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Round 1: Leafs @ Bruins

Mitch and Kapanen did give him trouble last year. We did not exploit his footspeed enough. Kap barely played.
 
WellPlayed said:
I seem to remember Mitch making him look silly and skating circles more than a few times last playoffs. Or am I making that up?
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Mitch was skating circles around pretty much every one on the Bruins last year. They didn't really have an answer for him.

And that was even though he spent 80% of his even strength ice-time with Patrick Marleau as his left winger (which, come to think of it, might explain why I recall Marleau having such a strong playoffs last year), and about 55% of his even-strength ice-time with Patrick Marleau AND Tomas Plekanec as his two linemates.

Looking forward to seeing what he does to the Bruins on a line with Hyman & Tavares this year.
 
Artnes said:
I get it but they still have to play a structured defensive system. If they try to get into a back and forth with the Leafs we win that battle.

Bruins dont have the scoring depth to play that style

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Oh they won't just ignore defense. They've never really done that against the leafs. Not sure that's something I'd expect.
 
JackBurton said:
Mitch and Kapanen did give him trouble last year. We did not exploit his footspeed enough. Kap barely played.
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Ya and now that you mention it, I do remember Kapanen's straight-line speed giving him problems as well.

He's going to be getting a steady dose of Marner, Kapanen, Nylander. All of them are great skaters and all of them attack in different ways. I know he's an ageless wonder, but he's definitely a step slower these days. Marner's edges and creativity and Kappy's top end speed in particular could be trouble for him. I like how we match up.
 
Wayward DP said:
eh Backes will get in at some point. would be ironic if it was after the Leafs were taking liberties with the Bs skill guys. ha.

Cassidy seems to know what he's doing though. the Cassidy vs Babs match up is one that I'm not sure works in our favour.
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I'm sure it doesn't.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
Holy shit I would love if they try to play our game rather than play their usual style.
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Speed is their usual style. They're a very fast team. They just use it differently than the Leafs do They use their speed to close down other teams defensively (they don't have the skill we have) rather than collapse into a defensive shell (we don't close out aggressively on the puck at all, and I don't think it's a personnel issue) and focus on speed to stretch the neutral zone.

But yeah, this isn't out of step for them at all. They're not a big, physical team. They're a fast, tight checking team.
 
They’re always physical and heavy against us.

They’re fast and have some great playmakers, but I prefer all the smaller guys to go against.
 
What Cassidy was saying in a long form way, was this. Don't let any of the skill forwards on the Leafs get anywhere with the puck without being angled off, by one of their players.

Its called smothering and its the perfect way to beat the Leafs. The only two players on the Leafs who play like this are Kapanen and Hyman.

Its why I am saying we only have a 40% chance of winning. Its also why I cannot stand Babcock. Pat Burns understood this and so did every guy playing on those Burns teams.

And its not tough to understand.
 
Although I am not a big advocate of holding the coach responsible for lazy and stupid play by the players themselves, babcock seems to be digging his own grave
It isnt the continued stretch passing which seems to result in alot of late third period icings and defensive stress which isnt necessary.
I get the babcock mantra of not being heavy enough, or of not competing hard enough in the dirty areas, but I have to say that if you dont have the right tools, use the ones you have to obtain success.
I dont understand babcocks penchant for using hainsey as one of the top 4 dmen on the leafs.
I really think that it is time to move dermot up with reilly, put muzzin and gardiner together and pair up zaitsev and hainsey as the third option.
Hell even dress Rosen instead of Ennis an extra option for defence.
The extra forward space allows one of the much more talented leaf forwards extra icetine which may result in an extra goal or three in these playoffs.
I also dont understand allowing the point shots while defending to be that open ALL the time. It makes no sense.
It is funny how the leaf forwards can be so slow to cover the points, but so quick to exit the zone when the sniff a chance at a fast break.
Anyways, what I am trying to say is that if the leafs do lose to the bruins again this season, babcock should be fired.
I dont think keefer is the answer, he is an excellent young coach, and will make some young team very happy. But the future for the leafs is now, and the growing pains associated with a young coach who is just beginning his nhl career is not the wisest investment for a leaf team in win now mode.
I seriously do believe that if the leafs do lose this series with the bruins (and I am picking the bruins to win but would love it if the leafs won), babcock will be let go.
I am not the biggest supporter of dubas, I love the way he has brought another aspect (analytics) of thinking to the game, but to rely solely on the numbers is foolish and damaging. Analytics are becoming an important aspect and opportunity for teams to have an advantage, but hockey is much more than numbers.
Nylander has amazing talent with the puck, but without the puck, he seems to have barely junior level ability defensively.
Why is hainsey out there for the last 2 to 3 minutes of a game? Because defensively, he is better than 3 of the other 5 dmen on this team. That is on both dubas and babcock. Babcocks system, and dubas's inability to bring in someone better than hainsey defensively.
I would play the core dmen, reilly, dermot and muzzin until they puked. I would make sure one of them is always on the ice but babcock wont do that.
So I would make sure that hainsey and zaitsev were only on the ice when tavares or kadris line was out there. And I would have them out for penalty killing purposes (although the leafs pk was having a rough time of it a few weeks ago), and the last minute of a game with reilly.
I hope the leafs win this series, it is the leafs Stanley cup imho, but my money (2000) is on the bruins.
So if the leafs win, great. Babcock gets to stick around.
If the leafs lose, then babcock should be gone, and dubas should be facing some scrutiny too.
Go leafs go.
 
If the leafs do win, it will probably happen because of anderson, tavares and lots of mitch.
I have a funny feeling that marner might go nuts this series and pave the way for his new 12 million dollar contract lol
 
only 6 of 22 sportsnet writers picked the Leafs to win this series.

for a matchup that otherwise at least appears to be close, the Bruins are landslide favourites.
 
Volcanologist said:
only 6 of 22 sportsnet writers picked the Leafs to win this series.

for a matchup that otherwise at least appears to be close, the Bruins are landslide favourites.
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What would make people pick the Leafs to win?

Boston has been the better team all year and have home ice. They are definitely the favorites. Not sure what people were expecting. Could we win? Sure, and it wouldn't be a huge shocker. But going into the series they are definitely the favorites, and media members typically don't take many chances with their predictions.

If anything this helps us. We may actually be a bigger underdog this year compared to last.
 
leaffan2005 said:
What would make people pick the Leafs to win?

Boston has been the better team all year and have home ice. They are definitely the favorites. Not sure what people were expecting. Could we win? Sure, and it wouldn't be a huge shocker. But going into the series they are definitely the favorites, and media members typically don't take many chances with their predictions.

If anything this helps us. We may actually be a bigger underdog this year compared to last.
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I expected the Bruins to be favourites.

but not 29-8 favourites.
 
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