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Playoffs Round 1: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins

CarltonTheBear

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Leafs vs. Bruins. All starts Saturday at 8pm.

Little bit of a look at the line-up questions going into game 1 from Justin Bourne:

https://twitter.com/jtbourne/status/1780700469591241096
 
In the Leafs v Red Wings gameday thread I half-jokingly predicted that Matthews would score number 69 that night and then go goalless over the last two games. Obviously didn't want that to happen.

Hopefully him not getting to 70 is going to mean he takes out any private anger/annoyance/frustration on the Bruins. You can guarantee there's going to be some chirping about it on the ice.
 
That Boston team doesn?t look great and doesn?t put anywhere near the level of fear in as the bruins teams of a few years ago.
 
Arn said:
That Boston team doesn?t look great and doesn?t put anywhere near the level of fear in as the bruins teams of a few years ago.

They?re not as deep, that for sure. They?re still a tough team to beat because of their goaltending, but they?ll give up their fair share of chances. Just need to be able to capitalize on them.
 
This is the first season since the playoffs against the capitals where I have no confidence of the leafs getting out of the 1st round.

Every other season I felt they should have and was disappointed. But this year I?m not feeling it at all.
 
Leafs got the R1 monkey off their back last year.  Maybe this year the Boston monkey?
 
Full first round schedule:

Boston Bruins (2A) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (3A)
Game 1: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- Saturday 8 p.m. ET (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS, CBC)
Game 2: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- April 22, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Game 3: Bruins at Maple Leafs -- April 24, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, TVAS, CBC)
Game 4: Bruins at Maple Leafs -- April 27, 8 p.m. ET (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS, CBC)
Game 5: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- April 30, TBD
Game 6: Bruins at Maple Leafs -- May 2, TBD
Game 7: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- May 4, TBD
 
https://twitter.com/APetrielli/status/1781303994943496661

A big thing this reiterates is that if Nylander does get the 3rd line assignment he really needs to dominate that match-up.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Full first round schedule:

Boston Bruins (2A) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (3A)
Game 1: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- Saturday 8 p.m. ET (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS, CBC)
Game 2: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- April 22, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Game 3: Bruins at Maple Leafs -- April 24, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, TVAS, CBC)
Game 4: Bruins at Maple Leafs -- April 27, 8 p.m. ET (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS, CBC)
Game 5: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- April 30, TBD
Game 6: Bruins at Maple Leafs -- May 2, TBD
Game 7: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- May 4, TBD

Game 4 on my birthday. Looking forward to the Leafs progressing to round 2 as my present.
 
cabber24 said:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/breaking-down-what-the-maple-leafs-lines-should-be-against-bruins/

I want this lineup:

Bertuzzi-Matthews-Domi
Knies-Tavares-Marner
McMann-Holmberg-Nylander
Jarnkrok-Kampf-Reaves

Extras: Dewar, Robertson, Gregor

Rielly-Lyubushkin
Benoit-McCabe
Edmundson-Liljegren

Extras: Brodie, Giordano, Timmins

Assuming everyone's healthy of course, the only change I'd make here is swapping Knies and Jarnkrok. The Tavares line is going to get a healthy dose of Pastrnak it seems so having an extra dose of defence on it will be useful. And as much as I like Knies I think he's shown that maybe he's not quite ready for top level competition in his rookie season. He can probably do more damage on the 4th line than on the 2nd line even with the obviously significantly worse linemates.
 
I really, really hope Keefe sticks to the depth/balanced line approach. If he starts pressing and stacks the top line(s) as his only scoring tactic, it's gonna be a long (or short, rather) series.

Goaltending, Keefe and Special Teams are my top 3 concerns going in. Who knows what Samsonov version we're getting and the latter concern is partially tied to that. I don't think trying to out-tough the Bruins is the answer; refs will find any excuse to punish Toronto over anyone from Boston. 3 balanced lines with minor tinkering and solid goaltending should be enough. My rational mind says Leafs in 6. Every other fibre of my being expects Bruins to take this one in 4 or 7 and I block out social media for a good 4 months.
 
Joe said:
This is the first season since the playoffs against the capitals where I have no confidence of the leafs getting out of the 1st round.

Every other season I felt they should have and was disappointed. But this year I?m not feeling it at all.

This sums up exactly how I feel as well. I look at the other teams in the east and think the Leafs would be underdogs against at least four of them. However, hope springs eternal and reading this thread is starting to fill me with hope again. :)
 
Andy said:
I really, really hope Keefe sticks to the depth/balanced line approach. If he starts pressing and stacks the top line(s) as his only scoring tactic, it's gonna be a long (or short, rather) series.

Goaltending, Keefe and Special Teams are my top 3 concerns going in. Who knows what Samsonov version we're getting and the latter concern is partially tied to that. I don't think trying to out-tough the Bruins is the answer; refs will find any excuse to punish Toronto over anyone from Boston. 3 balanced lines with minor tinkering and solid goaltending should be enough. My rational mind says Leafs in 6. Every other fibre of my being expects Bruins to take this one in 4 or 7 and I block out social media for a good 4 months.
I think they do out-tough the Bruins because for once the Leafs have the roster to do it. Our "soft" teams of the past didn't accomplish anything.

I don't believe that the refs have any bias whatsoever and am tired of that dialogue.

Balanced lines, yes, please!
 
I think they're fairly closely matched.
Bruins definitely have some edge - mainly in goal.
Anything can happen.
 
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