Leafs @ Capitals - Apr. 13th, 7:00pm - CBC, TSN 1050

[Leaflifer]

It's exhilarating being in the playoffs again. Man I miss this feeling.

Tough luck meeting the caps in the first round, but this team is so damn likeable, I'm not gonna be heartbroken if we don't make it out of this round.

I could easily see this team stealing a game or two in this series, and wouldn't be shocked if they won it.

Onward and upwards.

 

[puckinthehead]

This game sure didn't look like an 8th playing the 1st seed.
Leafs take next game, Washington got lucky this time

 

[Captain Canuck]

Leafs almost caught the Caps napping and managed to stay right with them throughout the game. I was surprised by the OT winner, didn't look like Freddie left much room on the glove side for that puck to go in. Happy to see Marner get his 1st playoff goal, getting the young guys this type of experience now will pay off for the team in the coming years. All in all the Leafs played a pretty good game, looking forward to Game 2.

GO LEAFS GO!

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

This is the least upset I've ever been about a playoff OT loss, by a wide margin.

Still, I was hoping for a win.  That would have really got the Caps thinking.

Oh, for sure.  Hey, I'm disappointed, but any prior (or future) year I'd be steaming and pissed off for a couple of days.  This feels like a regular season OT loss for me.  I have no big expectations from this series.  If they advance, that's fantastic.  If they're eliminated, that's okay.

Next year and beyond, I won't be feeling that way, I assure you.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Great game, Leafs!

This sure gave the Caps a scare.  If only, if only they hadn't blown the lead...  but anyways, good confidence booster for our young team to be able to go toe to toe with the best.

Hoping for more of the same in Game 2.

GO LEAFS GO!!

 

[Bonsixx]

Yes, that was a blown 2-0 lead and a disappointing ending on a shot that maybe should've been saved.... but damn that was fun. They're a year ahead of schedule and just took the best team in hockey to playoff OT. The best team in hockey also got incredibly lucky on both of those goals.

The Leafs will likely never win this series, but if they play them like that every game, I'm down. Caps are stacked, it'll be our turn soon.

 

[Bill_Berg]

Tough to lose on that goal, and if they do have hopes of winning the series, it feels like that game was one they shouldn't have let slip away. But if they play like that all series, then they'll be in it!

I agree with you Heroic. I was kinda pissed last night, but not this morning as I usually would be.

 

[disco]

Man, that first period was such a pleasant surprise. I was lovin' it on my buddy's 80" widescreen. Freddie was superb in the second half, would've been 5-2 quick with mediocre 'tending. It's a series, we'll give 'em a run for their money!

 

[AvroArrow]

Very good game from the buds, especially since we were missing one of our top d.

 

[itsgametime]

If the caps play in game 1 continues throughout the series I think the Leafs have a chance to win possibly 2 or 3 games, upset is still definitely possible. 

Leafs looked like the hungrier and better coached team unfortunately with Zaitsev's injury Babcock is forced to turn to guys like Marincin which puts so much pressure on the rest of the D and forwards.

This series is far from over.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Weak OT goal but there was more then 1 mistake on the play. Martin going to the slot instead of turning up the boards. Marincin with a weak clearing attempt. Why not hammer it around the way you're facing or even try skating it behind the net.
Fact is though without Andersen this game is long over before OT. He was unreal. Team played great overall so I'm not too disappointed. It was a great learning experience. They know what to expect now and know they can compete with these guys. On to the next!

 

[ZBBM]

If the caps play in game 1 continues throughout the series I think the Leafs have a chance to win possibly 2 or 3 games, upset is still definitely possible. 

Leafs looked like the hungrier and better coached team unfortunately with Zaitsev's injury Babcock is forced to turn to guys like Marincin which puts so much pressure on the rest of the D and forwards.

This series is far from over.

Point taken but Marincin was, all told, good last night, giving credit where it's due.

 

[itsgametime]

If the caps play in game 1 continues throughout the series I think the Leafs have a chance to win possibly 2 or 3 games, upset is still definitely possible. 

Leafs looked like the hungrier and better coached team unfortunately with Zaitsev's injury Babcock is forced to turn to guys like Marincin which puts so much pressure on the rest of the D and forwards.

This series is far from over.

Point taken but Marincin was, all told, good last night, giving credit where it's due.

Didn't notice him much outside the ot goal which I guess they say is a good thing.  Was really surprised they didn't pick up a vet D man, could have really helped.  Not sure if they can do it now but why not call up Olesky,  risky maybe but he did play 11 games this season with the Pens.

 

[L K]

If the caps play in game 1 continues throughout the series I think the Leafs have a chance to win possibly 2 or 3 games, upset is still definitely possible. 

Leafs looked like the hungrier and better coached team unfortunately with Zaitsev's injury Babcock is forced to turn to guys like Marincin which puts so much pressure on the rest of the D and forwards.

This series is far from over.

Point taken but Marincin was, all told, good last night, giving credit where it's due.

