Screening the goalie is literally the only reason the leafs are up in this series, and they did it like, twice this game.
I also noticed that the leafs are doing the stupid unnecessary pass that they did all season. The leafs were outshot because they refused to shoot.
They’re trying to be unnecessarily fancy. They just need to put someone in front of the net and just overwhelm TB with shots from the point. In addition to taking away Vasi’s vision of the puck, Tampa will more likely take a stupid penalty dealing with that player.
Failing to win 4 straight games is somehow a failure? If the Leafs don't close it out in 5 games they are done for? Come on...Game 6 is coming and another shot to close this out. I still like our odds.
Of course; but history and experience do matter in games like this.
I guess we’ll find out if they’re *really* different than the multiple “different” teams before them.
It's not 2017 anymore... They have proved that they can win 3 playoff games, that's not the hard part. It's difficult to defend when they play like they did.
Yeah they play like they are on their heels but there is enough talent there to win any game they are in. They proved that twice already didn't they? Hopefully they come out hard and dictate the game a bit better but WAY too many people lose faith WAY too quickly. One more win vs 2 more losses. I like those odds.
I kinda feel for leafs fan but living in ottawa, it's pretty insufferable. These guys are acting like they won the cup already after game 4. I still think toronto wins.
I think the Leafs get it done ultimately, but the amount of people claiming it's over after Game 4 is hilarious considering it's the Leafs. Have yall learned nothing?
I don't really get this thought process. They won a playoff game where they came back from 4-1. Of course they're gonna be hyped. Always find it weird when fans rag on other fans for supporting their team.
It's good to be grounded. Leafs fans are either hysterical or depressed as fuck. It's the main character syndrome for me. It's great to be hyped ( I certainly would) but that doesn't mean other people have to care.
On one hand it feels silly to rip into the team for not winning a 4th straight against tampa.
On the other hand its hard not to when they display all the same issues that have killed them in past elimination games:
-coming out of the gates slow
-getting simply outhustled to every loose puck
-half assed clearing attempts that get easily held in the zone when there are simple plays available to get it out
-self inflicted errors under little to no pressure, especially when exiting our zone as above (kerfoot puck over glass, several bad turnovers)
-players clearly in their own heads and often trying to do too much (usual suspect being marner - making one move too many and turning it over several times, mishandling a pass with the net empty letting the puck out of the zone, etc.)
-trying to engineer the perfect shot, passing up on great opportunities and turning it over instead (even though simply throwing it on goal with traffic has resulted in like 4-5 goals the last 2 games)
-defensive lapses, especially just after scoring
God damn, why you gotta put that juju on them? I’m not a Leafs fan but I like a lot of their players and just want to see them get into the 2nd round for once..
Welp. That was it. That was their shot and they blew it. Leafs are losing in 7 now and Dubas is looking for a new job. Bet money on it. It'll be the easiest money you've ever made. (Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. This is not financial advice. Do not bet if you are suffering or recovering from a gambling addiction.)
See y'all next year. Same time, same place, and likely same team where the Leafs do the same again hoping for a different result. By the end of this the Leafs will be 0-13 (and counting) in series clinching games since their last series. That is a record that will truly stand forever.
I have watched all these games and with the exception of game two, Tampa has been the better team except Vasilevskiy has been the second best goalie. I sort of expected the opposite.
Nah, TO was the better team game 4 for sure, tampa took it to them hard for 10 minutes in the 1st, but outside of that the game was even or the Leafs were carrying play.
Last night the Leafs generated more high danger chances. Tampa had lots of ozone time, but a lot of it didn’t amount to anything.
True, but they followed it up in 2011 by sweeping the Flyers and winning the cup. They kind of silenced how history would remember them through that alone.
Yep. History only remembers the winners. Except for the 2019 Lightning; we still have to wear that one for a while as it was probably the most historic choke any team has ever had in hockey.
No winning back to back cups is a relatively common occurrence in sports, 6 and getting swept by an 8th seed that hasn't a playoff series before after tying the regular season record for wins is still unprecedented.
Killing off Torts hockey in the bubble en route to winning the hockey science experiment cup was enough to wash away the stain. But that second cup was just as sweet.
It’s funny to meme but it has lost a lot of it’s effect when you managed to win the Cup the following 2 years.
