Zak MacMillan: Stanley Cup Post Game One Battle of Ontario

Top 4 I want to see corrected

4. Brady Tkachuk

I am not calling out Brady, because he has enough on him, but he needs to play like Matthew Tkachuk does in FLA, not in CAL. He needs to know HE is the leader. Call people out, have discussions, and don't come into this series thinking you have to go out in round 1 because it's your first time in the playoffs. Matthew made the playoffs in his first year, Brady had to wait 7 years from the time he was drafted. It's time to give everything you have. Other than making the cup finals, beating the leafs would be the best accomplishment for Sens fans

3. Veteran Leadership

Giroux, Perron, Amadio, Cousins (6 cup finals, 2 rings). These guys need to support Brady and all the young guns entering the playoffs (Stutzle, Batherson, Sanderson, Cozens, Pinto) and others. They need to be strong voices of calm and strategy because there's likely a lot of emotions in the room.

2. Disciplined Hockey!

Speaking of strategy, staying disciplined is NOT an option. Unless they want to get swept, if they take penalties (and yes Leafs sold them in game 1) they will stand no chance. The Sens will have a chance in this series if they play VERY tight hockey and score the first goal (even if it takes half the game) so they don't have to chase the game or make the game open up, which benefits TOR

1. Linus Ullmark (down the middle)

Sens did a horrible job in giving leafs chances right down the middle of the ice - which lead to both goals. Marner's breakaway goal (2nd goal) was a killer as the puck went right between Chabot and Jensen. But even when that happens, the biggest concern is that the reputation of Ullmark is on the line right now. So far in his career, he has demonstrated that his numbers are different in the regular season vs the playoffs. I don't know if it's a mental thing but with him resigning a huge contract, the Lalime trauma of the 2000s, and everything else - Ullmark is the biggest story to watch and this might be the biggest game of his career with the Sens tomorrow night thus far.

Linus Ullmark had 18 saves on 24 shots for a 0.775 save percentage.
- ZakMac1016

Forgive me, I know this looks like I'm trolling, but my OCD can't let me ignore this:

It's a .750 save percentage.

Hello? Sens fans?

Just one game in a series. Long way to go. Teams often never play the same way the next game especially in the 1st round. Tuesday should be a fun one.

Hello? Sens fans?
- Aaron_85

Hello? Sens fans?
- Aaron_85

they are in hiding i think because they actually think the sens are a good team lol.

Forgive me, I know this looks like I'm trolling, but my OCD can't let me ignore this:

It's a .750 save percentage.
- Atomic Wedgie

ullmark career NHL playoffs numbers: 11 games 4.31 GAA 0.848 SV%

and 10 of those games was with a MUCH better BOS teams.

funny thing, he is the TML of goalies, great in regular season, fall flat in the playoffs.

It’s game 1. They weren’t brutally outplayed, but Ullmark has to be better and stupid penalties can’t happen. There’s something to build on. I thought Brady said the right things after the game, hopefully they take it to heart and calm down for game 2.

A win tomorrow and leaf fans will implode. Then the media will implode. Then the leafs will implode. We’ve seen this show for years.

Sens are certainly the underdog, but they aren’t out of it.

they are in hiding i think because they actually think the sens are a good team lol.
- Mithos

Can we take this as confirmation that you aren’t a Sens fan and have just been pathetically trolling all year?

It’s game 1. They weren’t brutally outplayed, but Ullmark has to be better and stupid penalties can’t happen. There’s something to build on. I thought Brady said the right things after the game, hopefully they take it to heart and calm down for game 2.

A win tomorrow and leaf fans will implode. Then the media will implode. Then the leafs will implode. We’ve seen this show for years.

Sens are certainly the underdog, but they aren’t out of it.
- CooCooKaChoo

Settle down Beavis. You're giving out Spatso vibes. Ullmark is a complete mess. Build on whatever you want. Don't assume the Leafs can't be better and think it's a lock the Sens will be. Nobody cares what Beady said after the game, what matters is what he accomplished during the game. A loss tomorrow and the fragile Sens will implode. Especially when all you have to look forward to is home ice where your opponent has taken over. sit down you daft goof

Settle down Beavis. You're giving out Spatso vibes. Ullmark is a complete mess. Build on whatever you want. Don't assume the Leafs can't be better and think it's a lock the Sens will be. Nobody cares what Beady said after the game, what matters is what he accomplished during the game. A loss tomorrow and the fragile Sens will implode. Especially when all you have to look forward to is home ice where your opponent has taken over. sit down you daft goof
- systemtool

You’re right, Sens and their fans should give up and bow down to the leafs because they lost game one.

