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Post by jkr on Apr 30, 2024 9:11:28 GMT -5
Keefe has 2 years left thanks to a 2 year extension Treliving gave him before the season started. I agree - if they lose tonight the Leafs will be paying Keefe not to coach for the next 2 seasons.
Both Tavares & Marner have just a year left on their deals but as you say, they cant be moved without their permission & perhaps salary retention.
I think there's a market for Marner given his talent & age. But IMO Tavares is a different story. He'll be 34 in September & his numbers fell this year. Do teams want to pay 11 million to someone who had just 65 points this past season?
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 30, 2024 14:50:07 GMT -5
Just a thought on this edition of Leafs' fail.
Having third in the division cemented, likely any team and its coverage would've been laser-focused on their star reaching 70 goals.
But...in that obvious pursuit, they lost their last 4 games. Winning the Rocket Richard Trophy seemed like a consolation prize.
In those 4 games, they gave up 22 goals. Poor team habits perhaps setting in while playing for an individual milestone.
Add Nylander's absence to start Round 1...and the recent descent of their goaltending....boom!
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Post by jkr on Apr 30, 2024 17:46:59 GMT -5
Just a thought on this edition of Leafs' fail. Having third in the division cemented, likely any team and its coverage would've been laser-focused on their star reaching 70 goals. But...in that obvious pursuit, they lost their last 4 games. Winning the Rocket Richard Trophy seemed like a consolation prize. In those 4 games, they gave up 22 goals. Poor team habits perhaps setting in while playing for an individual milestone. Add Nylander's absence to start Round 1...and the recent descent of their goaltending....boom! I think Nylander is getting something of a pass here as he was in a goal scoring slump over the last few weeks of the season. The last time I looked at his game log the drought was 11 or 12 games. I know people will say that playoffs are a whole new season but when you combine the last 4 games of the season with the 1st four games of the playoffs Toronto has lost 7 out of eight games. No part of their game has been good. |
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 30, 2024 17:51:47 GMT -5
MEtthews is not playing tonight...
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Post by folatre on Apr 30, 2024 20:00:06 GMT -5
Leafs are playing better than Boston tonight, which is not necessarily saying much.
The East is proving to be top-heavy. I know that 7 of the 8 teams who made the playoffs in 2022-23 punched their card again this season. However, it seems the middle portion of the conference is entering a state of flux -- some teams will be rising and some will be treading water or falling.
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Post by jkr on Apr 30, 2024 20:16:22 GMT -5
I dont get hockey sometimes.
The Bruins are at home with a chance to close out the series & they can't muster up enough effort against a mediocre Leafs defense. And this after they get s huge break with Matthews out of the lineup.
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Post by jkr on Apr 30, 2024 20:27:53 GMT -5
Frederic with a great chance. He had Woll down but couldn't lift the puck a few inches over the pad.
That's the difference between 3rd liners & elite guys. Someone like Pastrnak would have roofed it.
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Post by jkr on Apr 30, 2024 20:34:05 GMT -5
Coyle gives away a 2 on 1 but Domi to Bertuzzi cant make it work. Probably Toronto's best chance in the 10 minutes that I saw.
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Post by jkr on Apr 30, 2024 20:41:55 GMT -5
Period just over. Still 1-1. Going to OT.
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Post by jkr on Apr 30, 2024 20:48:33 GMT -5
Is Florida's next matchup the winner of Boston - Toronto?
I think they will steamroll either of those clubs.
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Post by jkr on Apr 30, 2024 21:10:35 GMT -5
Bruins in the drivers seat completely tonight & blow thr opportunity. Knies scores early in OT to win it. Now I have to listen to a few more days of Leaf stuff in the media.
I only caught the last 10-12 minutes but where were the Bruins stars? Pastrnak, Marchand were hardly noticable.
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Post by CentreHice on May 1, 2024 8:29:22 GMT -5
I can't understand how one team can let the other off the playoff ground like that. They didn't even test Woll until the third period. Makes no sense. During the 2010 playoffs, my son and I went to Game 3 vs. Philly in the Conf. Finals. After being shutout in Games 1 and 2 by the legendary Michael Leighton (who went on to play only 7 more NHL games over the next 8 seasons) the Habs played inspired hockey--winning 5-1. Two days later...a lackluster 17-shot effort, handing Leighton another shutout. Down 3-1 and toast. That said....another Bruins' choke after being up 3-1 wouldn't be too hard to take.  |
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Post by Boston_Habs on May 1, 2024 9:31:18 GMT -5
That Game 5 closeout game at home can be a beast. Vancouver was in the same spot last night and lost. I also watched the Knicks lose at home last night to Philly up 3-1. You would think the killer instinct would be there, but sometimes the home team is a bit tight and doesn't match the desperation of the road team.
