I'm not mad. And I am not saying they played horrible. They seemed meh to me. Lots of play around the outside imo. I guess if Matthews had scored on that chance we might be talking different ...
- Hockey_Reverend

I would say you need to re evaluate the game then.

And yeah....one chance shouldn't define how you think a team played.

I would say you need to re evaluate the game then.

And yeah....one chance shouldn't define how you think a team played.
- Santo_44

Okay

Leafs owned Sens when the Leafs were underdogs and it was a few more times.

Leafs have lost to a much more experienced Bruins team when the Bruins were favoured.

it is not the same thing, sorry.
- Aetherial

I don't think the Bruins where a favorite across the board last season. 2013 sure.

The leafs had control and at some point broke down mentally. It's not a skill thing - which is a direct comparable to those Sens team; who outside Alfie; lacked that mental toughness to win in the playoffs

I am not convinced the Blues are willing to trade Petro or Parayko yet....It could of been just the media a few months ago. They probably want to be good next year and trading Petro for picks and prospects makes them worse.

LA will sell. Carolina has too many D men and zero scoring.

I see the Leafs zeroing on those two teams for a D.
- Santo_44

Other than Doughty... who will have the same impact?

I think your right about those teams though... guess we'll see what happens. I think the question of when to "go for it" will have to come into play with Dubas. They signed Nylander and will have M & M at 20m next season rather than ELC

Tampa is big enough, built for playoffs: 6'1" 196lbs avg

Toronto too small for the playoffs: 6'1" 200lbs



- burn

I'll take: Guy's like the Goat play like there 5'3", Alex?

The Leafs owned the Sens just like the Bruins own the Leafs in the playoffs.........I don't know what game your watching.

The comeback loss in 2013 was bad enough but last year also showed that the Bruins have their # in the playoffs. I don't see the Leafs winning against the Bruins unless it's in game 7; it's a psychological thing - just like with the Canucks had against the CHI
- AlfieisKing

Did you perhaps miss my point entirely? I think so.

Other than Doughty... who will have the same impact?

I think your right about those teams though... guess we'll see what happens. I think the question of when to "go for it" will have to come into play with Dubas. They signed Nylander and will have M & M at 20m next season rather than ELC
- AlfieisKing

Muzzin. He is a number 3 d man and has been a star this season on a poop team.

Martinez is decent.

And as for Carolina I would bet a lot of money they will trade a d eventually...it could come at the draft though. They just don't need 5 top 4 d men in a league that you need scoring.

And yep, a buyers market, 25 million in deadline cap space. They will be buyers and I will be shocked if they don't do something with it.

Other then 2 shorthanded breakaways within 20 seconds of each other they did not outplay Boston. When Boston started forechecking our guys looked lost. I have moved on, sky is not falling, but why do we defend then with 'underlying numbers'. They lost and looked meh. Disappointing again. Next game...
- Hockey_Reverend

The Leafs were the better team last night. What’s disappointing is when “fans” overblow every lost...

Some thoughts after letting last night's loss to the B's percolate.

It was an interesting coaching move by Babs to line Tavares up against Bergeron. Tavares impresses me more every game, and I thought the Tavares line more than held their own, and did not let the Bruin 1st line dictate the game's pace and tone the way they have when Babs put the Matthews line against them.

Which leads to my next point. If Babs sticks with this game plan, to beat the Bruins, the Leafs are simply going to need more from Matthews in these games, and to a lesser extent the Kadri line. Matthews is rightly regarded as an elite player. He needs to prove it by making some hay against the Krejci line, and Boston in general. Similarly, there is opportunity there for Kadri's line.

The Leafs D is often simply too soft on the puck in their own end, and lately it has ended up in the back of the net because of it. The Bruins D, on the other hand, do not look like a fun group to play against.

Sparks, when healthy, should be sent to the minors.

Lastly, we did not play bad. But the consistent theme has been that in these close games against the Bruins, we lose them.

Discuss.
- fifty__missions

Totally agree, if JT can play Bergeron like that then that gives the Leafs a better chance than last year. The Bs defense is still very strong, and it gave them the edge last night, especially once they got the lead going into the third. The Leafs couldn't do much once Boston decided to protect the lead, thanks mostly to the Bs strong defense. I'm thinking that upgrading the top 4 is a top priority for Dubas.

I don't think the Bruins where a favorite across the board last season. 2013 sure.

The leafs had control and at some point broke down mentally. It's not a skill thing - which is a direct comparable to those Sens team; who outside Alfie; lacked that mental toughness to win in the playoffs
- AlfieisKing

Bruins were definitely favourites both years. Surprised the Leafs stretched it to 7 games.

I will really only be concerned if management has not made improvements to the blue line come March. If the trade deadline passes and Hainsey is still Rielly's partner and Ohziganov is still getting minutes then I will be a little less optimistic.

Barring injuries of course.

I will really only be concerned if management has not made improvements to the blue line come March. If the trade deadline passes and Hainsey is still Rielly's partner and Ohziganov is still getting minutes then I will be a little less optimistic.

Barring injuries of course.
- BetterCallSaul

They're in tough with the cap crunch next year though. It's going to be hard to navigate a trade unless it's for a UFA imo

Moore got a 2 year extension, $775K.

new blog everyone

Sigh. I get you are mad the Leafs lost but don't let it get in the way.

They out chanced them. Out shot them. Possesed the puck and forchecked well.

I completely disagree with you. They played well and lost...that is all there is to it.
- Santo_44

Some forwards been a little snakebit recently, particularly Matthews. He's been missing the net a lot lately, but he looks healthy out there. It just isn't going in.

Would be nice if Nylander showed up.