Your name is apt, you’re clearly a tool. It’s one game, and I said Ullmark needs to be better. Brady accomplished 5 shots, 8 hits and a breakaway. I’m pretty confident if he gets that again, there’s a good chance one of those goes in. Brady is the last guy I’m worried about.

As for the fans in game 3, I guess we’ll see. Cyril Leeder seemed pretty confident in 80% + for Sens fans and there’s nothing I enjoy more than watching leaf fans sadly walking out of our arena with five minutes left.

they are in hiding i think because they actually think the sens are a good team lol.
- Mithos

Well, you've certainly never been wrong before chicken little.

Settle down Beavis. You're giving out Spatso vibes. Ullmark is a complete mess. Build on whatever you want. Don't assume the Leafs can't be better and think it's a lock the Sens will be. Nobody cares what Beady said after the game, what matters is what he accomplished during the game. A loss tomorrow and the fragile Sens will implode. Especially when all you have to look forward to is home ice where your opponent has taken over. sit down you daft goof
- systemtool

He's the one who needs to "settle down"... I thought it was just one game?

You’re right, Sens and their fans should give up and bow down to the leafs because they lost game one.

Your name is apt, you’re clearly a tool. It’s one game, and I said Ullmark needs to be better. Brady accomplished 5 shots, 8 hits and a breakaway. I’m pretty confident if he gets that again, there’s a good chance one of those goes in. Brady is the last guy I’m worried about.

As for the fans in game 3, I guess we’ll see. Cyril Leeder seemed pretty confident in 80% + for Sens fans and there’s nothing I enjoy more than watching leaf fans sadly walking out of our arena with five minutes left.
- CooCooKaChoo

Don't give up but be respectful. Sens lost because they weren't good enough. Your excuses and jabs and childish petulant whining aren't necessary. this is all in response to the first sentence.. i have no interest in delving deep into the nonsensical ramblings of a fool

He's the one who needs to "settle down"... I thought it was just one game?
- david22

Agreed. The important thing is everyone enjoyed that one game. Silly talk of implosion was curious

Don't give up but be respectful. Sens lost because they weren't good enough. Your excuses and jabs and childish petulant whining aren't necessary. this is all in response to the first sentence.. i have no interest in delving deep into the nonsensical ramblings of a fool
- systemtool

The first sentence literally said that Ullmark has to be better. And they weren’t brutally outplayed, they kept taking dumb penalties and got lit up on the power play. Look at the 5-on-5 stats. They obviously didn’t deserve to win the game, but there’s positives to build on.

Goof.

The first sentence literally said that Ullmark has to be better. And they weren’t brutally outplayed, they kept taking dumb penalties and got lit up on the power play. Look at the 5-on-5 stats. They obviously didn’t deserve to win the game, but there’s positives to build on.

Goof.
- CooCooKaChoo

Take away the 3 powerplay goals and sens still lose the game. discounting special teams is fools gold. not sure what you're on about but I sure hope the sens build on that game. if they can learn how to lose and build off that poop performance then, well, i guess we both will be happy

You’re right, Sens and their fans should give up and bow down to the leafs because they lost game one.

Your name is apt, you’re clearly a tool. It’s one game, and I said Ullmark needs to be better. Brady accomplished 5 shots, 8 hits and a breakaway. I’m pretty confident if he gets that again, there’s a good chance one of those goes in. Brady is the last guy I’m worried about.

As for the fans in game 3, I guess we’ll see. Cyril Leeder seemed pretty confident in 80% + for Sens fans and there’s nothing I enjoy more than watching leaf fans sadly walking out of our arena with five minutes left.
- CooCooKaChoo

Ullmark has followed up stinkers with great games, so hopefully he can do so again. Although last night was more on the penalties and the PK than anything IMO. Team discipline would help both, and they should have a better idea of what that entails in game two

First playoff game for 3/4s of them, they seemed to be very overly keyed up, and think playoff hockey meant no/less penalties, which isn't really the case in actuality. At least not this early, when refs seem to let stuff go later in a series / the playoffs.

Agreed. The important thing is everyone enjoyed that one game. Silly talk of implosion was curious
- systemtool

No, you.

Wild overreaction.