Salt Lake City ....ya, and rightly or wrongly (rightly in that instance) the only narrative that was created was that the officials were biased and the ice was tilted.

Makes no sense to make a decision like that when there are so many other options.
- The Law

The reasoning they always used in hockey was that there simply weren't good enough refs from Europe - it had to be Canadian or American ones.

What nobody was willing to say out loud was there simply weren't good enough female referees at the time - from any country.

Kristen Shilton
@kristen_shilton

#Leafs mixing up the lines at practice after Game 1 loss:

Jarnkrok - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - O’Reilly - Acciari
Aston-Reese- Kampf - Lafferty
Simmonds

McCabe - Brodie
Giordano - Holl
Rielly - Schenn
Gustafsson - Liljegren

Samsonov
Woll
- Atomic Wedgie

Huh. There's a name that's not even there.

Weird.

The refs always gargle balls. It's what they do.

Show up to the arena, put on that ridiculous zebra getup, lace up their skates, and then go out on the ice and gargle balls until the final horn.

Leafs didn't put themselves in a position to win, even if the refs were perfect in every way. This wasn't a close game. Tampa's (frank)ing fourth line scored right out of the gate and sucked the wind out of the building. It was all downhill from there.

I want to see Tampa and Boston lose. You guys are my best shot in the east.

Sheldon Keefe tweaking top three lines this morning in anticipation of a Bunting suspension:

Järnkrok – Matthews – Marner
Kerfoot – Tavares – Nylander
Knies – O'Reilly – Acciari
Aston-Reese – Kämpf – Lafferty

McCabe – Brodie
Giordano – Holl
Rielly – Schenn

https://twitter.com/lukef...&t=xdbwDZlJpKsy8vg5wHUWXg


Don’t like kerfoot in the top 6. Other than that the forward line looks fine.

Holl should come out for liljegren

Wife works for a consulting company that does the audit for the bank in question (my wife has absolutely no connection to the audit arm of the company).

So yeah, even though there's absolutely no way it could ever be used nefariously, the firm forbids all employees and their immediate families from banking there.

And the funny thing is I went into the bank to close my account, and from their reaction, this was not an uncommon thing.
- Atomic Wedgie

That's nuts but what can you do?

Kristen Shilton
@kristen_shilton

#Leafs mixing up the lines at practice after Game 1 loss:

Jarnkrok - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - O’Reilly - Acciari
Aston-Reese- Kampf - Lafferty
Simmonds

McCabe - Brodie
Giordano - Holl
Rielly - Schenn
Gustafsson - Liljegren

Samsonov
Woll
- Atomic Wedgie

Knies hat trick in game 2

Leafs lose 4-3 in OT

The refs always gargle balls. It's what they do.

Show up to the arena, put on that ridiculous zebra getup, lace up their skates, and then go out on the ice and gargle balls until the final horn.

Leafs didn't put themselves in a position to win, even if the refs were perfect in every way. This wasn't a close game. Tampa's (frank)ing fourth line scored right out of the gate and sucked the wind out of the building. It was all downhill from there.

I want to see Tampa and Boston lose. You guys are my best shot in the east.
- PDO-Speedwagon

It was 3-2, and we had all the momentum. The building was rocking.

And then Bunting pulled a Bunting.

Knies hat trick in game 2

Leafs lose 4-3 in OT
- senstroll

Samsonov in net for game 2.

Woll in net for game 3?

It was 3-2, and we had all the momentum. The building was rocking.

And then Bunting pulled a Bunting.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yeah, even at 4-2, Leafs were the better team in the 2nd period and seemed like they were fully in it.

Bunting ruined the team's chance at a comeback.

Kristen Shilton
@kristen_shilton

#Leafs mixing up the lines at practice after Game 1 loss:

Jarnkrok - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - O’Reilly - Acciari
Aston-Reese- Kampf - Lafferty
Simmonds

McCabe - Brodie
Giordano - Holl
Rielly - Schenn
Gustafsson - Liljegren

Samsonov
Woll
- Atomic Wedgie

I really like RoR between Willie and JT but I think this makes some sense too.