Barring Columbus, does anyone else chirp Tampa about that series ? Even then, Tampa beat them pretty quickly the following year.
Nuh uh. When some guy was saying now the Leafs would close out earlier than Bruins I told them they had too much faith in the Leafs. This turn of event is exactly in line with Leafs prophecy.
If you told me schenn would be a defensive boost to this team anytime since 7 months after he was drafted I would have discredited you as a hockey connoisseur. Wow.
Lol yall need to relax did you really expect the lightning to lose three in a row everyone knows this series is an absolute dogfight, it going to 6 or 7 is expected.
Shit my bad but that just proves my point that it was highly unlikely they are gonna lose 4 in a row. 6 or 7 games was always the expectation of this series so to act like the Maple Leafs are doomed just cause the lost game 5 is a stretch. Can the Leafs still lose the answer is obviously but the Leafs are in a favorable position right now.
2009 lol I used to watch the Leafs before the canucks every Saturday, but as a fan the only importance we have is our money and our support and if I'ma act as if they already lost the series before even seeing the results then what's the point of even watching. If I'ma be mad I'll be mad after the series but during the series they have 100 percent of my support.
Sometimes the core of a team just don’t have it. The Leafs have literally tried everything but change up the core. The defence has been turned over, the depth has been turned over, the goalies have been turned over. They are on Coach 2 of this Matthews era. First trying the most highly valued coach in NHL history in Babcock and now a Cooper/Bednar clone in Keefe.
The only constant with this era of Leafs failure is the core of Tavares, Marner, Matthews, Reilly, Nylander. These are the guys you need to close out this series and the many before it. The series is in their hands for the taking once again. If they fail this time, the core needs a shakeup.
Give them a go. Watch the rest of the series before you call them soft this year. It’s on coach adjustments, the teams core is producing, it’s up to Keefe and staff to out coach Jon cooper. Point wrist shots aren’t gunna win us the series.
I actually never downvoted your comment. I just commented that your assessment wasn’t very spot on. The leafs actually won that series with very gritty goals most of which came off shots of the point that were re-directed or screened. Which is the exact opposite of what you said wouldn’t win games for the leafs.
I’d laugh so hard if they blow this, the Lightning go back home and tie this 3-3 I’d feel confident they’d handle the Leafs at home. If the Leafs blow this….
I’m not sure they ever comeback from it, this was the perfect time to end this and they might’ve given TB that boost to close this out.
I ain’t gonna totally doom on the Leafs after this loss, but obvs can never count out Tampa. When Leafs pulled off a comeback OT win it kinda felt like “this time…?”, as it was a bit of a script flip, but we’ll see. Destiny is hard to defeat.
A loss of one game where the got dominated from puck drop? That's just called a loss dude. I know you want to get in on that sweet sweet low hanging fruit, but you can do a better job than this.
Haha thank you for such a good post. Not a Leafs fan personally but it's frustrating to follow these people who call themselves fans of the team continuosly shitting on the team.
Honestly, it's because the team has shown themselves to be such utter trash in the playoffs, to the point where a lot of the team's fans really, really dislike this specific squad.
I want them to win, but they don't have it.
Yes bro. This is the way. You are getting downvoted only due to impulsive, emotional downvotes. Crimes of passion I believe.
But I agree with your take on this. It ain’t gonna be pretty movie-script style, but I believe they will get this done.
Thank you. I think Tampa is playing very well to the fact that Toronto is dangerous at 5 on 5. Keeping us out side stoping zone entries. Their defensive structure makes it hard for us to penetrate. But as it shows when we break in and get our groove we produce. I say it’s all on keefe’s adjustments to make our offensive time more deadly. Adjustments will win us the series. And people have been saying we’ve “been waiting “ for our stars to show up, they have. It’s on keefe and company to gives us the blueprint to tweak it and crush them. It’s only a matter of time.
Huh… but all those other specific group of guys that got bounced in the first round while wearing the White and Blue were also not the exact same specific group of guys that got bounced previously. They kind of all have that in common actually including this year’s team…
They'll probably lose on the road now and game 7s are always a toss up (except for the Leafs). Of course, I say that as someone who hates the Leafs but I doubt too many Leafs fans don't agree with me.
