Game 6: Bruins @ Leafs - Apr. 21st, 3:00pm - CBC, Fan 590

[Chris]

Think Marner and JT are so preoccupied with shutting down Bergeron and Marchand that they've taken themselves out of the offense. This is where the loss of Kadri really hurts - the current 3rd line is pretty much unable to generate any offense so it is all falling on line 2. And they are doing their part but is it enough...

I also wouldn't be surprised if one or both of Marner/Tavares are a little banged up. They've both taken a lot of hits in this series and don't really look themselves. Tavares seems to be overhandling the puck a lot which is not really his game.

 

[mr grieves]

I'd be absolutely shocked if they canned Babs if they lose the series. While I don't like some of the things he does, it's up to the players to perform. Some haven't.

Agreed. He has at least one more season before it becomes a serious consideration.

I don't know. Dubas is a progressive GM. I doubt that any outcome to tomorrow's game wll have any bearing on the immediate future, but, if the Leafs are staring down another first round meeting with the Bruins and Babcock's still exhibiting all sorts of weird stubborn habits, I could see Dubas pulling the trigger.

I'd be absolutely shocked if they canned Babs if they lose the series. While I don't like some of the things he does, it's up to the players to perform. Some haven't.

True.  It would be a high risk move for Dubas.  I would be willing to bet, however, he would turn the bench over to Keefe tomorrow.

I should add, I don?t think it?s entirely his decision.

It definitely wouldn't be. Babs has what, 4 years left at 6 mill per?

I think so.  And he is Shanny?s hire.

So was Lou.

 

[BrownRolo]

I don't think I'm going to watch Game 7.

Leafs have hurt us so bad in Game 7?s I just have no faith they can pull this one out.

 

[ZBBM]

Peter, I agree with you, if they are going to give anyone the C, make it Rielly.  Despite what they may (will) say publicly, if you pick one of 34 or 91 the other will be a bit pissed off.  Just bypass all that and choose Rielly.

As for watching/not watching G7, I wouldn't miss out on it myself.  I am at the stage in my fandom where I can take anything.  I watched the bloody collapse back in the short year, and last year, and if they do it again this year I'll be pissed but over it after awhile.

If they win, I'll count the season a success no matter what happens next.  They really need to get past this Boston-as-nemesis stuff.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Peter, I agree with you, if they are going to give anyone the C, make it Rielly.  Despite what they may (will) say publicly, if you pick one of 34 or 91 the other will be a bit pissed off.  Just bypass all that and choose Rielly.

As for watching/not watching G7, I wouldn't miss out on it myself.  I am at the stage in my fandom where I can take anything.  I watched the bloody collapse back in the short year, and last year, and if they do it again this year I'll be pissed but over it after awhile.

If they win, I'll count the season a success no matter what happens next.  They really need to get past this Boston-as-nemesis stuff.

Agree on all counts. As for watching... Get excited, get mad, get whatever but watch it. It's hockey people and this is our team win or lose. Enjoy it for what it is... entertainment! In the end, we're not the ones getting paid millions of dollars and the glory so don't invest too much of yourself in it. Enjoy the ride because it should be epic!

 

[Zee]

They could lose 12-0 on Tuesday and Babcock won't get fired.  And he shouldn't.  Back to back 100-point seasons show he's doing something right.

That said ... I agree with Busta that if the lose Tuesday, and don't win a round next year, he could be in jeopardy.  This has been an even series and I rather doubt any one of his coaching "irregularities" has cost them a game.  But I do think he doesn't get the last 10% out of the lineup because of his coaching.  I'll be real interested in how he handles the bench if they fall behind by a couple of goals early on Tuesday.

Cassidy making game to game adjustments, scratched Backes yesterday because he was doing nothing, Babcock gives Marleau extra ice time because he's, doing nothing. You can't tell me that Babcock's lineup and ice time decisions haven't negatively impacted this series. The Leafs are the more talented team but Babs thinks they're grinders.  This should have been the Leafs series in 5 or 6 games.

 

[cabber24]

Nylander needs to play with someone good.

Sounds like a repeat from last year and at times this year also with Matthews. Babs refuses to adjust during games and when he does attempt to adjust he does it for a shift or 2.
A prime example is the PK. The personal isn't getting the job done so change it....nope, not Babs.