I must admit, I enjoy watching the collective sphincter of Bruins fans tighten. This is an eerie repeat of last year. They were up 3-1 after winning twice in Florida, then lost Game 5 in OT. Exact same scenario this year. I think the Bruins will be desperate to NOT have to play a Game 7.
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Post by Tankdriver on May 1, 2024 10:11:12 GMT -5
What stings for the Bruins is that Matthews wasn't even in the lineup and they couldn't take advantage of it. Either way, I can't see Boston or Toronto beating the Panthers next round with all the rest they will have.
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Post by jkr on May 1, 2024 10:41:20 GMT -5
Tank, I agree about FLA. They seem a lock for at least the conference final. Too much talent up front & strong goaltending.
But it would have been extra satisfying to see the Leafs out by April 30th.
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Post by folatre on May 1, 2024 14:03:46 GMT -5
I am not sure if Sweeney and Montgomery privately believe their team is a Cup contender. For me the answer is definitively no. Coyle and Zacha are each, respectively, playing one line higher than they are suited for.
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Post by jkr on May 1, 2024 14:51:31 GMT -5
And it shows in their production. A total of 4 assists is all they've been able to put together in this series so far.
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Post by Cranky on May 1, 2024 15:02:02 GMT -5
It's ok if the celebrations go two more days.
The inevitable tears will flow...
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Post by Willie Dog on May 1, 2024 16:00:30 GMT -5
It's ok if the celebrations go two more days. The inevitable tears will flow... |
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Post by jkr on May 2, 2024 13:42:18 GMT -5
Just read on the CTV site that Matthews will not be playing tonight.
We won't find out about injuries until teams are eliminated but this one really has me wondering. Must be quite serious to keep him out of 2 straight elimination games.
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Post by CentreHice on May 2, 2024 14:52:19 GMT -5
Depends which Bruins' team shows up to play. You'd think they'd dictate to avoid a Game 7 at all costs, considering last year's blown 3-1 lead.
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Post by jkr on May 2, 2024 15:48:30 GMT -5
Depends which Bruins' team shows up to play. You'd think they'd dictate to avoid a Game 7 at all costs, considering last year's blown 3-1 lead. In the articles I've read they are saying all the right things but who knows. They followed up a lackluster effort in game 2 with a win but we will have to wait and see. Found this interview with Milbury who thinks that Pastrnak is off his game: www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/milbury-something-s-going-on-with-david-pastrnak/ar-AA1o2Bbf |
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Post by Willie Dog on May 2, 2024 19:11:51 GMT -5
Reaves is scratched for game 6... not good
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Post by folatre on May 2, 2024 19:40:37 GMT -5
Smart move by Keefe. Reaves is too slow to take a regular shift. However, perhaps the more pertinent question is why does Montgomery dress Maroon, Brazeau, and Van Riemsdyk in the same lineup. That is a critical mass of glacially slow skaters.
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Post by Willie Dog on May 2, 2024 19:41:07 GMT -5
The Bruins are going to choke
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Post by IamCanadiens on May 2, 2024 19:52:22 GMT -5
So far, the most entertaining series that I keep going back to has been the Stars and Knights. Super entertaining!
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Post by folatre on May 2, 2024 19:53:51 GMT -5
For sure, great playoff hockey in Dallas v Vegas.
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Post by seventeen on May 2, 2024 20:06:56 GMT -5
I have my clenched fingers crossed that Dallas can finish them off. I hate Vegas for their cheatin' ways and would love for them to come up empty despite dipping so far out of the CAP. Naturally, it's a one off, since they have to divest this summer, regardless, but now they have to divest $8MM more and they are going to lose some important quality in the process.
And Pietrangelo will be one year older.
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Post by CentreHice on May 2, 2024 20:15:21 GMT -5
Bpstpn with only 1 shot through the first 25:00. Killing off a double-minor for the last 4:00.
They'd better get whatever act they have in gear.
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Post by folatre on May 2, 2024 20:15:29 GMT -5
Jeje, and it's not as though Stone is spritely 32 year old wheeling around the ice.
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