R1, G6: Bruins @ Maple Leafs - May 2nd, 8:00pm - SN, Fan 590

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I was so checked out after game 4.

They deserve a lot if credit for even getting it to 7.

It'll only matter if they win though.

Knies
Woll
Nylander
McCabe
Lybushkin
Benoit
Edmundson

All excellent these past two games.

You add Cowan and Minten to this group and you've got something cooking at forward.

 

[Arn]

6-0 Leafs

Close enough.

 

[cw]

https://twitter.com/LeafsTattoos/status/1786191665155199036
See the video at the link

https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2023-24/2023-24Rulebook.pdf

Rule 40 ? Physical Abuse of Officials
40.3 Automatic Suspension ? Category II - Any player who deliberately
applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions
as set out in Category I), which physical force is applied without intent
to injure, or who spits on an official, shall be automatically suspended
for not less than ten (10) games.

 

[Zee]

I will not be suckered in again

 

[Arn]

Exactly. The problem is they?ve given us hope again now. And we know what they like to do with our hope.

Crush it.

 

[herman]

They changed a bunch of the skaters for the PK at the deadline ... and it got worse. The goalie is the #1 PKer.

Samsonov's time appears done.
Hopefully, Woll can stay healthy

That Valiquette clip is excellent, he's the best goalie analyst on any of the networks. The Leafs should offer him a blank cheque to join the coaching staff.

He?s the guy that came up with the Royal Road term. They?ve since adjusted that cheesy name to slot passes or something.

The Leafs already pay for his services through his company, Clear Sight Analytics. They were one of the first NHl teams to sign on. It?s likely integrated into the other data sets they purchase and combined in a proprietary blend with the in-house and player tracking data.

 

[4EVRLEAFAN]

Have to admit this is some fun stuff, but we got to get the PP going and no matter what happens we can't forget we should not have been down in the first place, starting Samsonov was just wrong.

It wasn't, really.  I know GT thinks we should have given Woll more starts after he came back but Sammy was the better goalie going in.  It wasn't even debatable IMO.  And he got us one win in Boston.

But Woll is the man now, no doubt about it.

I'll die on that hill along with Kevin Weekes who said the same thing. If you get a chance go watch the Kyper and Bourne vid posted last game where Steve Valiquette breaks down Sammy vs Woll. He explains it really well why Woll should have started. Funny how the PK is over 80% with Woll and 73% without him.

[youtube]UXKEzI8bs8A[/youtube]

Valiquette starts to talk about Samsonov & Wall at 12:41

I thought Woll was the better goalie last season and until he got hurt this season.
I agree that he faced some tough opponents in his 10 starts after he returned.
I would add that Samsonov tailed off over the last 4 weeks of the season.

One factor Valiquette doesn't bring up: Sammy seems like a very nice guy and I sense that he is popular among his teammates. I wonder if that factored in (many would argue it shouldn't)

Funny how the PK is over 80% with Woll and 73% without him.

They changed a bunch of the skaters for the PK at the deadline ... and it got worse. The goalie is the #1 PKer.

Samsonov's time appears done.
Hopefully, Woll can stay healthy

Thanks for posting, it was so obvious who the better goalie was how you start Samsonov is beyond me, but like a lot of things this team does, baffling, anywho onward and even if we come out flat in game 7 like this team can and does sometimes if Woll can keep it going we still have a shot, GO LEAFS!!!

 

[Frank E]

I'm going to the game.  Glutton for punishment?

No matter what happens, you caused it.

You're welcome.

 

[Bill_Berg]

Exactly. The problem is they?ve given us hope again now. And we know what they like to do with our hope.

Crush it.

This is the way.

 

[herman]

Thanks for posting, it was so obvious who the better goalie was how you start Samsonov is beyond me, but like a lot of things this team does, baffling

It isn't too baffling given the way this coaching staff tends to make roster decisions, which I mentioned towards the end of the regular season. Unless the prospect is Matthews/Marner/Nylander level, the veteran was always going to start the series, for political and psychological reasons.

Politically, the vet is usually someone the Front Office signed (Samsonov, Reaves) with the mutual commitment that they'd be relied upon if they cleared a certain threshold of performance. Psychologically, the coaching staff wants the prospects to have experience, but it's not a development league and mental pressure is a real thing that has waylaid careers in the past.

Starting the vet first lets the coaching staff gauge the temperature of the series. If it is going poorly, no one will bat an eye about roster changes. The first couple of games are also usually the most intense. The prospect gets to come in as a potential solution, rather than someone to pull the chute on. Woll was always the better goalie but his injury hampered late season performance; he gets to come in with high stakes, but generally less individual expectations aside from his own. Unless he gives up a Toskala, no one would ever blame Joe if this series doesn't turn out for the Leafs.

 

[bustaheims]

https://twitter.com/LeafsTattoos/status/1786191665155199036
See the video at the link

https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2023-24/2023-24Rulebook.pdf

Rule 40 ? Physical Abuse of Officials
40.3 Automatic Suspension ? Category II - Any player who deliberately
applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions
as set out in Category I), which physical force is applied without intent
to injure, or who spits on an official, shall be automatically suspended
for not less than ten (10) games.

I hate Marchand as much as anyone, but, while his actions here violate the letter of the law, I don't think they go against the real intention behind having such a rule in place. Reading the whole section for rule 40, it's clearly meant to be for altercations with the officials - and doesn't seem to be applied very frequently, considering there's supposed to be penalties and suspensions for trying get free from one during a scrum. Also, the way I read it, without the game misconduct from 40.1, there's no grounds for a suspension.