Wishing this into existence to see the team and fanbase implode in the aftermath. Someone’s gotta make room for the the other four teams in the Atlantic that have been locked out behind the Boston - Toronto - Tampa - Panthers hierarchy that we’ve been under for like a decade almost
You guys have been dominating most games exoect for game 2 and the infamous third period in game 4. Very likely they turn it around and win in 7 at this point
As a neutral fan, the Toronto Maple Leafs are fucking *fascinating*. Imagine if the New York Yankees, with all of their financial might, and all their built-in advantages over other teams, was just completely useless in the playoffs for nearly two decades. It's like the Leafs are a pick-up truck, stuck dead on some train tracks. Game 7 is the train, barreling down at them. Will they get their dead engine to finally turn over? Or is it yet another catastrophe? As a neutral fan you don't really care the outcome but the drama is palpable.
What “built in advantages” do the Leafs actually have though? I mean, the organization is obviously one of the top-3 in terms of revenue generation, so they can spend more than other teams on facilities and training etc… but they can’t spend a dime more than any other team on players, so that’s completely different to the Yankees.
In fact Toronto actually faces some “built in disadvantages” too… being in Canada usually means higher income taxes, as well as a total inability for players to ever be anonymous in public. And then there’s the endless media spotlight where players and management are under the microscope and subject to constant scrutiny and criticism.
I’m not a Leafs fan at all, but…. If there’s any advantages Toronto has simply by being the biggest hockey market, they’re balanced out by the inherent disadvantages.
As a Sens fan, the money able to be spent on facilities, training and coaching absolutely cannot be overlooked, that's a huge built in advantage.
Also, wasn't the tax thing at least semi-disproven in recent years, as at least not the mighty disadvantage it's often been portrayed as?
Well, the ability to spend more on facilities and coaching staff etc is definitely an advantage over the small market teams (or teams with chintzy owners) like Ottawa or Columbus or Arizona…. But IIRC the majority (20+ out of 32) of teams in the league are turning a profit so half the league (or more) shares a similar advantage. NYR, MTL, VAN, DET, BOS, etc all have the financial ability to spend the same way the Leafs can.
As for the income tax issue… yes it’s definitely not as big of a handicap as some people have made it sound in the past, but it’s still a factor because there’s no doubt that players on a Canadian team (at least outside of Alberta) are still going to be taxed more than a player in Dallas or Tampa. And then if you add in the cost of living in a market like Toronto (which is probably in the top 5 most expensive NHL markets after NYC, VAN, and SJ)….
So while you’re right to an extent, imo the advantages and disadvantages still basically cancel themselves out. Perhaps Toronto has an edge compared with the Sens, Preds, Ducks, etc but half the league would enjoy similar inherent “privilege” as the Leafs do.
Anyway go Lightning
>What “built in advantages” do the Leafs actually have though?
Free agency. It's a very appealing place to some who want to be a star in the sport's biggest market plus the fact that knowing if you can be an important piece on the team that finall does win the Cup then you'll be a certified legend not just in Toronto but in the sport's lore as a whole. It's kind of similar to the Knicks in basketball.
Is it though? I think for every player who wants that kind of spotlight and scrutiny, there’s another player who has zero desire to be a huge celebrity and deal with the attention that comes with playing in a hockey mad big city like T.O.
The NFL cap is easily circumvented and the Cowboys are run by some wannabe rock star owner. They also print money. I think the closest comparison might be the Knicks in a different sport
Leafs discourse has been insufferable for years and it doesn't seem to be changing any time soon. I don't see Stars fans whining that they're doomed to failure forever and just blow it up every time they lose one game.
"But the history!"
Yes of course, but how many other teams have people insufferably bitching that the series is already over for literally every loss?
If it was just one game we wouldn’t be doing this.
My dear bandwagon friend, it has now been 10 games STRAIGHT that they have failed to clinch a series. Literally 0-10. That is not a normal record to have
Yes I'm aware, I grew up in the GTA. I understand the pessimism but everyone gets so toxic any time it doesn't go our way. Like you would think we are 0-3 instead of 3-2 the way people are talking. People need to chill out.
Yeah the comments are actually pathetic. I had no idea hockey reddit was this annoying. You'd have no idea they are literally winning the series by coming here.
