R1G1: Leafs @ Bruins - May 1st, 7:00pm - CBC, TSN 1050

[Zee]

Bozak left practice early, suspected shoulder injury.

This really hurts the Leafs.  Not that Bozak is amazing, but he'd play with Kessel, and Kadri would be with Lupul, that spreads the scoring out and doesn't allow the Bruins to just key off the Kessel line.  Now if Kadri is with Kessel, the Bruins can totally focus on shutting down that line, who plays with Lupul?  Grabovski?  He's been SO bad.  Ugh.

 

[Omallley]

Somebody please tell Hughson before Wednesday that the "Russian heat-seeking missile" is a Finn.

How many times did he say that in the last game? At least 3?

For the record, his parents are Russian, but he was born in Estonia, and raised in a Swedish speaking town in Finland. So...you know...I guess you could make a few claims to his ethnicity and not be in the wrong...

 

[Fred Wesley]

Complete random and useless observation, but has there been a time when the Leafs' playoff opponent and Jays' opponent on the same night were of the same city?

Probably. But a lot of recent Leafs playoff match ups include cities that don't have MLB teams such as Ottawa, Buffalo, New Jersey, NYI and Carolina.

 

[gunnar36]

If Kessel is going to have any success in this series it will be important for him to show that he wont be intimidated against this team.  He is going to have to take a couple hits and get right back up in their faces and show that's its going to take a lot more to stop him then what we are used to seeing.

This will be a true test of Kessel's character to show that he is a playoff performer.

I would even consider flipping him to the left wing just to keep him off Chara's side of the ice.

 

[Joe S.]

Frazer McLaren must beat the crap out of Chara. He is 4 inches shorter and 25 pounds lighter, but that?s as close as you can get to Chara.

Well hopefully this doesn't happen:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMWLFca67ng[/youtube]

 

[nutman]

Bozak left practice early, suspected shoulder injury.

This really hurts the Leafs.  Not that Bozak is amazing, but he'd play with Kessel, and Kadri would be with Lupul, that spreads the scoring out and doesn't allow the Bruins to just key off the Kessel line.  Now if Kadri is with Kessel, the Bruins can totally focus on shutting down that line, who plays with Lupul?  Grabovski?  He's been SO bad.  Ugh.

Why not put Colborne in his place, that way the Kadri line can stay together.

 

[Zee]

Bozak left practice early, suspected shoulder injury.

This really hurts the Leafs.  Not that Bozak is amazing, but he'd play with Kessel, and Kadri would be with Lupul, that spreads the scoring out and doesn't allow the Bruins to just key off the Kessel line.  Now if Kadri is with Kessel, the Bruins can totally focus on shutting down that line, who plays with Lupul?  Grabovski?  He's been SO bad.  Ugh.

Why not put Colborne in his place, that way the Kadri line can stay together.

All due respect nutman, I know you think Colborne is the 1st line center of the future, but he's shown absolutely nothing in his time with the Leafs to justify giving him top line status.  You can't expect a kid to step into the playoffs and suddenly play 20 mins/night.  Forget what he's done with the Marlies, this isn't the AHL anymore.  Going against Chara is a whole different ballgame.

 

[Corn Flake]

Bozak left practice early, suspected shoulder injury.

This really hurts the Leafs.  Not that Bozak is amazing, but he'd play with Kessel, and Kadri would be with Lupul, that spreads the scoring out and doesn't allow the Bruins to just key off the Kessel line.  Now if Kadri is with Kessel, the Bruins can totally focus on shutting down that line, who plays with Lupul?  Grabovski?  He's been SO bad.  Ugh.

Hopefully with no game until Wednesday he will have time to heal.  Not that shoulder injuries are usually small things...

I think I would go with McClement up top just to at least give them a chance on faceoffs, cover defensively and some forecheck.  Kadri was killed vs. the Habs and it really impacted, especially on the power play.  I think he lost every one he had on the PP.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Somebody please tell Hughson before Wednesday that the "Russian heat-seeking missile" is a Finn.

How many times did he say that in the last game? At least 3?

It started to remind me of when analyst Jim Peplinski kept compulsively calling the puck the biscuit.

 

[Redleaf]

Bozak left practice early, suspected shoulder injury.

