3 Palmateers

Jack Campbell's positioning is TERRIBLE. He's incredibly lucky it isn't 4-0.  There've been multiple occasions where a huge portion of net is completely unattended and Tampa has just missed ala Stamkos in Game 1. 

ZERO lead changes in this series. Campbell playing poorly. Marner having it go wrong for him. Matthews and JT still a non-factor. 

No depth guys you can count on. 

Every Leafs fan knows how this goes. When it goes badly in a big game the Leafs don't have the fortitude to swing it back around. The avalanche just picks up more and more snow. 

Almost tempted to turn this one off and look at the score around 945p, Eastern. So tired of seeing this team just fold, fold, fold EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. 

Mental makeup of these guys just isn't what it should be. Talent is more than enough. Mindset is not strong enough. Keefe is overmatched psychologically and it flows downhill. 

For anyone who cares, Justin Holl is back in the lineup. There was a debate among Leafs fans whether he would be taken out and the consensus was that no way Keefe would remove him because it would look like Steve Simmons was right and he caved to Simmons opinion. Oddly, he claims he watched the game back 3x in justification of keeping Holl in the lineup. I think he'll regret his decision in less than 8 hours from now.

No Simmonds or Clifford tonight. 4th line will be Kase-Blackwell-Spezza, again. Surprised he didn't go back to at least one of Simmonds/Clifford. Very surprised. Past the point of no return... Leafs likely to retain Keefe and Dubas no matter what happens now. The one thing nobody wanted was another close series loss.

Will they be waving them or throwing them in?  Can't wait to see...

4 hours ago, Toronto Jules said:

Close games do add to the amount of adult beverages that are consumed during the game.  Players such as Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander and Rielly really need to step it up offensively. 

I don't drink, but, man, do the Leafs ever drive one that direction. 

Is JT in this series? The captain has abandoned ship. Something's really happened to him this season. I hope the old Toby Keith lyric (not a country guy) applies tomorrow night for him... 

I ain't as good as I once was,
But I'm as good once as I ever was."

BTW, Welcome @Toronto Jules#GLG #LeafsForever

9 minutes ago, Toronto Jules said:

The Leafs ended up with the Lightning as we all know and this series looks like it is headed to go the distance. 

 

There are definitely things that lean towards the Lightning taking this series and one of those things is experience in the playoffs. One other thing is the Lightning D and Goalie. 

 

I do think home ice is going to be important as well and that has a slight advantage to the Leafs. I also think that the Leafs offense although the Lightning has a great offense will heat up and be the difference.

 

This series will go to game 7. 

I hope you're wrong, but think you're right.  

The Leafs have been in 4 Game 5's in 7 game series since Matthews and Marner arrived.  All four of those games were decided by 1-goal. Leafs went 2-2 in those past Game 5's. The Game 5 vs. Columbus was a deciding game, in a play in series, and they got blanked. 

Will it hold? A 1-goal game will be hard on the hearts of Lightning fans like TFG and Leafs fans like me. Hoping for a blow out either way. Close games are fun but man are they "divert your eyes" in some moments. 

That's a surprising move, but...What have you done for me lately?

Seeing Detroit rumors. Don't want him in the Leafs division. That team is already ascending. 

Yup.

This is almost as good as the hated Steve Simmons (I love him) asking Keefe about why he started his worst defenseman in the post-game presser and his scathing column....(I can say as a fan, I told my old best friend that I was done following the Leafs after Montreal last season. I may live to regret not following through) 

Toronto Maple Leafs suddenly dont feel in control of the series | Toronto Sun

I wonder if there is any thought at all about turning to Kjallgren in Game 5. Campbell has given up 5 in two-of-four games and hasn't looked very good. 

Personally, I don't think there's any way you can trust Backup Jack, but the trust in Kjallgren has to be less. 

Nylander just scored his 2nd, but I agree with this take. He does do this every pring. Nice he can score 2 meaningless goals. Not the kind of player you win with in the spring. I'd sit the guy in the pivotal/critical Game 5. Gimme someone who wants it despite the drop off in skill-level. 

Teams taking turns napping. 

Leafs didn't get the wake up call. Keefe spoke about being greedy. If this is what greed looks like, I wonder what giving would?

The good news about being down 3-0 early is it's early. The bad news is it's looking like another 8-1 thumping. 

At this point the only question I have is...when will they pull Jack Campbell? When they hit 4 in the 1st?

Over in 6? 

I wanted this series over in 6, either way. Game 7 is a horrible night for my calendar. Haven't missed a game all season, but I'll have to miss that one. 

EDIT: It's 5-0 and Campbell is still in? What for? Keefe is not bright. 

Not sure if anyone else is watching the Canes/Bruins matinee, but, man, what a brutal emotional decision by Canes coach, Hot Rod. 

I get that you're upset that you just gave up the game-tying goal, late, but to compound it with a BRUTAL challenge which then leads to Bergeron getting sticked in the face drawing blood and a 4-minute double minor? 

Bruins start the 3rd with a 5-on-3, all compliments of Hot Rod Brind'Amour and an Aho stick to the face trying to kill the ensuing penalty. 

Does this look like goaltender interference to you?

18 hours ago, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

 

Jon Cooper's come a LONG way from that former lawyer who won at every level before the NHL by throwing out there the very best talented players he had.
The NHL is more than just about who is the most talented.
It is about who has intangibles like attitude, swagger, momentum, grit, and just overall being more than the sum of their parts....even if those parts are high end like the Lightning have.