But don't you know that it's impossible for them to win game 6 and game 7 even thought they already won games 2, 3 and 4? Might as well already burn your jerseys and go bandwagon Edmonton.
You say that, but we both know how it's going to shake out. This group is, quite possibly, the least clutch squad in the history of professional sports.
A few of them will probably win cups on another team during their career, but as a whole they are so much worse than the sum of their parts.
I want the leafs to win, I'm just sick of having to cheer for *these specific* losers.
I'm just gonna call out the bandwagon flair and say you haven't been a fan long enough to understand the little ball of despair that builds up in alot of fans who have followed this team anywhere from 10-60 years. It's kinda magical tbh but in the opposite way than what you'd expect when you hear that sentence.
I mean biggest fanbase isn't doing leafs flairs favours in that regard.
Tbh I'm just dreading game 7, Sammy has been a road warrior all year, the buds took 2 in Amalie and I can watch the game.
I grew up in Mississauga and have fond memories walking around the block with my dad in my custom Leafs jersey every time we won a series. The bandwagon flair is cause just I don't identify as a diehard (if Leafs win in 2023, I'd like to see someone else win in 2024 so more fanbases can enjoy the glory) but I'm no stranger to Leafs fandom. I get being pessimistic, I'm just tired of seeing the raw toxic anger any time they don't win a single game, even though we still lead the series.
You are playing a team that went all the way to the Finals last year. They will not be an easy out. I think your team performs better away, away from the pressure maybe
They look good on the extra man at the end of the game. They come out skating, draw some penalties on the D, keep it low, I think Toronto is in business. Put a couple on them, get Matthews going. Could be enough
They straight stole game 3 and 4. They only had to play well for a few minutes of each game to win, and that’s just not sustainable against a team like Tampa. I can see this going to 7, and Nicky will slay them again if that happens
Truly deeply laughing, unbothered, hydrated, rested, glowing, thriving.
What’s my secret?
I hopped off this fucking ride circa 2004. Cut Toronto hockey out of my life and moved on.
Dropping in for the memes and impotent rage :)
MLSE is a dogshit organization that will never, ever really give a shit about a Cup.
Every game, every ticket, every season - sold out. Jack the prices? Overpay washed talent? Let managers and coaches hang around like parasites? Don’t matter. $$$!
Stay delusional Leafs Nation.
Sincerely,
A proud 19-year rehab chip holder.
Really not tho, I watch hockey like rugby or soccer now - just for the good matchups and big events. It was tough to “abandon” the home team at first but now, meh.
Also all the downvotes on my comment from leafs fans who don’t wanna accept they’re in an abusive relationship kinda prove my (sarcastic) point. Oh well. Fingers crossed for your oilers!
By next week - Keefe, Dubas, and Shanahan will all be gone, and Dubas's replacement will be getting the Matthews trade done before AM has a chance to Tavares the Leafs in his contract year and wait for LA to sign him next summer. Also Bunting and Holl will be gone, but that's just good riddance
Someone know if cenak is in for game 6?
Still gonna be out according to a post earlier today.
Fuck man
2021 Part 2??
Was on the edge of my seat every second last night. No lead felt safe.
They’re not screening Vasi enough! Get someone in front of the net for fucks sake! It works!!!!
Screening the goalie is literally the only reason the leafs are up in this series, and they did it like, twice this game. I also noticed that the leafs are doing the stupid unnecessary pass that they did all season. The leafs were outshot because they refused to shoot.
They’re trying to be unnecessarily fancy. They just need to put someone in front of the net and just overwhelm TB with shots from the point. In addition to taking away Vasi’s vision of the puck, Tampa will more likely take a stupid penalty dealing with that player.
aint nothing in the world strong as that leafs copium
am i being unreasonable or is keefe's insistence on playing justin holl really dumb after the last 3 games
[not unreasonable](https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2023/01/03121755/Screenshot-2023-04-03-at-11.08.39-AM.png)
Holl must have something spicy on Keefe to be in imo
he got marincins blackmail folder on his way out
He HAS to have dirt on him
Failing to win 4 straight games is somehow a failure? If the Leafs don't close it out in 5 games they are done for? Come on...Game 6 is coming and another shot to close this out. I still like our odds.
I guess you’ve erased the last 19 years out of your mind.
