It's s shame that the best Leafs team in 30 years goes out early, oh well.
- AdamFrench

Can’t believe Nick Paul took over game 7.

It's s shame that the best Leafs team in 30 years goes out early, oh well.
- AdamFrench

They only went out early cause they played Tampa. It’s just a terrible draw.

This yr was different than last. They played in a ridiculous division and conference and drew the cup champs w an amazing goalie.

I sound say they need to figure out their bottom six. They need players that can actually keep up with play and apply pressure.

Either way I think they played incredibly well, but ya think maybe the team should worry about playing the right way instead of getting 60 goals for Matthews or 100 pts for Marner both of which are completely irrelevant.

And they should have. Fake penalty killed them. It's part of the curse
- PlatosRepucklic

Penalty was a legit call on a high stick. That's been called all year. Kerfoot's stick was in the guy's neck.

The regular season was great.

Surprised by Gretzky comments on TNT that Tampa wanted it more and went out and took what they wanted.

I thought Leafs played outstanding, exciting hockey and could have easily won this series. I think they were disadvantaged having to play the defending Stanley Cup Champions (2x). But, I thought the Leafs brought the game to the Bolts and there was many times during the game that Tampa was just hanging on.

Not sure about the guys wanting to trade Nylander. His contract is actually pretty reasonable for what he brings. If the Leafs need to create cap space they should look in other places.

I thought Leafs showed great heart and character. They were beaten by a team trying to build a dynasty. They faced the world's best goalie, especially tonight.

I thought the Leafs were going to win. I think they played well enough to be deserving of a win. I think they will be very good next year, more disciplined and nobody should rush into making too many reactionary changes.
- spatso

Solid take. Only exception I have is that, dumbas needs to be fired along with Shanahan.

Tampa players willing to block 26 shots.

Hedman alone blocked half of what the whole Leafs team did.

That was first and foremost the difference imo.

I'd blame weak coaching and weak locker room leaders.
- 21peter

Looking at Paul's two goals ......can't see who might have helped us win by blocking those shots.

Leafs dd a great job supressing TB's offence.

if anything it was another game 7 where the Leaf offence didn't have any answers to overcome that kind of suffocating D themselves.

Keefe summed it up well. Both teams shut the other down and it came down to who could execute when they got a lucky bounce or chance. Nick (frank)ing Paul did. Marner missed a gift early ...Kerfoot had a couple of good looks on the rush and missed.

Penalty was a legit call on a high stick. That's been called all year. Kerfoot's stick was in the guy's neck.
- MisterBrown

Kerfoot deserved the penalty. Can't be that aggressive when you're down a man.

He was talking about the Kase high stick that wasn't a high stick. He caught his shoulder ...Foote sold it. It's been on video loop for two days. That one sucked.

bbb

Kerfoot deserved the penalty. Can't be that aggressive when you're down a man.

He was talking about the Kase high stick that wasn't a high stick. He caught his shoulder ...Foote sold it. It's been on video loop for two days. That one sucked.
- The Law

people still crying abut the refs?

It goes both ways leafs got away with stuff too

They only went out early cause they played Tampa. It’s just a terrible draw.

This yr was different than last. They played in a ridiculous division and conference and drew the cup champs w an amazing goalie.

I sound say they need to figure out their bottom six. They need players that can actually keep up with play and apply pressure.

Either way I think they played incredibly well, but ya think maybe the team should worry about playing the right way instead of getting 60 goals for Matthews or 100 pts for Marner both of which are completely irrelevant.
- Joe Nardone

Matthews was fantastic for 80% of the series. Can't ask more from him. Marner was great on the PK, good at 5 vs 5 and a little too cute on the PP, but that's his game and he did well. This one turned out to be a coin toss and as Symba joked...like in a lot of random games some weird guy steps up and it was Paul and the best of goalie in the world unfortunately.





Oh and the refs and that whole thing.

Matthews using his frame and leading the team in hits was a pleasant surprise
- PlatosRepucklic

Matthews looks like a modern day Phil Esposito except with better speed.

Morning losers.

Let the postmortem dissection begin!

Penalty was a legit call on a high stick. That's been called all year. Kerfoot's stick was in the guy's neck.
- MisterBrown

It was the first high stick that the ref called without actually seeing a penalty. But me thinks you knew that. It's unacceptable, would the second penalty happen if the non penalty wasn't called? Who knows, but we do know they would not have been down 2 men.

people still crying abut the refs?

It goes both ways leafs got away with stuff too
- sabresfan69

They both got away stuff, some more than others. There was interference on both their goals. Those ones are okay. Refs are not supposed to decide games.

Well gentlemen, I bid you farewell until next year. Thanks for tolerating me and not banning me. I really expected the Bolts were going to lose that series. The Leafs played well enough to win, but the refs and fate had other designs.

FWIW, I think the Leafs fans are being a lot harder on this loss than is required. Leafs showed well. I think the other teams and fans took notice. This Leafs team is still moving in the overall right direction and getting more dangerous. I don't want to see them again in the postseason. Nobody else in the last two Cup runs gave the Lightning this much of a scare. One goal in a close Game 7 - could have went either way if the refs did their job instead of trying to manage games.

