When is the next game?
Friday or sat?
- Fakepartofme

Friday 7pm

Why does it matter? We're just going to lose.
- gravyface

Agreed, Boston is just to Bostonian and the Leafs are just to Leafy for any other result

Why does it matter? We're just going to lose.
- gravyface

Ahh now he's whining and sad.

Yep, tough to score 5v5, especially the way they collapse.

We need to stay out of the box and the series should be ours.
- Garnie

Definitely. For all the star studded talent on this team. Our pp doesn’t get it done enough. And Boston’s does.

Or how about just reality.
Thats the world i live in.
- Fakepartofme

I would agree with you.
Some people just surf on the Leafs next high wave, and don't want to have a proper conversation - and they tell anyone that wants to talk hockey in an objective way that they're not 'real Leafs fans'.

It is always the same with players as well (in particular the young ones) - one day Johnsson/Soshnikov/Frattin/Kapanen etc. are going to be top6 wingers - and then next time they should be traded because 'bums'.

It's a competitive league, and there isn't that much difference between the team ending 28th in league's overall standings and team ending 3rd.

That being said - the playoffs is where the players really show what they're made off.

So far, for me, there are three categories: great - ok - bad. (relative to their potential mainly)

Great:
Hyman
Andersen
Johnsson
Hainsey
Zaitsev
Brown
Moore
Gauthier

Ok:
Marner
Tavares
Matthews
Rielly
Dermott
Muzzin
Gardiner
Kapanen
Ennis

Bad:
Nylander
Marleau




Kadri was playing well, but obviously his stupid hit made it difficult to place him anywhere but in the 'bad' category.

Crystal ball gazing is reality now. Cool.
- gravyface

No, its an opinion based on past reality. "I feel" like they may lose game 7, "I dont" see them winning a game 7...but as I said I hope I'm wrong.
Its an opinion.

Jesus, bud.
Get a grip.

Im moving on from this stupidity.

Friday 7pm
- RickJames77

Same time as the raps eh.

blerg.

I would agree with you.
Some people just surf on the Leafs next high wave, and don't want to have a proper conversation - and they tell anyone that wants to talk hockey in an objective way that they're not 'real Leafs fans'.

It is always the same with players as well (in particular the young ones) - one day Johnsson/Soshnikov/Frattin/Kapanen etc. are going to be top6 wingers - and then next time they should be traded because 'bums'.

It's a competitive league, and there isn't that much difference between the team ending 28th in league's overall standings and team ending 3rd.

That being said - the playoffs is where the players really show what they're made off.

So far, for me, there are three categories: great - ok - bad. (relative to their potential mainly)

Great:
Hyman
Andersen
Johnsson
Hainsey
Zaitsev
Brown
Moore
Gauthier

Ok:
Marner
Tavares
Matthews
Rielly
Dermott
Muzzin
Gardiner
Kapanen
Ennis

Bad:
Nylander
Marleau




Kadri was playing well, but obviously his stupid hit made it difficult to place him anywhere but in the 'bad' category.
- MaximusAurelius

Sweet Jesus, what?

No reason why the bench couldn't have been shortened after making it 5-4. Also no reason why 34/29 couldn't have been united for a few shifts toward the end of the game. Both are on Babs.

Honestly, can anyone name one positive thing, anything, that Babs actually did to coach this team tonight?
- As_I_See_It

Babcock totally outcoached again!

Babcock totally outcoached again!
- Jrw10

Babcock did have a bad night. I was happy with him the 1st 3 games. He easilly needs to put Tavres on the PK like Cassidy does with his best forwards.

Babcock totally outcoached again!
- Jrw10

It’s hard to know what really goes on behind the scenes. But it’s tough to argue when you see Cassidy get Pastrnak going like that

I dont think Boston was really better in game 4, unless you think the Leafs were better in game 3. Kinda of the same type of games. Pretty even. Id say the series is pretty even so far.
- Archaic

I would actually go so far as to say the Leafs were better. They just didn't captitalize, and the Bruins did.

they started slow, but carried most of the play in the first, and the second. It just seemed like some crappy mistakes ended up in the back of the net. for example, the first PP goal, they had basically textbook killed it off. Boston could barely break the zone, then a stupid mistake ended up behind Andersen in the dying seconds. Through the first half of the third, they were getting the puck in deep, but Boston would just toss it back out, with no pressure. Boston wasn't doing a damn thing with the puck, but they also didn't need to. They were happy to plan a game of ping pong, primarily in the neutral zone. Then the Leafs turned on the pressure, but too little too late.

