Overtime in Rockford, 2-2

GR 3-2 OT

Well, they were just booed off the ice. The Leafs issue is team construction, can’t compete in the playoffs with soft players and not enough talent on the backend.
- Angotti

The Bruins play the same way all season long, emphasis on defence, goaltending and positional play. The Leafs like the wide open game thats easy and pads the statistics. When the playoff come around and the checking gets tight and the ice shrinks, the Pretty Boy Floyds disappear. So then the coach resorts to complaing about Marchand.

So predictible.

Plays like he mad at the world at times but is said to be inconsistent at times. Like I mentioned to paul, BU is a program that has had its fair share of talented players and will work on his shortcomings. That is where Vlasic played, BTW
- Elbows15

Thanks, plays mad at the world, i like that.

Overtime in Rockford, 2-2

GR 3-2 OT
- totem

Not one of the recently signed prospects in the lineup. Stauber in goal. Icehogs were up 2-0 but lost in OT. Would like to know what were the factors or reason(s) why they lost. Detroit goaltender, Cossa, is a descent prospect but who knows if his performance was one reason why Grand Rapids won

I noticed Detroit sent Edvinsson down for the playoffs. He should remain in the NHL next season

I could list the good and bad or detrimental parts for the top four Icehog dmen;however, didn’t take in the game or come across a review of the game

Not one of the recently signed prospects in the lineup. Stauber in goal. Icehogs were up 2-0 but lost in OT. Would like to know what were the factors or reason(s) why they lost. Detroit goaltender, Cossa, is a descent prospect but who knows if his performance was one reason why Grand Rapids won

I noticed Detroit sent Edvinsson down for the playoffs. He should remain in the NHL next season

I could list the good and bad or detrimental parts for the top four Icehog dmen;however, didn’t take in the game or come across a review of the game
- jhawk59

https://allchgo.com/rockf...-vs-griffins-in-overtime/

The Bruins play the same way all season long, emphasis on defence, goaltending and positional play. The Leafs like the wide open game thats easy and pads the statistics. When the playoff come around and the checking gets tight and the ice shrinks, the Pretty Boy Floyds disappear. So then the coach resorts to complaing about Marchand.

So predictible.
- RickJ

It's amazing how a team with better structure will wear an opponent down. Didn't catch all of the Dallas game last night but from the 2 periods i saw as a team they finally seemed to be on the right side of the puck last night. I don't know if the Rangers are just that much faster than the Caps but they seem to be playing the same structure so far.

Seeing a clip on Twitter where Mitch Marner is getting some tough love from his teammates.

Last night on the Toronto bench -

Mathews: Hey Willy, I'm sitting out the 3rd period and plan to call some courses to set up some tee times for next week. You want to be in my foursome?

Nylander: Effing okay with me. I'll play and I bet I shoot better than you.

Marner: What about me? Why don't you ask me? (throws gloves)

The Generational talent was a ghost last game. He hit a few guys and battled for positioning and pucks the previous game, I’m guessing he didn’t really have the appetite to play that way the last game. And Marner is just plain scared when the going gets rough. I hope KD factors in the playoff potential in the prospects he is reviewing, I don’t want to see regular season superstars like Matthews or Marner on Chicago.
- paulr

It's less the top of the line up and more the fact that they have an egregiously bad blue line and horrid goaltending. Boston has a quality blue line and excellent goaltending.

For as excellent as Patrick Kane was in the playoffs - I think people forget he usually didn't show up until later in the series once guys started getting worn down but the rest of the team was good enough to get him there.

The Leafs are just a poorly constructed team. And push from the blue line is essential. Adding Sergachev back into the mix made a huge difference for Tampa even though his minutes were somewhat limited.

You could swap Matthews, Marner and Nylander for MacKinnon, Mikko and Nichushkin and they would still struggle in the playoffs because there is no one to advance the puck to them.

Speaking of the Avs as another example - they also looked much better with Girard back in the line up - having another mobile blue line player who could advance the puck forward quickly and reliably.

After the Hawks won in 2015 - Keith, Seabs and Hammer started falling apart and the second pairing was disrupted with Oduya gonzo they couldn't get past the first round. Little to do with Kane, Hossa and Toews at that point.

The teams that are having success have a deep blue line, with either competent players who play excellent defense and advance the puck reliably forward; Carolina, Boston, Las Vegas, Florida. Tampa when healthy. Carolina has a good mix of speed and push on their blue line which is deep.

OR a dynamic blue line that will put up points and aggressively participate in the offense. Edmonton and Colorado. Vancouver and NYR have kind of a mix but gosh is that Hughes kid good and Adam Fox is a hell of a player. With Bouchard and Ekholm running rampant and Nurse slotted properly it's amazing how much better that group is as a team.

Toronto has no one comparable to Hughes, Fox or Makar. They certainly don't have the level of talent to do it by committee like Boston or Carolina does. They have no one as well rounded as McAvoy. It's just a bad team that makes up points during the regular season by having some outstanding talent at forward but that doesn't translate well to playoff performance.

