Go Leafs Go!!
- Thread starter PHNINE
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guyroch said:
I don't agree with that. I think the Leafs could afford to lose one game. The Leafs only need one of three playoff spots, they don't have to chase down every single team. They did what they had to do again Carolina, the New York Islanders are probably finished without DiPetro and Dunham, so they need to worry about TB, Montreal and the Rangers. They don't play TB again and Montreal is the last game of the season, which will be a must win game. Also TB play Carolina on Friday, so someone is losing ground in that game.
guyroch said:
I said they could afford to lose one of those games.
They don't necessarily have to catch the Rangers to be in the playoffs. They can pass Montreal and Carolina and make the playoffs. Look at it this way, with the Islanders most likely out of it unless DiPetro can come back, there are 5 teams fighting for three spots. The Leafs have a game on hand on every team except Carolina and they are tied with them.
Also look at the games remaining for each team.
TB has Carolina twice, Washington Florida (who put the wood to them last night) and Atlanta left.
The Rangers have Philly Toronto, Montreal, the Islanders and Pittsburg to play.
Carolina has to play Florida twice, TB twice and Atlanta.
Montreal has Ottawa, Buffalo, Boston, the Rangers and the Leafs left.
TB has to play Carolina twice and the Rangers have to play Montreal once. You have guaranteed chances to make up points on the losers of these games. Plus, these teams don't have easy schedules from here on out either. The Leafs will have chances to catch all these teams and really they control their own destiny, but they can afford to lose one game, saying that all the games are must win isn't necessarily true, unless of course your talking about getting the 6th seed, which then I would agree with you. But the point is you don't have to pass every team to get the 8th seed. You know that you have a game in hand on most of the teams your fighting with and at least two of them are guranteed losses in their coming games.
guyroch said:
Sorry, I gave you the wrong impression. I actually hold no hope for Montreal. They have to play Ottawa and Buffalo back to back this week. They are playing better, but I still don't think they can do what the Leafs did this week against NJ and Buffalo.
I think the Leafs will make the playoffs, they are playing hungry and want it badly. It pisses me off to no end that they can be so dominating in games yet they are relegated to fighting for the 8th seed, but I don't think Montreal will be there in the end and I think one of Carolina or TB will fall out just because they have to play each other twice.
Brownie69 said:
I agree, I can't for the life of me figure out how they can be so dominant in one game and so pathetic in another.
Kind of reminds me at the beginning of the season when SUndin was injured in the very first period (or thereabouts). Everyone was saying how they're toast and there is no way they can be competitive without him. Well, guess what? They won more than they lost without him.
So, what hapened upon his return? The losing streaks started. What I figure from this is too much focus is put on the likes of Sundin, Andropov, Tucker and the others aren't given the oppurtunity to shine, or the ice time to get into the groove. Maybe mentally the 3rd and 4th lines think: we don't have to try as hard because the superstars are in the lineup.
What happened the last two nights is the 3rd and 4th lines are starting to produce. Why? I dunno...maybe Maurice is putting pressure on them or giving them the oppurtunities. WHatever the case may be it is working. Two straight games the 4th lines contributed immensely.
True, how hot your goalie is does play an important part in the outcome of the game but Raycroft is this > < close to beating the leaf record for the number of wins in a season so it isn't him.
Also, you are VERY correct about the forechecking. last night how many goals were scored by good forchecking? I know at least 2, possibly 4.
Also, you are VERY correct about the forechecking. last night how many goals were scored by good forchecking? I know at least 2, possibly 4.
guyroch said:
It's too tough to compare goalie stats from years back, with the the advent of the shootout and the way they account for overtime losses. I don't put any credence in Raycrofts "record" for Leafs wins.
You can't compare Bester's losses with Raycrofts simply because Bester never had the same workload. The most games Bester every appeared in as a Leaf was 43.
the_big_E said:
hey, is this like a deja vu???
didn't the 'canes do something spectacular in 2002 playoffs and then fail to make the playoffs the following season (2003)?
and the leafs were once as high as 5th place in the east earlier this season... albeit, for 2 days.
as for that, mr., you are correct!
but, PM for CotYear? Berger hasn't taken a look around the NHL outside of Toronto...
but, PM for CotYear? Berger hasn't taken a look around the NHL outside of Toronto...
Maybe to compare coaches you need to compare the GM's above them.guyroch said:
Snow (a rookie GM with no apparent training) vs. JFJ (nothing needs be said re: his acumen).
In light of that I'd say both coaches have done well.
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