This really hurts the Leafs.  Not that Bozak is amazing, but he'd play with Kessel, and Kadri would be with Lupul, that spreads the scoring out and doesn't allow the Bruins to just key off the Kessel line.  Now if Kadri is with Kessel, the Bruins can totally focus on shutting down that line, who plays with Lupul?  Grabovski?  He's been SO bad.  Ugh.

This sounds like its the same injury that's kept him out the past few games. If he's still day to day, there's a chance he could be available for the first or second game of the series. Knock on wood.

 

[Zee]

Somebody please tell Hughson before Wednesday that the "Russian heat-seeking missile" is a Finn.

How many times did he say that in the last game? At least 3?

It started to remind me of when analyst Jim Peplinski kept compulsively calling the puck the biscuit.

He was actually born in Russia to Russian parents so it's not like he's totally off the mark here.  He also has dual Russian-Finnish citizenship.

 

[Boston Leaf]

I think Grabovksi is the X factor.. He usually does pretty well against Boston (well thats not saying too much). His speed will be needed... I think he has a good series

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Somebody please tell Hughson before Wednesday that the "Russian heat-seeking missile" is a Finn.

How many times did he say that in the last game? At least 3?

It started to remind me of when analyst Jim Peplinski kept compulsively calling the puck the biscuit.

He was actually born in Russia to Russian parents so it's not like he's totally off the mark here.  He also has dual Russian-Finnish citizenship.

I've had enough of your facts, you!

 

[Zee]

I think Grabovksi is the X factor.. He usually does pretty well against Boston (well thats not saying too much). His speed will be needed... I think he has a good series

I'd be ecstatic if Grabovski suddenly turned up his game but I don't know how realistic that is.  He's been in a season long funk.  Whether it's due to limited opportunity or Carlyle's system, he hasn't shown much in any of the games he's played.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRTngtsOY8Q[/youtube]

Substitute "Bruins" for "Germans" and this is how I want the Leafs to feel about this series.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Fun fact:  The Bruins went 14-12-2 after starting the season 14-2-2.

 

[Deebo]

Somebody please tell Hughson before Wednesday that the "Russian heat-seeking missile" is a Finn.

How many times did he say that in the last game? At least 3?

It started to remind me of when analyst Jim Peplinski kept compulsively calling the puck the biscuit.

He was actually born in Russia to Russian parents so it's not like he's totally off the mark here.  He also has dual Russian-Finnish citizenship.

That, and his name ends in "ov", so he must be Russian.

 

[Joe S.]

It's nice to have you back HS in mid 2003 form!

Hopefully it's good first round which brings out some of the old guard to start posting again!

 

[ZBBM]

Fun fact:  The Bruins went 14-12-2 after starting the season 14-2-2.

They are far from invincible.

But if Bozak can't play, we have a problem.  I'd slot Grabs there myself and let Colborne skate with the second line if you want Kadri to stay where he is.

EDIT via TSN: TORONTO -- Maple Leafs general manager told the media on Monday that he expects Tyler Bozak to be ready for Toronto's playoff opener on Wednesday in Boston.

Bozak skated with the team but left Maple Leafs practice early today. He has missed the last two games with an upper body injury.

He came out early to skate and take some practice shots, but he left 10 minutes into the full practice.

Kadri, BTW, has some work to do this summer.  Starting with 1,000 faceoffs per day.

 

[Zee]

Fun fact:  The Bruins went 14-12-2 after starting the season 14-2-2.

They are far from invincible.

But if Bozak can't play, we have a problem.  I'd slot Grabs there myself and let Colborne skate with the second line if you want Kadri to stay where he is.

EDIT via TSN: TORONTO -- Maple Leafs general manager told the media on Monday that he expects Tyler Bozak to be ready for Toronto's playoff opener on Wednesday in Boston.

Bozak skated with the team but left Maple Leafs practice early today. He has missed the last two games with an upper body injury.

He came out early to skate and take some practice shots, but he left 10 minutes into the full practice.

Kadri, BTW, has some work to do this summer.  Starting with 1,000 faceoffs per day.

I know Kadri will never be mistaken for a hulking forward, but it would be nice if he could add some weight and strength to his body.  He likes to play physical and the added strength will only benefit him on the ice.