Don't the special teams coaches deserve some of this criticism?

No, head coach is responsible for his staff.

 

[cabber24]

That?s why you don?t pull the goalie til you have the puck.  How many times will Babcock get burned on this?  Someone please tell me how Babcock is not costing us this series. 

Huge opportunity and leafs didn?t bother to show until the 3rd period.  91 and 16, would be nice if they did anything really. 

Of course.  More Marleau in extra attacker situation, Babcock is a joke.

We have pulled the goalie so early so many times this year just to get immediately scored on. It's so frustrating. It feels like an opportunity taken from the players to tie it up.

 

[azzurri63]

They could lose 12-0 on Tuesday and Babcock won't get fired.  And he shouldn't.  Back to back 100-point seasons show he's doing something right.

That said ... I agree with Busta that if the lose Tuesday, and don't win a round next year, he could be in jeopardy.  This has been an even series and I rather doubt any one of his coaching "irregularities" has cost them a game.  But I do think he doesn't get the last 10% out of the lineup because of his coaching.  I'll be real interested in how he handles the bench if they fall behind by a couple of goals early on Tuesday.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this McFate. We could be in this situation again next year and some would be repeating the same thing. When is it going to end? I said it during the regular season and I'll say it again. Nothing has really changed with this team from last year. Maybe if Kadri was in the lineup there may be a difference but he's not. The regular season means nothing as we have seen in these playoffs. I have always said it's a different type of hockey come playoff time. If you look at numbers their point total for the season is down and that is with the addition of JT.

I will agree and have stated this also Babcock doesn't get the most out of this team and never has and that is due to his decisions.

If they win tomorrow anything is possible and I hope they do but personally series should have already been over if we had someone behind the bench that:

1. Got the most out of his team.
2. Played his stars correctly.
3. Wasn't so stubborn and faithful to veterans and favourites.

 

[TML fan]

One takeaway from this series so far is that, for the most part Babcock has taken a pretty terrible defensive team and taught them how to play defence. Their special teams had been what's killing them in this series.

As I said too in the other thread, they have effectively silenced my criticism on them being too soft to win in the playoffs. Regardless of what happens on Tuesday they will not have lost this series because they were too soft. I guess they just don't want to play 82 games like that, and I guess that makes sense.

Consistency seems to be the biggest issue with the team that I can see. They could use some personnel adjustments of course and my goodness do they need to overhaul their special teams, but after all the emotions have settled when this series is finished, regardless of what happens I'd say the Leafs are right where I expect them to be.

 

[ZBBM]

One takeaway from this series so far is that, for the most part Babcock has taken a pretty terrible defensive team and taught them how to play defence. Their special teams had been what's killing them in this series.

As I said too in the other thread, they have effectively silenced my criticism on them being too soft to win in the playoffs. Regardless of what happens on Tuesday they will not have lost this series because they were too soft. I guess they just don't want to play 82 games like that, and I guess that makes sense.

Consistency seems to be the biggest issue with the team that I can see. They could use some personnel adjustments of course and my goodness do they need to overhaul their special teams, but after all the emotions have settled when this series is finished, regardless of what happens I'd say the Leafs are right where I expect them to be.

I agree with your first 2 paragraphs.  The defense has not been the problem in this series, the special teams and Marner/Tavares being stifled offensively have.

The Leafs have a good shot at winning Tuesday.  It's an even series, though I think Babcock could have increased our chances marginally by better decisionmaking.

 

[Guilt Trip]

One takeaway from this series so far is that, for the most part Babcock has taken a pretty terrible defensive team and taught them how to play defence. Their special teams had been what's killing them in this series.

As I said too in the other thread, they have effectively silenced my criticism on them being too soft to win in the playoffs. Regardless of what happens on Tuesday they will not have lost this series because they were too soft. I guess they just don't want to play 82 games like that, and I guess that makes sense.

Consistency seems to be the biggest issue with the team that I can see. They could use some personnel adjustments of course and my goodness do they need to overhaul their special teams, but after all the emotions have settled when this series is finished, regardless of what happens I'd say the Leafs are right where I expect them to be.

