Round 1: Leafs @ Bruins

[Artnes]

@HennyTweets

D pairings

Rielly-Hainsey
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Gardiner-Dermott

#LeafsForever

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[JackBurton]

I ****ing hate Hainsey getting that many minutes.

 

[ExceptionallyDumb]

I'm fine with starting Jake on the third pair. He was looking real stiff out there. Not sure he's close to 100%.

 

[zeke]

Our 3rd pair on our crappy D is very comparable to the Bruins' 2nd pair on their elite D.

 

[CaptainBolduke]

Leafs in 6

Just to spite the local media and I simply can't cheer for the Brunads.

 

[ExceptionallyDumb]

Willy and Matthews split is just a case of Babs fearing the matchup game on the road. Wouldn't be surprised if they're back together at home.

 

[No67]

https://www.nhl.com/news/stanley-cu...hlcom-staff-members/c-306567428?tid=287339198

13 of 15 writers chose the Bruins to beat the Leafs in this series.

It's kind of amazing that nobody gives us a chance in this one, even though the Bruins had to pull it out of the fire last year.

Just because they picked the Bruins doesn't mean they aren't giving us a chance. They just see the Bruins as the favourites, which they objectively are.

 

[ExceptionallyDumb]

Expect to see a lot of browncow on the third line over willy too. Especially when they're up.

 

[Volcanologist]

I'm fine with starting Jake on the third pair. He was looking real stiff out there. Not sure he's close to 100%.

Of course he isn't. He was facing surgery a month ago.

 

[zeke]

Looks like it's all hands on deck for the Leafs. Everybody (including Gardiner, Dermott & Muzzin) are at Leaf practice and appear to be healthy.

And Holl & Ozhiganov have been separated from the main practice group, so looks like Rosen & Marincin will be the first extra D Babcock goes to if needed in this series.

have we ever actually had our whole lineup together this year?

can't be more than a handful games we weren't missing one or more key players.

 

[Bleedsblue&white]

Going in as the definite underdogs will play well.

 

[zeke]

If my math is right, the leafs had their top-6 dmen intact for exactly 13gms - Feb 1 when they got Muzzin to Feb 25 when Gardiner was injured, and they went 8-3-2 (114pt pace) in those games.

 

[ExceptionallyDumb]

QOC?

 

[zeke]

3-1-1 against playoffs teams
5-2-1 against non playoffs teams

 

[zeke]

8gms with a full lineup this year (kadri and johnsson missed some of those 14gms) - we went 6-1-1. (3-0-0 against playoff teams, 3-1-1 against non playoffs teams).

 

[Killer93]

Lines at Leafs practice

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen
Marleau-Kadri-Nylander
Moore-��-Brown
Petan, Ennis

Rielly-Hainsey
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Gardiner-Dermott
Rosen-Marincin

Andersen
Hutchinson

Splitting Matthews and Nylander and Hainsey with Rielly is a way to lose this series

 

[zeke]

updated with today's practice lines:

 

[WellPlayed]

Lines at Leafs practice

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen
Marleau-Kadri-Nylander
Moore-��-Brown
Petan, Ennis

Rielly-Hainsey
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Gardiner-Dermott
Rosen-Marincin

Andersen
Hutchinson

Splitting Matthews and Nylander and Hainsey with Rielly is a way to lose this series

Don't mind the forward lines. Those are 3 very dangerous lines and should be tough to match up against provided Nylander and Kadri step up their game.

Hainsey and Zaitsev will get too many minutes, but that was inevitable.

 

[ExceptionallyDumb]

Like I said, Babs just doesn't trust Willy against top lines on the road when he can't line match. I'm more curious to see if he changes it up at home and uses the kadri line as the shutdown line. I hope not but I'm guessing a lot will depend on the first two games.

 

[zeke]

tbh there's a bit of a compliment to willy there - i'm sure babs sees our 3rd line's offensive ability as potentially a series difference maker.