harsh words for a man thats got an uphill climb ahead of him.
Leafs 2023-2024 Thread
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This team is not good enough to beat Boston. All we can hope for is a way to avoid another humiliating defeat. It feels like this team is cursed.
I wouldn't say cursed. I did a recap of all the series they lost.
Versus Washington it went 6 games. Washington was Presidents Trophy Winner or close to it. Core 3 forwards were all rookies.
Both series versus Boston they were underdogs and the core was still young and both series went 7 games.
Versus Columbus it was a pick'em series to start. Muzzin was injured in game 3 and in came Marincin and that was it.
Versus Montreal they made the finals after all so it wasn't just Toronto they beat. Muzzin was also injured and did not play game 7 and parts of game 6.
Versus TB they were up 3 to 2 in the series and were leading in game 6. Kerfoot penalty for 2 man down. Perhaps this game they were cursed. Perhaps Muzzin getting injured twice was also a curse.
The series they beat TB Leafs won 3 OT games.
The series they lost to Florida Leafs lost both OT games and 4 of the 5 games were by 1 goal. The other was by 2.
The last 3 teams that beat the Leafs made the Finals.
Certainly Boston is favoured this time around again but Boston has come down a notch without Bergeron and Krecji.
It's going to go 7 games ...
I think Boston rather than Florida is better for the Leafs. Florida has allowed 24 fewer goals than Boston so they have stronger defensive structure. Florida has a better PP than Boston and as I've stated Boston lost their #1 and #2 Centers from last year. Goal differential Boston and Toronto are 43 and 42 respectively. If anything this series is the smallest margin of all the Boston series in the recent past and all those went 7 games. Leafs are going to need McMann and Domi though. Perhaps even Jarnkrok. He of the best +/- of all forwards behind only Matthews/Marner. McMann is 4th behind Jarnkrok.
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I like your optimism. I can’t rise that far, I hate the disappointment of failure.
As a pessimist I can rejoice in unexpected success.
The humiliation of a choke is the worst. Just when pessimism turns to optimism, the disappointment of failure is awful.
The Leafs got beaten tonite by TB, 6:4. Matthews scored zero goals, still sitting on 69 goals.From this point on, they will simply lose every game. The playoff opponents are all better team than the Leafs.
CP
CP
The top 4 Bruin Centers scored a total of 69 goals. Matthews himself scored 69. That's still incredible in this era.
You can see the disappointment in Auston's face when Taveras scored that last goal.
He was right in front of the net expecting a pass I suppose but Taveras shot it right in probably through muscle memory.
He probably realized afterwards, oh our goal is to feed Auston. Hence the frown.
Marner didn't even move to congratulate him. Frozen knowing it's all over. Think only one Leaf went to tap John's glove.
That stretch pass from Lili to Auston should have been his 70th. He made a spectacular move to get free to set himself up right in the slot to unleash his shot. Went off the bar.
He was right in front of the net expecting a pass I suppose but Taveras shot it right in probably through muscle memory.
He probably realized afterwards, oh our goal is to feed Auston. Hence the frown.
Marner didn't even move to congratulate him. Frozen knowing it's all over. Think only one Leaf went to tap John's glove.
That stretch pass from Lili to Auston should have been his 70th. He made a spectacular move to get free to set himself up right in the slot to unleash his shot. Went off the bar.
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What would your prediction have been if Florida played Leafs. I'm thinking you'll say Florida in 4.
Remember it was in Florida's hands. They could have just tanked their last game but they didn't or perhaps it was Leafs who tanked. TB beat Florida their last 2 series in 2021 & 2022.
Their last one Florida won the President's Trophy and it was a sweep in 4 games.
So it's not a stretch for TB to beat Florida.
Leafs had at least one match game in every series with Boston. Against Florida they lost in 5.
That alone should make one think Leafs have a better shot at Boston and for Florida to think they have a better shot at Toronto. This could set up a Leafs TB second round and Leafs beat them last season.
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Tyler Bertuzzi lead Boston in scoring last playoffs with 5 goals, 5 assists for 10 points.
No other Bruin had more goals or more points and guess what he plays for Toronto now.
Orlov lead all Bruins D with 8 pts last playoffs. He's not on the team anymore.
Next closes was McAvoy with 5 pts.
No other Bruin had more goals or more points and guess what he plays for Toronto now.
Orlov lead all Bruins D with 8 pts last playoffs. He's not on the team anymore.
Next closes was McAvoy with 5 pts.
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And then they showed his mother saying "SHIT". LOL
The problem is that they were trying waay too hard to get him that goal the last 2 games. He scored 69 goals with the Leafs just playing their regular game and not making him the centre of attention. The last 2 games they deviated and made it all about him and the opposition totally knew what was gonna happen. Every pass was going to him. They should have just played like they were getting ready for the playoffs. The last 2 games were the furthest thing from playoff hockey.
The Leafs have an edge on offence, 3 game breakers to two and depth imho. The keys will be 1) goaltending and 2) how the defence neutralizes the offence. The Boston’s defence is not what they used to be in the Chara/Bergeron era so I think the Leafs will score just enough to squeak by the Bruins unless there’s a complete goaltending meltdown.
The pressure is on Boston, They lose to the Leafs which would be two 1st round exits in a row, will the Bruins be labeled as chokers? Yes, they chocked last year.
