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

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

https://theathletic.com/4427558/2023/04/19/nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-concern-o-meter/

Guess who they think should be concerned?  (VGK even more so)

[Bender]

Kind of surprised given how badly the Gio-Holl pairing got filled in last night that Liljegren isn't getting an opportunity to check back in.

Also not really a fan of Kerfoot in the Top 6 but I'm not really sure what the alternative would be.  I think Knies-Tavares-Nylander is asking a lot of Knies but that 3rd line is also asking Knies to probably take on some important defensive matchup stuff because sheltering Acciari and ROR seems like a bit of a waste and I wouldn't really want to be using Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander as a feature defensive line - they seem to get hemmed in their own zone too much.

I think I'd just move Nylander and Marner from that lineup and see how it shakes out. I don't think you can keep that second line as it is.

[Guilt Trip]

Kind of surprised given how badly the Gio-Holl pairing got filled in last night that Liljegren isn't getting an opportunity to check back in.

Also not really a fan of Kerfoot in the Top 6 but I'm not really sure what the alternative would be.  I think Knies-Tavares-Nylander is asking a lot of Knies but that 3rd line is also asking Knies to probably take on some important defensive matchup stuff because sheltering Acciari and ROR seems like a bit of a waste and I wouldn't really want to be using Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander as a feature defensive line - they seem to get hemmed in their own zone too much.

At 5v5 Holl and Gio were on for 1 goal. They had more SCF, more HDCF. They weren't bad together. Rielly and Schenn were also good 5v5. Same with Brodie, MacCabe. The D and team were actually good at 5v5 and outplayed TBay by quite a margin. 16-5 in HDCF. 26-18 in Scoring chances. Leafs need to stay out of the box and they'll be fine.

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/koshtorontosun/status/1648719466539229184

Changes!

I don't know about the second line.  But I see the logic of Knies with ROR on the 3rd.

There's little choice unless you're moving JT to the 3rd line. Knies can't be the most defensive player on line 2 and he would have to be playing with Willy and JT. Kerfoot is good on the D side of things.

[Rob]

The Leafs have pre-emptively suspended Bunting, in terms of lineup looks.

Or he's having an in-person hearing.

[Bullfrog]

Kind of surprised given how badly the Gio-Holl pairing got filled in last night that Liljegren isn't getting an opportunity to check back in.

Also not really a fan of Kerfoot in the Top 6 but I'm not really sure what the alternative would be.  I think Knies-Tavares-Nylander is asking a lot of Knies but that 3rd line is also asking Knies to probably take on some important defensive matchup stuff because sheltering Acciari and ROR seems like a bit of a waste and I wouldn't really want to be using Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander as a feature defensive line - they seem to get hemmed in their own zone too much.

I'm good with Kerfoot in the top 6.

I'd rather have Liljegren in for Schenn.

[LittleHockeyFan]

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

Addition by subtraction.

yep. The league will be doing the Leafs a favour by suspending him.....

on a semi-related note, the Leafs are 0-8 lifetime in playoff games reffed by Wes MacAuley (I'm not surprised, given the history between Sheldon Keefe and MacAuley's BiL David Frost)

[bustaheims]

The Leafs have pre-emptively suspended Bunting, in terms of lineup looks.

Or he's having an in-person hearing.

It's a phone hearing. Would have specified in person when it was announced if that was the case.

[herman]

https://twitter.com/nhlplayersafety/status/1648815612192522240

[Significantly Insignificant]

https://twitter.com/nhlplayersafety/status/1648815612192522240

Well that seems consistent. Isn't that what Kadri got the first time?

[lamajama]

Seems consistent for the NHL ruling against the Leafs anyway.

[CarltonTheBear]

Seems like a game too long, but hey the league might actually be doing us a favour here.

[Bender]

Seems like a game too long, but hey the league might actually be doing us a favour here.

I was thinking the same thing. Honestly don't wanna see him in a uniform again. He's lost his mind for the last 2 months anyway and getting rewarded by starting with Matthews and Marner was just insane by Keefe.

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/nhlplayersafety/status/1648815612192522240

Well that seems consistent. Isn't that what Kadri got the first time?

Kadri got 3 games for trying to drive his ass through Wingels head into the boards. Is not consistent. This is Bunting's first suspension, thay was Kadri's 4th.

[Bill33]

https://twitter.com/nhlplayersafety/status/1648815612192522240

Well that seems consistent. Isn't that what Kadri got the first time?

Kadri got 3 games for trying to drive his ass through Wingels head into the boards. Is not consistent. This is Bunting's first suspension, thay was Kadri's 4th.

I think they suspend to the injury and significance of player somewhat. Cernak is an important player for the Bolts, he had to leave the game, and it sounds like he could miss the next one. I'm not sure if Wingels missed a lot, or any time after Kadri's hit.

Anyway, I've got no time for anyone that makes that play, on any team, so whatever they chose to give him is fine by me.