Holl gets a chance at redemption. Uggh. ...I've defended him often but I just can't see past that weak stick check. Not only was it terribly weak but it was the best opportunity in the world to get the barn going ..to get the team going ...with a shoulder into Perry's chest. Perry had no way to avoid it ....Holl chose to avoid the hit. Uggghhhh. Big hit there ....the building erupts ....maybe the legs get going earlier ...maybe the nerves drop.

Leafs in 5.

I really like RoR between Willie and JT but I think this makes some sense too.

Holl gets a chance at redemption. Uggh. ...I've defended him often but I just can't see past that weak stick check. Not only was it terribly weak but it was the best opportunity in the world to get the barn going ..to get the team going ...with a shoulder into Perry's chest. Perry had no way to avoid it ....Holl chose to avoid the hit. Uggghhhh. Big hit there ....the building erupts ....maybe the legs get going earlier ...maybe the nerves drop.

Leafs in 5.
- The Law

4th line needs to outstate TBs 4th line

that 3rd line will cycle the (frank) out of TB...and if Hedman and CHernak are out they are in trouble in that regard

It was 3-2, and we had all the momentum. The building was rocking.

And then Bunting pulled a Bunting.
- Atomic Wedgie

Were you there? In spite of the embarrassing loss the towel made the night worth it.

The referees were absolutely horrific last night except the Bunting hit - that’s a 1 Game suspension in my opinion and a major penalty. The other calls (minus the high stick) were awful. Tbay runs the most interference and picks than any other team and get away it a lot. There were so many hooks holds slashes that could easily have been called against Tbay and the6 weren’t.

The thing with refs is that they can easily influence the game not necessarily by the amount of calls but the timing. They did both last night. Every time momentum was looking to shift to Toronto way- enter Wes & Co.

There is 100% a conflict here. I get that you can’t technically prove it - but a man testifying against a guys brother in law (who are very close with one another) where the investigation involved weapons drugs r-stuff assaults abuse and Epstein-like behaviour - I’d say that’s pretty much a reason for this league to maybe not schedule him to ref a Keefe involved game

Why do you think it's appropriate conduct in your position to take these oddball positions vs the entire herd and start referring to the entire fanbase as things like crybabies and stupid, accuse everyone of whining, etc.

It's the exact type of conduct which is inflammatory from the average poster and typically results in the entire place exploding.

If you can't help but allow your opinions on a subject to aggravate your emotions to the point you begin throwing these barbs at everyone else like the average troll, why even keep the position?
- joel878

This.

Ffs

You can be let go for substandard performance as an NHL ref. Therefore if the leafs had a provable argument about him being biased I’m sure they’d be making it.

I’m done debating against this stupid point of view.
- Dozzer

You nativity is 2/2 today. Good job.

Yeah, even at 4-2, Leafs were the better team in the 2nd period and seemed like they were fully in it.

Bunting ruined the team's chance at a comeback.
- Scabeh

What?! An unbiased objective opinion that agrees with me?

No Dozzer, perceived conflict of interest is a very very common issue in all sorts of industry ..including sports. Officials are often selected in sports (football, soccer, olympics, etc... ) with consideration given to 'perceived bias'. That doesn't mean that they are biased ...the concept simply means that it's important for fans (in particular) to have as little concern as possible about the potential for bias.

Judges, officials, etc.. in many industries recuse themselves because they might have some tiny connection or thread of interest with someone and it's better that someone else make decisions so that all conflict of interest (perceived or real) is removed.

My point was not that MacCauley did anything wrong ...just that the perceived conflict is enough that he shouldn't be doing Keefe games. Why run the risk of creating the perception ...there are dozens of qualified officials ..shuffle the deck.
- The Law

I don’t know that I’d have a blanket no McCauley-Keefe games. Is there any pattern/complaints in the games he’s reffed previously? I do think the league should have exercised better judgement in having him ref the first game of this series. (He did game 7 last year lol)

I really like RoR between Willie and JT but I think this makes some sense too.