Didn't notice him much outside the ot goal which I guess they say is a good thing.  Was really surprised they didn't pick up a vet D man, could have really helped.  Not sure if they can do it now but why not call up Olesky,  risky maybe but he did play 11 games this season with the Pens.

???  You are concerned about Marincin putting stress on the team when he played 25 regular season games between injuries and press box duty, but are ok with Olesky who is 31 and has 73 career NHL games?

 

[itsgametime]

If the caps play in game 1 continues throughout the series I think the Leafs have a chance to win possibly 2 or 3 games, upset is still definitely possible. 

Leafs looked like the hungrier and better coached team unfortunately with Zaitsev's injury Babcock is forced to turn to guys like Marincin which puts so much pressure on the rest of the D and forwards.

This series is far from over.

Point taken but Marincin was, all told, good last night, giving credit where it's due.

Didn't notice him much outside the ot goal which I guess they say is a good thing.  Was really surprised they didn't pick up a vet D man, could have really helped.  Not sure if they can do it now but why not call up Olesky,  risky maybe but he did play 11 games this season with the Pens.

???  You are concerned about Marincin putting stress on the team when he played 25 regular season games between injuries and press box duty, but are ok with Olesky who is 31 and has 73 career NHL games?

I'm ok with him being an option, yes.

 

[Zee]

I'm worried that the Caps of the second half of the game that outscored the Leafs 3-0 show up in game 2. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[ZBBM]

I'm worried that the Caps of the second half of the game that outscored the Leafs 3-0 show up in game 2. Hope I'm wrong.

Meh.  One goal was essentially a 5/3 (it had just expired) and the other two had aromas to them.  A loss is a loss but overall I thought we were the better team over the first 2 periods.

 

[Guilt Trip]

4th line on for two shifts in OT.  They give up the best scoring chance and the game winning goal.

Would hope Babcock was writing a "note to self" to this effect when he was hanging around on the bench after it went in...

Also: Matthews doesn't need to touch the puck that often to be dangerous, but he does need to touch it, at some point... and Hyman leading the charge into the Washington zone isn't producing that result.

Agree..Please please please get Hyman off that line. Leivo of Kappenan would be such an improvement. I'd also rather see Leivo on the 4th line over Martin.

 

[disco]

Weak OT goal but there was more then 1 mistake on the play. Martin going to the slot instead of turning up the boards. Marincin with a weak clearing attempt. Why not hammer it around the way you're facing or even try skating it behind the net.
Fact is though without Andersen this game is long over before OT. He was unreal. Team played great overall so I'm not too disappointed. It was a great learning experience. They know what to expect now and know they can compete with these guys. On to the next!

x2 and that's exactly what McLennan says here, but all O'Neill does is B about Andersen. It's like he was on his iPhone during minutes 20-60. The last half of that game was almost open season on Freddie. It would have to be to get to 40 shots after that disaster of a first for the Caps. A 5-on-3 goal and one where the Caps had been blitzing for several minutes. Many top-notch glove and blocker saves. I've noticed Freddie's 6'4" frame tends to fatigue a bit if he has to make multiple high-quality stops in a few minutes. Other than that, the dude's been golden for almost two months. Once again, he gives up two or less in regulation. Does he get that one in overtime if he possesses a hybrid standup style and stays on his skates? Sure, but he doesn't, so top corner will go in from there. Maybe some fatigue there as well, shots were 6-1 Caps in O/T I believe.

https://twitter.com/OverDrive1050/status/853009149877243904

 

[Highlander]

Weak OT goal but there was more then 1 mistake on the play. Martin going to the slot instead of turning up the boards. Marincin with a weak clearing attempt. Why not hammer it around the way you're facing or even try skating it behind the net.
Fact is though without Andersen this game is long over before OT. He was unreal. Team played great overall so I'm not too disappointed. It was a great learning experience. They know what to expect now and know they can compete with these guys. On to the next!

x2 and that's exactly what McLennan says here, but all O'Neill does is B about Andersen. It's like he was on his iPhone during minutes 20-60. The last half of that game was almost open season on Freddie. It would have to be to get to 40 shots after that disaster of a first for the Caps. A 5-on-3 goal and one where the Caps had been blitzing for several minutes. Many top-notch glove and blocker saves. I've noticed Freddie's 6'4" frame tends to fatigue a bit if he has to make multiple high-quality stops in a few minutes. Other than that, the dude's been golden for almost two months. Once again, he gives up two or less in regulation. Does he get that one in overtime if he possesses a hybrid standup style and stays on his skates? Sure, but he doesn't, so top corner will go in from there. Maybe some fatigue there as well, shots were 6-1 Caps in O/T I believe.

https://twitter.com/OverDrive1050/status/853009149877243904

Agreed Disco, I don't understand starting out on your knees and keeping the top of the net open when you are 6'4".  If Freddie was on his feet for that rush there is no way in hell that puck goes in. However not knocking him, he is our best goaltender in forever. And we would never have been in OT without his amazing stops beforehand.