't see the Muzzin hit live but question I have is why wasn't a cross checking penalty called on the play? Brutal officiating. Deliberate cross check and it wasn't a love tap.
 
Considering Keefe isn't playing his 4th line a ton (they played more last night, but their minutes only got turned up once we had a 2 goal lead) I wonder if they scratch Engvall and play 7 defencemen instead.

The fact that we have to play back to back on Thursday/Friday poses an issue but you could play 7 defencemen on Thursday and on Friday if you want to go back to even lines you'll have a better idea which one of Sandin and Marincin deserves to stay in the line-up.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Considering Keefe isn't playing his 4th line a ton (they played more last night, but their minutes only got turned up once we had a 2 goal lead) I wonder if they scratch Engvall and play 7 defencemen instead.

The fact that we have to play back to back on Thursday/Friday poses an issue but you could play 7 defencemen on Thursday and on Friday if you want to go back to even lines you'll have a better idea which one of Sandin and Marincin deserves to stay in the line-up.
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Or save the 7D for Friday after Clifford gets himself suspended on Thursday (this could get stupid).
 
herman said:
CarltonTheBear said:
Considering Keefe isn't playing his 4th line a ton (they played more last night, but their minutes only got turned up once we had a 2 goal lead) I wonder if they scratch Engvall and play 7 defencemen instead.

The fact that we have to play back to back on Thursday/Friday poses an issue but you could play 7 defencemen on Thursday and on Friday if you want to go back to even lines you'll have a better idea which one of Sandin and Marincin deserves to stay in the line-up.
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Or save the 7D for Friday after Clifford gets himself suspended on Thursday (this could get stupid).
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Clifford played for a way tougher LA team and as far as I know has never been suspended.  I don't think he'd do something so stupid as to jeopardize a playoff game, he's been to the finals he knows how hard it is and how many chances you get at it.
 
Kaberle15 said:
I really liked Engvall game last night, way better than Gauthier was.

Any word on Muzzin yet?
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Engvall looked a lot better than Gauthier. I hope they keep him in at least there is a chance he may score,
 
https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1291028994918428678

Done for the series, but it sure sounds like the injury isn't serious and just needs to quarantine again because he left the bubble.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1291028994918428678

Done for the series, but it sure sounds like the injury isn't serious and just needs to quarantine again because he left the bubble.
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Keyword in that statement...Recovery. Although it seems he escaped serious injury I do think it's more than an isolation thing because he's gone for the series. Word is if someone leaves the bubble they have to isolate for 4 days. Early Sunday morning would be 4 days so he would be cleared to go. My guess is the injury will put him as day to day for now. Let's hope he's ready for the 1st round.
 
Great news that he's back at the hotel which means he's not as serious as first believed.  Bad news that he's missing the rest of the series which was the worst case I suspected...hopefully the Leafs can still beat Columbus without him.
 
Guilt Trip said:
Keyword in that statement...Recovery. Although it seems he escaped serious injury I do think it's more than an isolation thing because he's gone for the series. Word is if someone leaves the bubble they have to isolate for 4 days. Early Sunday morning would be 4 days so he would be cleared to go. My guess is the injury will put him as day to day for now. Let's hope he's ready for the 1st round.
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He'll need 4 negative tests over a span of 4 days, and I'm not sure if the NHL is getting results back within 24 hours.
 
WAYNEINIONA said:
Kaberle15 said:
I really liked Engvall game last night, way better than Gauthier was.

Any word on Muzzin yet?
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Engvall looked a lot better than Gauthier. I hope they keep him in at least there is a chance he may score,
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Agreed totally, this Giraffe tops the Goat.  Glad Muzzin was released, sorry he can't play.
 
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