I suspect incidents like this happen more frequently than we are aware of - linesmen being in the way at the bench seems like something that happens pretty regularly - and nothing comes of them. If it wasn't the playoffs, caught on camera, and it wasn't Marchand, it would probably have been ignored.

 

[herman]

Well win or lose Saturday I give them credit. They left it all on the table last 2 games and that's what it takes to win in the playoffs. That sucks Woll not getting the shutout but he was stellar.

Yep, they played the way you begged them to all season.

I enjoyed the way they played these past two games and it's exactly what is needed for playoff hockey: relentless, physical, aggressive, and patient in the right balance. Fasstholes! It isn't sustainable over the course of a full regular season though, and usually not even sustainable throughout a full game, let alone a drawn out series (see Tampa last season).

So far, they've been holding up well as this playstyle, while physically tough and grueling, is mentally way easier than whatever they used to do when Matthews-Marner were leaned on.

 

[herman]

https://x.com/LeafsNews/status/1786226960957370555
As we bask in the hype show that is Bowen and Ralphie, let us also remember that this was the last game for Jack Edwards.

 

[cabber24]

Exactly. The problem is they?ve given us hope again now. And we know what they like to do with our hope.

Crush it.

This is the way.

A Triple OT loss coming. That or a blowout loss. Heartbreak is unavoidable.

 

[cabber24]

Benoit over Brodie was a good coaching decision... hard for me to say that.

 

[dappleganger]

https://twitter.com/LeafsTattoos/status/1786191665155199036
See the video at the link

https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2023-24/2023-24Rulebook.pdf

Rule 40 ? Physical Abuse of Officials
40.3 Automatic Suspension ? Category II - Any player who deliberately
applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions
as set out in Category I), which physical force is applied without intent
to injure, or who spits on an official, shall be automatically suspended
for not less than ten (10) games.

I hate Marchand as much as anyone, but, while his actions here violate the letter of the law, I don't think they go against the real intention behind having such a rule in place. Reading the whole section for rule 40, it's clearly meant to be for altercations with the officials - and doesn't seem to be applied very frequently, considering there's supposed to be penalties and suspensions for trying get free from one during a scrum. Also, the way I read it, without the game misconduct from 40.1, there's no grounds for a suspension.

I suspect incidents like this happen more frequently than we are aware of - linesmen being in the way at the bench seems like something that happens pretty regularly - and nothing comes of them. If it wasn't the playoffs, caught on camera, and it wasn't Marchand, it would probably have been ignored.

Yes, agreed. Incidents involving physical contact with the referees happen frequently. Honestly, the refs are very good about this, got to give them credit. Best in all pro sports in this regard.

If Marchand had knocked the ref to the ground, there would be something to talk about. This is a nothingburger.

 

[Arn]

Exactly. The problem is they?ve given us hope again now. And we know what they like to do with our hope.

Crush it.

This is the way.

A Triple OT loss coming. That or a blowout loss. Heartbreak is unavoidable.

A 4-1 lead after 2 periods

Actually, I?m being silly. We don?t score 4

 

[Guilt Trip]

Have to admit this is some fun stuff, but we got to get the PP going and no matter what happens we can't forget we should not have been down in the first place, starting Samsonov was just wrong.

It wasn't, really.  I know GT thinks we should have given Woll more starts after he came back but Sammy was the better goalie going in.  It wasn't even debatable IMO.  And he got us one win in Boston.

But Woll is the man now, no doubt about it.

I'll die on that hill along with Kevin Weekes who said the same thing. If you get a chance go watch the Kyper and Bourne vid posted last game where Steve Valiquette breaks down Sammy vs Woll. He explains it really well why Woll should have started. Funny how the PK is over 80% with Woll and 73% without him.

[youtube]UXKEzI8bs8A[/youtube]

Valiquette starts to talk about Samsonov & Wall at 12:41

I thought Woll was the better goalie last season and until he got hurt this season.
I agree that he faced some tough opponents in his 10 starts after he returned.
I would add that Samsonov tailed off over the last 4 weeks of the season.

One factor Valiquette doesn't bring up: Sammy seems like a very nice guy and I sense that he is popular among his teammates. I wonder if that factored in (many would argue it shouldn't)

Funny how the PK is over 80% with Woll and 73% without him.

They changed a bunch of the skaters for the PK at the deadline ... and it got worse. The goalie is the #1 PKer.

Samsonov's time appears done.
Hopefully, Woll can stay healthy

Thanks for posting, it was so obvious who the better goalie was how you start Samsonov is beyond me, but like a lot of things this team does, baffling, anywho onward and even if we come out flat in game 7 like this team can and does sometimes if Woll can keep it going we still have a shot, GO LEAFS!!!

Fun fact. Every game Woll has started for the Leafs in the playoffs has been an elimination game. In those 4 games he's allowed more then 1 goal only once. He let in 3 on 43 shots against Fla last year. His stats for those games.....950SV% and 1.4GAA. Hope he can have another great game Sat and get us to RD2.

 

[Chris]

Exactly. The problem is they?ve given us hope again now. And we know what they like to do with our hope.

Crush it.

This is the way.

A Triple OT loss coming. That or a blowout loss. Heartbreak is unavoidable.

A 4-1 lead after 2 periods

Actually, I?m being silly. We don?t score 4

If we get a 4-1 lead I'm turning off the game.

Well, maybe not

 

[ZBBM]

https://twitter.com/LeafsNews/status/1786226960957370555
As we bask in the hype show that is Bowen and Ralphie, let us also remember that this was the last game for Jack Edwards.

Bowen often muffs goal calls because he's blathering about something else but that was classic.  Cuthbert bungled his call entirely.