I agree with your first 2 paragraphs.  The defense has not been the problem in this series, the special teams and Marner/Tavares being stifled offensively have.

The Leafs have a good shot at winning Tuesday.  It's an even series, though I think Babcock could have increased our chances marginally by better decisionmaking.

Agree. If the Leafs play their game, they can win it. The JT line needs to produce.  They're doing it defensively but we need some offence from them more then ever in game 7.
I think one thing everyone needs to remember, Boston was the 3rd best team in hockey this season and we're going toe to toe with them. Babs needs to adjust the ice time and get our top lines out there more.
And the more I think about it, the more it pisses me off. I think if we have Kadri, this series is over because it totally changes our 3rd line, which is essentially a 4th line in this series.

 

[herman]

Is Hainsey back for game 7?

 

[Guilt Trip]

Is Hainsey back for game 7?

Why wouldn't he be? He did come back after leaving for a brief time in the 2nd period.

 

[IJustLurkHere]

We have pulled the goalie so early so many times this year just to get immediately scored on. It's so frustrating. It feels like an opportunity taken from the players to tie it up.

Some economists did a paper on when hockey teams should pull the goalie a while back and concluded that it?s actually much earlier than anyone (including Babcock) is doing it, but since coaches are perceived better if the team only loses by 1 or 2 goals, they really only pull the goalie for show rather than as a genuine tactic.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3132563

Enjoy.

 

[herman]

Is Hainsey back for game 7?

Why wouldn't he be? He did come back after leaving for a brief time in the 2nd period.

Thanks. I didn?t see any notes of his return.

Also I wanted to see
Gardiner-Rielly
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Rosen-Dermott

 

[Guilt Trip]

Is Hainsey back for game 7?

Why wouldn't he be? He did come back after leaving for a brief time in the 2nd period.

Thanks. I didn?t see any notes of his return.

Also I wanted to see
Gardiner-Rielly
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Rosen-Dermott

Def not. Gardiner will get lit up if he goes against the Bruins top guys. The guy can barely skate out there. Hainsey isn't coming out. He's actually played well, minus the pk. He's only been on for 1 even goal against and 5 overall. By contrast Zaitsev, Muzzin, Marner and Hyman have been on for 11 against in the series.

 

[herman]

Those results seem more like a function of who they?re matched against.

 

[Bender]

That?s why you don?t pull the goalie til you have the puck.  How many times will Babcock get burned on this?  Someone please tell me how Babcock is not costing us this series. 

Huge opportunity and leafs didn?t bother to show until the 3rd period.  91 and 16, would be nice if they did anything really. 

Of course.  More Marleau in extra attacker situation, Babcock is a joke.

We have pulled the goalie so early so many times this year just to get immediately scored on. It's so frustrating. It feels like an opportunity taken from the players to tie it up.

The math shakes out that Coaches have generally pulled too late. At the end of the day you can't argue something that didn't happen so who's to say we wouldn't get scored on later on? Or that it just wasn't enough time to get enough zone time?

Anyway I think the bigger issue is pulling without control in the O-Zone. I think doing that beforehand is crazy.

 

[Bender]

They could lose 12-0 on Tuesday and Babcock won't get fired.  And he shouldn't.  Back to back 100-point seasons show he's doing something right.

That said ... I agree with Busta that if the lose Tuesday, and don't win a round next year, he could be in jeopardy.  This has been an even series and I rather doubt any one of his coaching "irregularities" has cost them a game.  But I do think he doesn't get the last 10% out of the lineup because of his coaching.  I'll be real interested in how he handles the bench if they fall behind by a couple of goals early on Tuesday.

Cassidy making game to game adjustments, scratched Backes yesterday because he was doing nothing, Babcock gives Marleau extra ice time because he's, doing nothing. You can't tell me that Babcock's lineup and ice time decisions haven't negatively impacted this series. The Leafs are the more talented team but Babs thinks they're grinders.  This should have been the Leafs series in 5 or 6 games.

Yeah but why wouldn't Boston fans think the same thing? Why shouldn't they believe that their team, who had the better regular season and special teams and best line in the game believe that they could beat US in 5 or 6?