So appreciative of the game Toews (and others) brought in the playoffs - the willingness to pay the physical price to win in the playoffs.
- RickJ

Keith, Seabrook, Hammer, Campbell\Odyua was incomparable to the rubbish on the Toronto blue line.

Crawford was certainly better than anyone the Leafs have had that I can remember and the 2010 team was so good they probably could have won with a parking cone (though Neimi was outstanding in that San Jose series when he had to do otherwise he was kinda mediocre).

It's less the top of the line up and more the fact that they have an egregiously bad blue line and horrid goaltending. Boston has a quality blue line and excellent goaltending.

For as excellent as Patrick Kane was in the playoffs - I think people forget he usually didn't show up until later in the series once guys started getting worn down but the rest of the team was good enough to get him there.

The Leafs are just a poorly constructed team. And push from the blue line is essential. Adding Sergachev back into the mix made a huge difference for Tampa even though his minutes were somewhat limited.

You could swap Matthews, Marner and Nylander for MacKinnon, Mikko and Nichushkin and they would still struggle in the playoffs because there is no one to advance the puck to them.

Speaking of the Avs as another example - they also looked much better with Girard back in the line up - having another mobile blue line player who could advance the puck forward quickly and reliably.

After the Hawks won in 2015 - Keith, Seabs and Hammer started falling apart and the second pairing was disrupted with Oduya gonzo they couldn't get past the first round. Little to do with Kane, Hossa and Toews at that point.

The teams that are having success have a deep blue line, with either competent players who play excellent defense and advance the puck reliably forward; Carolina, Boston, Las Vegas, Florida. Tampa when healthy. Carolina has a good mix of speed and push on their blue line which is deep.

OR a dynamic blue line that will put up points and aggressively participate in the offense. Edmonton and Colorado. Vancouver and NYR have kind of a mix but gosh is that Hughes kid good and Adam Fox is a hell of a player. With Bouchard and Ekholm running rampant and Nurse slotted properly it's amazing how much better that group is as a team.

Toronto has no one comparable to Hughes, Fox or Makar. They certainly don't have the level of talent to do it by committee like Boston or Carolina does. They have no one as well rounded as McAvoy. It's just a bad team that makes up points during the regular season by having some outstanding talent at forward but that doesn't translate well to playoff performance.
- fattybeef

It’s almost like this has been said a few times before…

But so many draft prognosticators have banished Eiserman to slot #8, because he needs more defensive detail to his game.
- wiz1901

Not this guy:

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts

He has a very special talent and a NHL build at 18 which tells me his nutrition is dialed in and the kid is spending plenty of time in the weight room. What coaches game plan is going to be anything but give the puck to Cole and get him as many shots as possible?

Those individually driven players like that are probably going to have success at every level. And it sounds like he can be a little bit of a son of a female dog and having someone with a bit of an attitude would not be a bad thing for this group.

Keith, Seabrook, Hammer, Campbell\Odyua was incomparable to the rubbish on the Toronto blue line.

Crawford was certainly better than anyone the Leafs have had that I can remember and the 2010 team was so good they probably could have won with a parking cone (though Neimi was outstanding in that San Jose series when he had to do otherwise he was kinda mediocre).
- fattybeef

Niemi was a product of the team in front of him, that's why i caution everyone on the big hurry to bring in a top line player, it won't make a dent, depth depth depth, it takes 20 players to win a SC not a few.

TBH, I really don’t care whom they draft, but you can’t tank like they did this year and miss on the pick. That being said they’re drafting top four, so they should grab a good player. Looks like the Bolts are going to win their game, now let’s go Bruins!
- Angotti

Maybe a let down from Florida but they looked much better with Sergachev in the line up and Hedman not having to do all of the things.

It's amazing how a team with better structure will wear an opponent down. Didn't catch all of the Dallas game last night but from the 2 periods i saw as a team they finally seemed to be on the right side of the puck last night. I don't know if the Rangers are just that much faster than the Caps but they seem to be playing the same structure so far.

Seeing a clip on Twitter where Mitch Marner is getting some tough love from his teammates.
- BetweenTheDots

Boston has significantly more talent on the blue line and especially in goal. They can defend and make a pass. If Jake McCabe is your no 2 your blue line is pretty poopty.

Boston has significantly more talent on the blue line and especially in goal. They can defend and make a pass. If Jake McCabe is your no 2 your blue line is pretty poopty.
- fattybeef

The Leafs could really use Seth Jones

It's less the top of the line up and more the fact that they have an egregiously bad blue line and horrid goaltending. Boston has a quality blue line and excellent goaltending.

For as excellent as Patrick Kane was in the playoffs - I think people forget he usually didn't show up until later in the series once guys started getting worn down but the rest of the team was good enough to get him there.

The Leafs are just a poorly constructed team. And push from the blue line is essential. Adding Sergachev back into the mix made a huge difference for Tampa even though his minutes were somewhat limited.