Took him awhile to figure that out at the NHL level, but he has, and now, it seems, he has discovered something else:
Generalship in the media.

That idea of a coach running his mouth a bit, simply to deflect attention away and relieving pressure on his guys on the ice.
Having the media focus on that 'loud bag' coach while players continue to work on things, and guys getting to where they need to be (Stamkos, Point, and Kucherov, Killorn, for example, are NOT the playoff monsters they usually are so far...and Vasy has been ordinary to good...not great as he is accustomed).

John Tortorella used that tactic. Ken Hitchcock used that tactice.... I believe others such as Mike Babcock and even Joel Quenneville.
If their big players are in a rut, if the team as a whole isn't doing what its coach deems it could do, it might be time to fire off some item to the media where the other team may take exception with that coach (Jon Cooper).....when their attention should still be squarely on the players (the defending champion Lightning!).

Will it work?
Who knows....but at this point, Cooper knows things don't get easier, and teams can smell the blood of the defending Champs possibly not being around much longer to defend the title.... plus the Leafs have played well and seem here with a completely different, better, winning attitude.
So can't hurt if Cooper tries.

At the end of the day, players on the ice will decide who is better and who has the last laugh, but yea, Cooper has mostly stood away from the media (good idea most of the time), but there HAVE been times when the TB fanbase wishes he'd be more of a-hole if it helps fire up some emotion on his guys and maybe piss off the opposition a little.
Seems he is trying that now.

This smacks of a little desperation and that can be a good thing. 

If the Lightning end their bounce-back game streak and go down 3-1, they have the Leafs right where they want them. Ask Corey Perry. 

Speaking of Perry (who did it Amalie, also)... This is classic:

Love the confidence and bulletin board material. Pride before a fall. 

Did JC think he was speaking after the 8-1 regular season win, or after Game 2?  I guess he sees only potting 2 in Game 3 an anomaly. 

Not sure home ice matters very much. Both teams have won in the other's building. 

Leafs believe 5v5 they're the better team. If that's true, staying out of the box is how Toronto wins this series. 

Campbell is a total wildcard like most goailes but he's even more of one. He's been both all-star and "out of the league" (with his play) all in the same season. He truly is the "box of chocolates" goalie. 

Who knows what happens in Game 4? As TFG pointed out, Tampa's bounce-back streak is on the line, again. They came through after Game 1 with a resounding win. I like the Leafs on the road more than I like them at home. Went up 3-1 on Montreal last season, and wouldn't be surprised if they left Tampa the same, nor would I if they blew another 3-1 series lead. 

EDIT: I'm going to have to start listening to Cooper's pressers. This is some good stuff...

My favorite part of the Ovi goal is the scene for the crowd celebration. I thought the guy in the Cousins jersey was my favorite thing but turns out the two people sitting there laughing at cat memes on Facebook is. 

Let's see if Florida has one of their patented comebacks in them in the playoffs. 

Mikheyev will fall just short of the empty net hat trick. 

Great win for Toronto. Not how you want to get it, but home ice swings back to the Leafs.

Marner off the bar and post was so close to putting this out of reach earlier. 

LONG way to go in this one. Tampa in 5 is out. 

Whew! Felt like Tampa really took over after their PP goal, only slowed by taking a penalty.  Thought for sure they were going to get it to 3-2 before period's end. 

This is the time we see if Toronto is different or the same old Leafs. In driver seat with 20 minutes to go. 

Feeling a big Killorn goal in the 3rd. 

Hoping Toronto doesn't just hang on but puts the hammer down but history says they'll be the nail. 

This has nothing to do with the game, but Marner appears to have a GIANT hickey on the back of his neck. 

A kiss for good luck, I guess. 

Not one of the Fly Guys, but I would pursue Tortorella. 

And, if I couldn't get him, I'd convince Boudreau to exercise his option to walkaway given the Canucks won't extend him until after he coaches a full-season. 

Mike Babcock would probably want back in after all his negative press has died down. 

Flyers need a guy who fits the personality of the city. To me, that's Tortorella. Seems like the perfect guy. 

'nuff said.... 

3 minutes ago, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

oooof....

Stepped away to attend to my chicken in the oven, and the Bolts add two more!!

I looked in my Maple Leafs over and the goose is cooked. 

This feels about right. The Leafs intensity from Game 1 was not sustainable. Leafs down...Tampa up. A predictable outcome. 

We'll see if the back-to-back champs make the same mistake the Leafs made in not stepping on the throat and pounding the nail halfway into the coffin. 

I don't think they will.  Tampa in 5. Feels like a key Leafs injury is coming. 

Jack Campbell has not been good and Vasilevskiy showing who's the alpha and who's the beta. 

Michael Bunting is in for Game 2. He should really help amp it up tonight.

Tampa didn't lose Game 1 in either 1st round series during their back-to-back Cups. The last time they lost Game 1, they got swept. 

Tonight, is HUGE. I expect the Leafs to be nothing like they were in Game 1 and Tampa to be the best version of themselves. Should be a hoot. 

Tampa knows. Game 2 will tell us what kind of a series we're likely to see the rest of the way from the Bolts. 

8 hours ago, 3 Palmateers said:

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. 

Nailed it.  Couldn't have been more wrong, but it feels so right. 

Happy to see the boys not celebrating especially Matthews. He knows and stated you don't win 4 games in 1 game. Long way to go.