I think Leafs take game 5. I have been 4 for 4 in predictions this series.

It’s hard to know what really goes on behind the scenes. But it’s tough to argue when you see Cassidy get Pastrnak going like that
- dragus84

Meh, he scored on the PP and then again on a lucky bounce off a skate. ( both goals he was on with Berg/Marchand I think )

I think we look to hard to blame people sometimes.

JMO

BTW, why is the media and so many fans afraid to criticize Patrick Marleau?

Babcock did have a bad night. I was happy with him the 1st 3 games. He easilly needs to put Tavres on the PK like Cassidy does with his best forwards.
- RogerRoeper

Tavares isn't quick enough for the PK IMO....JMO

We have a pretty good PK already I think.

I would actually go so far as to say the Leafs were better. They just didn't captitalize, and the Bruins did.

they started slow, but carried most of the play in the first, and the second. It just seemed like some crappy mistakes ended up in the back of the net. for example, the first PP goal, they had basically textbook killed it off. Boston could barely break the zone, then a stupid mistake ended up behind Andersen in the dying seconds. Through the first half of the third, they were getting the puck in deep, but Boston would just toss it back out, with no pressure. Boston wasn't doing a damn thing with the puck, but they also didn't need to. They were happy to plan a game of ping pong, primarily in the neutral zone. Then the Leafs turned on the pressure, but too little too late.
- prock

Yup. Leafs dominated in possession, shot attempts, etc.

Boston capitalized on our mistakes, but really, it was the abysmal PK that did us in. Those are fixable though.

BTW, why is the media and so many fans afraid to criticize Patrick Marleau?
- RogerRoeper

He had a good game last night, not sure what you're looking for.............everyday?

Their line buried their comp I think.

BTW, why is the media and so many fans afraid to criticize Patrick Marleau?
- RogerRoeper

I don't know, The Athletic has been calling for him to pack it in or play limited minutes on the 4th line all season.

He's clearly lost a step and isn't much a threat in the offensive zone, but he's a smart player, doesn't make a lot of mistakes, basically what you want from a vet.

BTW, why is the media and so many fans afraid to criticize Patrick Marleau?
- RogerRoeper

They're too busy blaming Babcock and TOI and such

Tavares isn't quick enough for the PK IMO....JMO

We have a pretty good PK already I think.
- Garnie

Eh, you don't need great footspeed for the PK. Look at some of the players that regularly play on other teams.

I don't know, The Athletic has been calling for him to pack it in or play limited minutes on the 4th line all season.

He's clearly lost a step and isn't much a threat in the offensive zone, but he's a smart player, doesn't make a lot of mistakes, basically what you want from a vet.
- gravyface

The Athletic is great. The only place that does it. He's a 4th line winger making 6.3 million at age 40 next year.

Oh but...but..but Nylander!!!

Eh, you don't need great footspeed for the PK. Look at some of the players that regularly play on other teams.
- RogerRoeper

I don't know, our best PK guys all have speed to burn and a quick 1st step.

I think our PK is just fine, they can't go 100% as much as we'd like them too.

The Athletic is great. The only place that does it. He's a 4th line winger making 6.3 million at age 40 next year.

Oh but...but..but Nylander!!!
- RogerRoeper

But you get really annoyed when the press write negative articles about the Leafs and don't point out that other teams lose games. Adding negative Marleau articles would just result in more negativity.

But you get really annoyed when the press write negative articles about the Leafs and don't point out that other teams lose games. Adding negative Marleau articles would just add to more negativity.
- walshyleafsfan

I get mad at stupid negativity like discussing offersheets the morning after a Leaf playoff victory. I am fine with criticism or negativity when relevant.

People don't want to criticize Marleau and give him a free pass.