3 Palmateers

Other than the Leafs escaping Boston with a win in a pivotal Game 5 to go up 3-2 headed back to Toronto, this is the most shocking performance I've ever seen out of the Leafs. Also, the most rabid I've ever seen their home crowd. The place is a library most of the time. Tampa didn't want to give these kids confidence, but now they have it.

I have Bolts in 5. 3rd periods always scary with the Leafs, but if they hold on, Tampa has to run the next 4. Could happen.

Marner's legs are going to fall off. Wearing the heck out of him. Matthews and Nylander getting their rest due to all the PKs. That offsets the double-shifting needed in the absence of Clifford the big blue ^%&*. Marner magic! Drought over! 18 playoff games without a goal. Buh bye!

I'm as big a doubting Thomas in Leafs nation. This is the worst set up possible. If Tampa can score, and get momentum flipped, the Leafs have a history of collapsing...especially in third periods. Love what I'm seeing, but I've seen them dominate like this and then lose momentum and that boulder starts rolling down hill faster and faster ending in disaster.

Mein, yours, everyone's Kampf! Shorty. Woo hoo!

Cobra has to tie his hand behind his back like a speed skater. Unbelievable, he's gotten the box, twice, for that same move. Tampa going to cash one of these and the momentum will change.

What a 1st for the Leafs. I can't believe this and it's never happened, but I had tears in my eyes during that major penalty kill. Just dominant PKing. Leafs had the better of it. Seen this movie many times before. Game is 60, not 20. We'll see if they can keep this up, but what an encouraging start. A goal from Jake Muzzin? Not even sure that guy was going to be able to play. GLG!

Yup. And... Yup:

Panthers over Wild in 6

Always interesting to watch how a team's coach and players react, in front of the media, right before the playoffs start. Just watched Keefe and Marner. Trying to read them it seems to me that Keefe is horribly uncomfortable and not confident in about what's going to happen tonight, or in this series. Marner is tougher to read. He looks like someone who is either upset about being questioned regarding the playoffs, or is extremely tight. Maybe, both? I've watched every game this season and listened to the pressers after every game. Marner is usually a boring interview but he seems more boring than usual. Keefe is usually easy to read where his head's at. In watching the two, I don't have a great feeling about them performing well, tonight. Can't wait to see if my gut feeling about what I'm hearing from them proves true. You want to be wrong, but you feel what you feel. Disappointed Bunting has been ruled out for Game 1. Happy Kase is back. He's a potential difference maker for the Leafs and plays hard like Bunting but doesn't have the nasty that Bunting brings. Last time they played, no Matthews and no Point, and it ended 8-1. Game before that, Matthews posts a hatty and Leafs win 6-2 in there building. He's been dominant vs. Tampa in his NHL career. Hoping he's in the right frame of mind and is healthy because he's gotta score or this series will be over a lot sooner than many people think.

NHL.com's writers have this one 13-3 in favor of Tampa. Matthews has been a dominant goal-scorer earlier in his playoff career with 4-in-6 games vs. Wash and 5-in-7 games vs. Boston. Sadly, Marner had his biggest year sandwiched in between those series with 9 points vs. Boston. Campbell is a mystery and on the edge of a nervous breakdown (kinda like us Leafs fans) so who knows what you get from him? Stamkos and Kucherov are HOT. Matthews was injured toward the end and had his longest goalless drought at 5 games before potting 2 vs. the hapless Wings. Those arrows are going the wrong direction for the Leafs. As a Leafs fan, outside of randomness, I'm not sure what you pin your hopes on? This team has lost 5 series in a row and this looks to be the toughest test of them all. Pressure is not something the Leafs have handled well and now you're expecting them to handle it vs. Tampa? For me, if the Leafs can get off to a great start, I think they have a chance. Should they lose Game 1, I expect Tampa in 5...maybe, 6.

I don't think Bruins or Lightning fans have much to worry about regarding the Leafs. I love them but they've lost 5 straight series. A feat only accomplished two other times in playoff history. Technically, the Leafs haven't lost 5-in-a-row, as the loss to Columbus was a play-in not a playoff series. Still, losing 5 series is no small sign of futility. Excited to see what comes out of tonight. The NYI/TBL game is staggered by 30 minutes. Be nice to see Boston win and Tampa tied, late. Big drama. The old nemesis or the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions. As for the Caps, I hope they at least put up a fight vs. Florida. Would love to see Toronto finally escape Round 1 and then face Washington instead of Florida. The Caps got the Leafs in 6 when they're current run of playoff failure began. Would love to see them exorcise both the Caps and Bruins losses in the same playoffs.

Pretty crazy stuff. Plus, all 8 teams in the East will be 100 point teams. I wish they seeded on points, too. Can't catch a break this year no matter who you get. Bruins will have to beat an AHL version of the Leafs, so that one should be in the bag for Boston. The Islanders and Bolts will be really interesting. Tampa needs a win, most likely, or they're playing Carolina instead of Toronto. Not sure which one they'd prefer? Similar situation for your Caps with the Pens. Hope Ovi is back for Game 1. Nice to see some drama in the East after pretty much knowing the 8 for months.

Boston up 3-0 and Tampa down 3-1 in 3rd. Boston will pull to within a point with Tampa playing NYI and Leafs laying down for Boston on Friday. What irony if Leafs end up with Bruins, again. A tie gives the higher seed to the Bruins so if Boston wins and Tampa loses in regulation or OT, Boston plays at Toronto on Monday. If I'm the Bolts, I'd rather play Carolina than Toronto.

Dregs made this comment on Overdrive this afternoon.