Playoffs Round 1: Toronto Maple Leafs (A2) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (A3)

[CarltonTheBear]

First postseason practice session for the Leafs sees Knies and Liljegren wearing grey extra jerseys in favour of Lafferty/ZAR and Schenn, and ROR in the top-6 with Tavares and Nylander on his wings:

https://twitter.com/koshtorontosun/status/1647629738159009793

[CarltonTheBear]

Here's how Tampa practiced yesterday:

https://twitter.com/EddieInTheYard/status/1647255327279022083

Things can change between now and Tuesday night of course, but so far looking like they're loading up their top line.

Darren Raddysh (27-year old minor leaguer with just 17 games this season) in the line-up is a little odd. Not sure if that sticks. edit: look like him and Sergachev have been playing together almost all of March, so guess that is a legit pair.

[Bender]

Here's how Tampa practiced yesterday:

https://twitter.com/EddieInTheYard/status/1647255327279022083

Things can change between now and Tuesday night of course, but so far looking like they're loading up their top line.

Darren Raddysh (27-year old minor leaguer with just 17 games this season) in the line-up is a little odd. Not sure if that sticks.

I'm assuming these weren't their lines before? Seems pretty logical. Not sure how I like the Leafs lines. I think I'd prefer Tavares and O'Reilly separated.

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm assuming these weren't their lines before? Seems pretty logical. Not sure how I like the Leafs lines. I think I'd prefer Tavares and O'Reilly separated.

If Tampa keeps their big-3 together I'd definitely rather see a stronger top-9 at first. Save the loading up for in-game adjustments.

[herman]

The way you should see it is Tavares is a really high end Matthew Knies with O'Reilly-Nylander. Especially with home ice last change, Keefe can find spots for them to really cook.

We will probably see them split on the road.
Matthews-Jarnkrok
Tavares-Marner
O'Reilly-Nylander

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

Interesting comments from Cooper and Keefe up on MLHS now.  I like how confident Keefe sounds.  This series is do or die for him, but he sounds like he really believes the team is in a good position to win a tough series.

[herman]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1647965643176640513
Aaaand we're boned.

[L K]

I'm surprised they moved Jarnkrok back off the top line but I think that was done to make the 3rd line more of a defensive shutdown line.

I actually like ROR with Tavares/Nylander.  It felt like every year the Leafs would only have one of their top 6 pairs firing.  If they can get Matthews/Marner and Tavares/Nylander both going I don't think Tampa can match up with that.  Splitting ROR onto the 3rd line risks having the Bunting/Tavares/Nylander line that has been a bit of an iffy defensive unit 5 on 5 at times.  I'd rather have two really good top 6 lines and then two solid bottom six grinder lines like this than spread things out thinly.

This is going to be a tight series unless a goalie poops the bed.  Maximize your chances to put goal up.

I'd be more inclined to put ROR on the 3rd line against Boston where they are a deeper team than against Tampa. 

[cabber24]

Can we fast-forward to the second round? All this optimism is making me sick. At this point, I need to see it to believe it!

O'Reilly should be centering the third line. That's a stacked TB first line and I would have thought an O'Reilly shutdown line would be matched but we'll see.

I like the 6 D chosen. Brodie-McCabe 26+ Minutes, the other two pairs below 20, please.

[Bill33]

Can we fast-forward to the second round? All this optimism is making me sick. At this point, I need to see it to believe it!

Heh, I know what you mean.

IMO - there's two ways that the leafs lose this series. Vasilevski, or the leafs core beating themselves by not being able to let go of their demons. It'll be a wild ride regardless.

[princedpw]

The way you should see it is Tavares is a really high end Matthew Knies with O'Reilly-Nylander.

LOL

I had no idea Knies had such quick hands down low and you might say "strength beyond his years" on the puck.

[herman]

https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/leafs-vs-lightning-line-by-line/
It's easier being the underdog

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/BillzTweetz/status/1648437364463923202

[herman]

https://twitter.com/apetrielli/status/1648313756445810693

[L K]

Bunting is getting a hearing tomorrow.  I'm assuming he gets two games.