Maple Leafs
- Thread starter Indiana
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Very impressed with both current goalie’s. Everyone was nervous with the departure of Anderson, but all has worked out so far. Hoping the stellar performances continues.
They're sure playing well and getting scoring from up and down the lineup now. Their cycling the puck and the effort in the offensive zone is more than evident in the fact they're #1 in offensive zone time. This team is playing so well at the moment, it's hard to believe they'll go on a losing streak anytime soon. Still, regular season and playoffs are two different animals. That said, your chances of succeeding in the playoffs are better the closer you are to the top of the standings at the end of the year.
In spite of the Leafs mockingly bad performance in the playoffs for so long, it appears to me that they are playing closer to a playoff style of hockey this year than the last few, when they played a lot more run and gun and were much poorer at protecting a lead.
Without predicting success, these are reasons for cautious optimism.
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This ^^^ and no better example, than the number of games they've won by a single goal.
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I think mockingly bad playoff performance is overblown.
Year 1 vs Washington. They were rookies. Won 2 games.
Year 2 vs Boston. Boston was the far superior team Leafs were huge underdogs. Kadri gets suspended. Took them to 7 games.
Year 3 vs Boston. Ditto Year 2.
Year 4 vs Columbus. This was a pick'em series. Very evenly matched. That is until Muzzin got injured. Leafs were the better team prior to the injury. In comes Marincin and there she wrote Went max games.
Year 5 vs Montreal. Heavily favoured yes but Montreal made the finals after all and Tavares injured Game 1. Went to Game 7 where Muzzin didn't play. Their starter in Andersen was also injured and didn't play.
Granted I agree they choke in Game 7's. I think Leafs recognize now what wins in the playoffs. Lower GAA, special teams PK (Kampf) and PP (high end skill), and some size hence Ritchie and Simmonds. Ultimately they have to bring it in Game 7's.
Year 1 vs Washington. They were rookies. Won 2 games.
Year 2 vs Boston. Boston was the far superior team Leafs were huge underdogs. Kadri gets suspended. Took them to 7 games.
Year 3 vs Boston. Ditto Year 2.
Year 4 vs Columbus. This was a pick'em series. Very evenly matched. That is until Muzzin got injured. Leafs were the better team prior to the injury. In comes Marincin and there she wrote Went max games.
Year 5 vs Montreal. Heavily favoured yes but Montreal made the finals after all and Tavares injured Game 1. Went to Game 7 where Muzzin didn't play. Their starter in Andersen was also injured and didn't play.
Granted I agree they choke in Game 7's. I think Leafs recognize now what wins in the playoffs. Lower GAA, special teams PK (Kampf) and PP (high end skill), and some size hence Ritchie and Simmonds. Ultimately they have to bring it in Game 7's.
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If the Leafs go into the playoffs without any injuries and stay healthy, they have a shot to go far.
Remember when Hyman was the designated faceoff guy on the PK. He's good yes but he's not a natural centerman and can't win faceoffs.
Boston feasted on the PP because they always started with the puck and had the Super Line after all. Leafs had to resort to using Spezza and Matthews to take face-offs and they aren't PK guys. Last year they wanted a true shutdown 3rd line. This year they have one.
They also still have Micky who is probably the fastest player on the team. Can't shoot though.
Boston feasted on the PP because they always started with the puck and had the Super Line after all. Leafs had to resort to using Spezza and Matthews to take face-offs and they aren't PK guys. Last year they wanted a true shutdown 3rd line. This year they have one.
They also still have Micky who is probably the fastest player on the team. Can't shoot though.
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Good evaluation. I'll also add that in the 2013 series against Boston, the Leafs Tyler Bozak who was their best (and one of the NHL's) top faceoff men was out due to injury. Had they won even a couple of those defensive zone faceoffs in game 7 where Boston won the draw and proceeded to score, I think the Leafs would've beat them. Sometimes it can come down to something as simple as that.
I was thinking more in terms of the length of their futility. It makes it easy poke fun at the team and their fans.
I used to love making fun of Red Sox fans.
We'll see how the Leafs respond as they return home to Colorado, usually after a good California road trip, the Leafs tend to sag next home game.
In today's Star, Dave Feschuk speculates that this year's edition of the Leafs may possibly be more capable of playing playoff hockey.
I think that to some, it means that he's planning the parade and drinking the Kool-Aid.
Everything’s coming up Leafs. Maybe playoff readiness isn’t such a stretch | The Star
I think that to some, it means that he's planning the parade and drinking the Kool-Aid.
Everything’s coming up Leafs. Maybe playoff readiness isn’t such a stretch | The Star
True that. Maybe I should contact my friend who's a die-hard Montreal Canadiens fan. He's constantly poking fun at my Leafs and I. Which reminds me, I should ask him how his team is doing this year. lol
Well they are working on getting playoff type goals, that being the garbage goals around the net, off rebounds, screens with tip ins. Rather then the pretty goals off transition, pretty passes. one timers, etc.
Forget about just this year. The team that has a system for success named after them doesn't follow that system and hasn't won a cup in close to 30 years. When the Leafs were at the 30 year mark in 1997 people were already taking shots at Leaf fans.
30 years is a long time.
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