Holl gets a chance at redemption. Uggh. ...I've defended him often but I just can't see past that weak stick check. Not only was it terribly weak but it was the best opportunity in the world to get the barn going ..to get the team going ...with a shoulder into Perry's chest. Perry had no way to avoid it ....Holl chose to avoid the hit. Uggghhhh. Big hit there ....the building erupts ....maybe the legs get going earlier ...maybe the nerves drop.

Leafs in 5.
- The Law

I'm convinced our reaction to last night's game is why Leafs fans (and all Canadian teams' fans) can't have nice things.

They stunk. They looked far too nervous, imho.

But we lost the first game of a game of 7, and the pitchforks are out and the torches have been lit.

FFS, the crushing negativity in this town is at an all-time high.

I don’t know that I’d have a blanket no McCauley-Keefe games. Is there any pattern/complaints in the games he’s reffed previously? I do think the league should have exercised better judgement in having him ref the first game of this series. (He did game 7 last year lol)
- Canada Cup

If the NHL decides in the final round or 2 that Wes is their best ref then fine, can't do much about it...

But its the 1st round with a whole set of officials to choose from, their decision here is baffling.

He obviously hates them?


He just has a history of being completely terrible in Habs games. He's so bad he stands out from the rest of the badness.
- Scabeh

Oh, ok. So the same reason I named the guys I did. Although I'd likely lean more towards L’Ecuyer just being an abysmal ref.

I really like RoR between Willie and JT but I think this makes some sense too.

Holl gets a chance at redemption. Uggh. ...I've defended him often but I just can't see past that weak stick check. Not only was it terribly weak but it was the best opportunity in the world to get the barn going ..to get the team going ...with a shoulder into Perry's chest. Perry had no way to avoid it ....Holl chose to avoid the hit. Uggghhhh. Big hit there ....the building erupts ....maybe the legs get going earlier ...maybe the nerves drop.

Leafs in 5.
- The Law

I would keep ROR with JT and Willy too. That line needs to produce and without ROR the offence drops as does the freedom for Willy and JT to push offence and worry less about defending cause ROR is super responsible out there without the puck. Especially since it unfortunately looks like 16 will be playing shy again they need that line contributing. 34 will skate through checks and be fine - just needs to adjust to driving line again.

I'm convinced our reaction to last night's game is why Leafs fans (and all Canadian teams' fans) can't have nice things.

They stunk. They looked far too nervous, imho.

But we lost the first game of a game of 7, and the pitchforks are out and the torches have been lit.

FFS, the crushing negativity in this town is at an all-time high.
- Atomic Wedgie

If we were like TB and won 7-3 but lost Marner, McCabe and Lafferty to injury we'd probably all give up

I actually have - and they have won most if not all of the games I've worn them for, but not last night obviously.

- Cush29

Ok fine...so its definitely not your fault then.

Lol

4th line needs to outstate TBs 4th line

that 3rd line will cycle the (frank) out of TB...and if Hedman and CHernak are out they are in trouble in that regard
- Santo_44

Kampf line did pretty well (bad T.O. by ZAR early) head to head against Paul. The Accairi line struggled against Perry ....not sure why. If they go this route I worry about JT's line against Cirelli's. Without RoR it gets significantly weaker defensively. But RoR's new 3rd line better get the best of their match up.

I still like 34/16 to get the best of Point/Kuch at 5v5. Just need to finish better.

Were you there? In spite of the embarrassing loss the towel made the night worth it.
- The Law

Daughter had a hockey tryout (sorry, not a tryout - just a skate!) so I punted the tix to a friend, and made arrangements to go to game 2.

20 minutes after I did that, got word that a woman who has been friends with my wife and I for 40 years lost her fight with cancer. Her celebration of life is Thursday night, and it's more important than any Leafs game.

Frank cancer.