Now I will go and annoy the Panthers forum and hope they aren't the ones to eliminate the Lightning. I'd much rather it had been the Leafs.

Well gentlemen, I bid you farewell until next year. Thanks for tolerating me and not banning me. I really expected the Bolts were going to lose that series. The Leafs played well enough to win, but the refs and fate had other designs.

FWIW, I think the Leafs fans are being a lot harder on this loss than is required. Leafs showed well. I think the other teams and fans took notice. This Leafs team is still moving in the overall right direction and getting more dangerous. I don't want to see them again in the postseason. Nobody else in the last two Cup runs gave the Lightning this much of a scare. One goal in a close Game 7 - could have went either way if the refs did their job instead of trying to manage games.

Now I will go and annoy the Panthers forum and hope they aren't the ones to eliminate the Lightning. I'd much rather it had been the Leafs.
- GalacticStone

The only way the Panthers are beating Tampa is if the Leafs took everything they had out of them.

The only way the Panthers are beating Tampa is if the Leafs took everything they had out of them.
- bobbyisno1

Pretty much missing their entire third line and down Point in last nights game was about as advantageous a situation any team could ask against Tampa in a game 7.

Well gentlemen, I bid you farewell until next year. Thanks for tolerating me and not banning me. I really expected the Bolts were going to lose that series. The Leafs played well enough to win, but the refs and fate had other designs.

FWIW, I think the Leafs fans are being a lot harder on this loss than is required. Leafs showed well. I think the other teams and fans took notice. This Leafs team is still moving in the overall right direction and getting more dangerous. I don't want to see them again in the postseason. Nobody else in the last two Cup runs gave the Lightning this much of a scare. One goal in a close Game 7 - could have went either way if the refs did their job instead of trying to manage games.

Now I will go and annoy the Panthers forum and hope they aren't the ones to eliminate the Lightning. I'd much rather it had been the Leafs.
- GalacticStone

Yeah winning a 1-0 game 7 in last seasons conference finals isn’t comparable

Well gentlemen, I bid you farewell until next year. Thanks for tolerating me and not banning me. I really expected the Bolts were going to lose that series. The Leafs played well enough to win, but the refs and fate had other designs.

FWIW, I think the Leafs fans are being a lot harder on this loss than is required. Leafs showed well. I think the other teams and fans took notice. This Leafs team is still moving in the overall right direction and getting more dangerous. I don't want to see them again in the postseason. Nobody else in the last two Cup runs gave the Lightning this much of a scare. One goal in a close Game 7 - could have went either way if the refs did their job instead of trying to manage games.

Now I will go and annoy the Panthers forum and hope they aren't the ones to eliminate the Lightning. I'd much rather it had been the Leafs.
- GalacticStone

The reason you think we are being hard on the Leafs is that as a Tampa fan, you dont have PTSD. You have seen your team win more cups then we have won playoff series. After 55 years, what are we supposed to do? We have been thorugh this year after year. Saying ‘they are making progress’ is of little comfort. We’ve seen this show before.

I think we all understand that the Leafs were close and improved. However, our big guys still didn’t get it done when the series was on the line. Special teams once against let us down. Team no showed in 2 games. Too many guys not willing to pay the price physically. And the Refs seem bias against us, maybe this is just our perception...?

The reason you think we are being hard on the Leafs is that as a Tampa fan, you dont have PTSD. You have seen your team win more cups then we have won playoff series. After 55 years, what are we supposed to do? We have been thorugh this year after year. Saying ‘they are making progress’ is of little comfort. We’ve seen this show before.

I think we all understand that the Leafs were close and improved. However, our big guys still didn’t get it done when the series was on the line. Special teams once against let us down. Team no showed in 2 games. Too many guys not willing to pay the price physically. And the Refs seem bias against us, maybe this is just our perception...?
- Hockey_Reverend

Yep. Same thing different year.

I don’t even know what the next step is.

Yep. Same thing different year.

I don’t even know what the next step is.
- bryant

Agreed. I don’t know either. I think you have to start with Keefe. Hire a defence first coach with winning pedigree… hmmm, now who could be available?? Lol

Yeah winning a 1-0 game 7 in last seasons conference finals isn’t comparable
- Cptmjl

That game took 5 years off my life. But, I had more confidence in that Lightning roster than I do this one. The Isles took the series the distance, but I was confident the Lightning would win. This year, no Gourde line and Vasi had looked ordinary. I was genuinely worried the Lightning would lose this series in 5 or 6 games. I'm still shocked they won it.

Yes. Teams with lack of talent and grit. Not a good fit. Am34 would not get his 65 goals.
- drexel

True...it's not like Ovechkin won 4 straight Rocket Trophies in all 4 of Trotz' seasons as coach.

That was 2 evenly matched teams going down to the wire and like always it’s one bounce, one deflection that makes the difference. Leafs can’t seem to get that break where the puck bounces in instead of wide. That being said with all the talk about penalty calls remember the Leafs are zero for 18 on their PP in games where they can clinch a series. That’s disturbing. The other teams score when they get a call in big games. The Leafs don’t.

We should probably look at building the team a but differently.