Standings- position
- Thread starter 13th fan
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Corn Flake
New member
leafplasma said:
I hear you but ...
#1 they aren't the favorite.
#2 the re-invention of Ovechkin is complete. He's now a better overall player and is clearly back and as dangerous as ever.
#3 hitting rock bottom early this year and coming back from there to win the division is pretty remarkable, and what looked like a team ready to be torn apart is now playing very cohesive hockey. They are now firing on all cylinders and are a far better, more complete hockey team than they were before.
#4 they are on a huge roll and teams who go in hot tend to keep rolling.
Corn Flake
New member
RedLeaf said:
Goaltending. That is all. 8)
Islanders end their regular season with a shootout loss to the Sabres. The Leafs were already too far ahead of the Isles for it to make a difference to them in the standings.
The Sens & Rangers have clinched the tiebreaker against the Isles but they're now both 1 point behind. The Sens have two games left. The Rangers have one game to play.
An Isles-Pens series wouldn't be bad for the Leafs. Should the Leafs make the second round, the Pens will have to overcome a very hot Islanders team that might upset them or take some steam out them.
The Sens & Rangers have clinched the tiebreaker against the Isles but they're now both 1 point behind. The Sens have two games left. The Rangers have one game to play.
An Isles-Pens series wouldn't be bad for the Leafs. Should the Leafs make the second round, the Pens will have to overcome a very hot Islanders team that might upset them or take some steam out them.
leafplasma
New member
fGardiner51 said:
I will be watching, sad that it has come down to this.
Does it matter who we play, honestly? Okay, if we play Boston we're out in 5 tops. If we play Montreal we might be able to push it to 6.
Chances of a 4-0 sweep are very likely.
We are porous defensively. We got to 5th because of a shortened season, luck, and offence. Those things most likely won't be in play in the opening round. It's more likely our offence drys up (as it is want to do in the playoffs) but I doubt we shore up defensively, we couldn't all season pretty much.
This was a year of good luck and fortune for us - it most likely won't be repeated next year, and likely we'll be on the outside looking in.. again.
Just enjoy the extra games, and being part of (what will most likely be) a short playoff atmosphere again.
Chances of a 4-0 sweep are very likely.
We are porous defensively. We got to 5th because of a shortened season, luck, and offence. Those things most likely won't be in play in the opening round. It's more likely our offence drys up (as it is want to do in the playoffs) but I doubt we shore up defensively, we couldn't all season pretty much.
This was a year of good luck and fortune for us - it most likely won't be repeated next year, and likely we'll be on the outside looking in.. again.
Just enjoy the extra games, and being part of (what will most likely be) a short playoff atmosphere again.
J
Jalili
Guest
Only good news left is that Boston hasn't lost to Ottawa this season.
Go Bruins!
(Brystine: Of course it matters who we play!)
Go Bruins!
(Brystine: Of course it matters who we play!)
crazyperfectdevil
New member
Peter D. said:
i don't know..i guess i've come around the other way on this..with how bad they've been lately..they don't seem anywhere near as scary...i think the leafs are in tough no matter who they're up against..they're definitely not favourites....anyway..original six match up either way...it'll be more then we've had to enjoy in past years
Bullfrog
Active member
Brystine said:
Wow, what a terribly pessimistic outlook. I'm not sure why the Leafs' offense is going to dry up while all the other teams will continue to be prolific scorers.
One of the best penalty kills in the league, very good goaltending, four players on 30-goal pace, two top-10 scoring defensemen, etc. It's not luck, this team is genuinely better.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=667968&navid=nhl:topheads
If Boston wins in regulation:
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #8 Ottawa (Sens lost season series 0-3)
#2 Boston vs. #7 NY Islanders (Bruins won season series 2-1)
#4 Montreal vs. #5 Toronto (Leafs won season series 3-2)
If Boston wins in overtime or shootout:
#2 Boston vs. #7 Ottawa (Bruins won season series 4-0 - all one goal games)
#4 Montreal vs. #5 Toronto (Leafs won season series 3-2)
If Ottawa wins in any fashion:
#2 Montreal vs. #7 Ottawa (Sens split series 2-2)
#4 Boston vs. #5 Toronto (Bruins won season series 3-1)
Based on season series, best match up for Sens is the Habs and therefore, that might provide more incentive to win.
Based on season series, worst match up for Bruins is the Isles and therefore, that might reduce their incentive to win.
If Boston wins in regulation:
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #8 Ottawa (Sens lost season series 0-3)
#2 Boston vs. #7 NY Islanders (Bruins won season series 2-1)
#4 Montreal vs. #5 Toronto (Leafs won season series 3-2)
If Boston wins in overtime or shootout:
#2 Boston vs. #7 Ottawa (Bruins won season series 4-0 - all one goal games)
#4 Montreal vs. #5 Toronto (Leafs won season series 3-2)
If Ottawa wins in any fashion:
#2 Montreal vs. #7 Ottawa (Sens split series 2-2)
#4 Boston vs. #5 Toronto (Bruins won season series 3-1)
Based on season series, best match up for Sens is the Habs and therefore, that might provide more incentive to win.
Based on season series, worst match up for Bruins is the Isles and therefore, that might reduce their incentive to win.
Stronger Than All
New member
Craziness
Heroic Shrimp
New member
cw said:
I am displeased with Ottawa and Boston's likely respective motivations to win this game, and their impact on the Leafs.
Captain Canuck
New member
Brystine said:
I can't say I share your pessimistic outlook! :
We WON the season series vs. the Habs, so why would they steamroll us in the playoffs?
Heroic Shrimp said:cw said:
I am displeased with Ottawa and Boston's likely respective motivations to win this game, and their impact on the Leafs.
I was displeased by the Leafs lack of motivation last night. Had they prevailed, motivation of other teams for today's game would not be a concern for us.
Heroic Shrimp
New member
cw said:Heroic Shrimp said:cw said:
I am displeased with Ottawa and Boston's likely respective motivations to win this game, and their impact on the Leafs.
I was displeased by the Leafs lack of motivation last night. Had they prevailed, motivation of other teams for today's game would not be a concern for us.
That too! Oh, well. They made their bed, and unfortunately we all have to lie in it. Serves the team right, even if the fans deserve better. If it's Boston in the playoffs, no doubt it'll end up bringing out either the best or the worst in the Leafs.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Gardiner51 said:
A single point by Boston still gets them the division I think.