You could swap Matthews, Marner and Nylander for MacKinnon, Mikko and Nichushkin and they would still struggle in the playoffs because there is no one to advance the puck to them.

Speaking of the Avs as another example - they also looked much better with Girard back in the line up - having another mobile blue line player who could advance the puck forward quickly and reliably.

After the Hawks won in 2015 - Keith, Seabs and Hammer started falling apart and the second pairing was disrupted with Oduya gonzo they couldn't get past the first round. Little to do with Kane, Hossa and Toews at that point.

The teams that are having success have a deep blue line, with either competent players who play excellent defense and advance the puck reliably forward; Carolina, Boston, Las Vegas, Florida. Tampa when healthy. Carolina has a good mix of speed and push on their blue line which is deep.

OR a dynamic blue line that will put up points and aggressively participate in the offense. Edmonton and Colorado. Vancouver and NYR have kind of a mix but gosh is that Hughes kid good and Adam Fox is a hell of a player. With Bouchard and Ekholm running rampant and Nurse slotted properly it's amazing how much better that group is as a team.

Toronto has no one comparable to Hughes, Fox or Makar. They certainly don't have the level of talent to do it by committee like Boston or Carolina does. They have no one as well rounded as McAvoy. It's just a bad team that makes up points during the regular season by having some outstanding talent at forward but that doesn't translate well to playoff performance.
- fattybeef

You’re absolutely correct about the defence and about the structure of the team, you can add poor coaching too. However you have four guys making $10M plus each, who are dominant in the regular season and who have never brought it in the post season against better and worse teams. In this series, the regular season superstars, Matthews and Marner, are being outplayed by not only many Bruin players but they aren’t even the best Leaf players. And it’s beyond production, it’s effort, or a complete lack thereof. Matthews left his effort in the last game of the regular season chasing 70 goals. Marner has shown the last seven seasons he’s afraid in the post season. How is it possible for a 69 goal scorer to become so ineffective in the playoffs? On HNIC last night they showed a graph where Matthews had one shot from the slot, about 15 feet out. Nothing around the net and a few from the perimeter. Against Florida last year in the whole series he had six from the slot, all from well out. If these regular season superstars battled I’d blame everyone but them but the fact is they aren’t providing any effort. As Orville Tessier once said, the team, in this case the Leafs need to go to the Mayo clinic for 20 heart transplants, with Matthews and Marner at the front of the line!

It’s almost like this has been said a few times before…
- Chunk

It has been but people insist on blaming Marner, Matthews and Nylander even though they're being set up for failure.

Like someone else posted it's a team sport and if the rest of the team is poorly constructed then they're going to have a bad time.

Another point for how the Hawks have drafted on the blue line recently is all those guys are mobile and for the most part they can all make an excellent first pass.

Vlasic, Korch, EDM, Kaiser - excellent passers and a good mix of size and mobility.

Watching Hughes though and seeing a guy like Parekh out there sure makes things interesting.

Keep thinking it would be really nice if they could move into the top 15 (from the Tampa pick) to snatch one of Catton or Helenius with that second pick so they could take a flyer on another dynamic blue line prospect.

Maybe a let down from Florida but they looked much better with Sergachev in the line up and Hedman not having to do all of the things.
- fattybeef

I only watched about ten minutes of that game, but no doubt having Sergachev back helps the Bolts. Look at the Leafs, their best defensive defenseman is McCabe, and their #1 defenseman doesn’t play good defense and is not bringing offense against the Bruins. Sure you need talented forwards to go deep in the playoffs, however it is essential to have two or three good defensemen as well or you’re not going anywhere. That’s why I want KD to draft best available, if that’s a Dman so be it, much easier to trade defense for offense than the other way around.

Potential Russia Passport Ban Affects Flyers Players, Prospects https://phillyhockeynow.c...flyers-players-prospects/

The Leafs could really use Seth Jones
- DarthKane

Actually, he’s better than anyone currently on their roster.

Potential Russia Passport Ban Affects Flyers Players, Prospects https://phillyhockeynow.c...flyers-players-prospects/
- Mr Ricochet

That could impact this draft, wonder if guys like Demidiv and Silayev drop down due to this issue. I’d take a chance if one of them dropped to the Tampa pick, although I would not touch them with the Hawks pick.

Niemi was a product of the team in front of him, that's why i caution everyone on the big hurry to bring in a top line player, it won't make a dent, depth depth depth, it takes 20 players to win a SC not a few.
- BetweenTheDots

Well philly, pitt , vegas and the islanders would disagree with you.

Well philly, pitt , vegas and the islanders would disagree with you.
- LFS

Sorry, misread your post. I somehow read 20 years. My bad

I watch the Avs and they are relentlessly defending Winnepeg, sure you need size but when you got the better skating team willing to play defense you frustrate the poop out of the opponent.

The Leafs could really use Seth Jones
- DarthKane

I would love to Dump Jones. Ive not liked him since JR. I was at the MCup when McKinnen made him look as average as he is. Im betting the Draft Lotto has alot to do with Jones' future with the Hawks.