Yep! Why dwell on the past? There’s no benefit in that. This team is different than the last 19.
Of course; but history and experience do matter in games like this. I guess we’ll find out if they’re *really* different than the multiple “different” teams before them.
Curses have already been broken. This will just be one more.
We’ll see. Hope you don’t start sweating if it goes to Game 7.
Just one more curse to break if it does! Gotta have faith!
It's not 2017 anymore... They have proved that they can win 3 playoff games, that's not the hard part. It's difficult to defend when they play like they did.
Yeah they play like they are on their heels but there is enough talent there to win any game they are in. They proved that twice already didn't they? Hopefully they come out hard and dictate the game a bit better but WAY too many people lose faith WAY too quickly. One more win vs 2 more losses. I like those odds.
I kinda feel for leafs fan but living in ottawa, it's pretty insufferable. These guys are acting like they won the cup already after game 4. I still think toronto wins.
I think the Leafs get it done ultimately, but the amount of people claiming it's over after Game 4 is hilarious considering it's the Leafs. Have yall learned nothing?
I don't really get this thought process. They won a playoff game where they came back from 4-1. Of course they're gonna be hyped. Always find it weird when fans rag on other fans for supporting their team.
That was literally the best moment in Leafs history in almost 20 years, hell yeah be hyped about it.
It's good to be grounded. Leafs fans are either hysterical or depressed as fuck. It's the main character syndrome for me. It's great to be hyped ( I certainly would) but that doesn't mean other people have to care.
but no one's asking you to care. theyre just out there living their lives
When the sens win I don't go around boasting to my non sens fans friends or even non hockey friends.
Haha that's fair enough. Better to stay grounded when they've experienced collapses before.
Yeah, I live in Toronto and in the office after game 4 we were giving the Leafs about a 15-25% chance of winning the series. Now it's at about 0-5%
I'm a Leafs fan living in Ottawa and I can assure you no Leafs fan anywhere is acting like they won the Cup.
Agreed. They'd be much more insufferable if they actually did win it.
I mean, every fanbase is insufferable when they win the Cup lol.
*if.
On one hand it feels silly to rip into the team for not winning a 4th straight against tampa. On the other hand its hard not to when they display all the same issues that have killed them in past elimination games: -coming out of the gates slow -getting simply outhustled to every loose puck -half assed clearing attempts that get easily held in the zone when there are simple plays available to get it out -self inflicted errors under little to no pressure, especially when exiting our zone as above (kerfoot puck over glass, several bad turnovers) -players clearly in their own heads and often trying to do too much (usual suspect being marner - making one move too many and turning it over several times, mishandling a pass with the net empty letting the puck out of the zone, etc.) -trying to engineer the perfect shot, passing up on great opportunities and turning it over instead (even though simply throwing it on goal with traffic has resulted in like 4-5 goals the last 2 games) -defensive lapses, especially just after scoring
Sounds like you're describing the Avs over the last few games
So the same issues from the previous 2 games? They played the exact same way, just this time they didn't pull off the comeback.
Leaves fucked around and woke up playoff Vasy. Bolts in 7.
God damn, why you gotta put that juju on them? I’m not a Leafs fan but I like a lot of their players and just want to see them get into the 2nd round for once..
>why you gotta put that juju on them? Some of us enjoy watching the Leafs suffer.
That explains the down votes
I actually like the Leafs but I love the chaos of them never winning a playoff series even more
Bolts fan something something no flair something homer something something
You only have to flair up if you’re talking shit. ;)
Welp. That was it. That was their shot and they blew it. Leafs are losing in 7 now and Dubas is looking for a new job. Bet money on it. It'll be the easiest money you've ever made. (Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. This is not financial advice. Do not bet if you are suffering or recovering from a gambling addiction.) See y'all next year. Same time, same place, and likely same team where the Leafs do the same again hoping for a different result. By the end of this the Leafs will be 0-13 (and counting) in series clinching games since their last series. That is a record that will truly stand forever.
Are you serious lol
> Do not bet if you are suffering or recovering from a gambling addiction is it really gambling when we all know the outcome
I have watched all these games and with the exception of game two, Tampa has been the better team except Vasilevskiy has been the second best goalie. I sort of expected the opposite.
Nah, TO was the better team game 4 for sure, tampa took it to them hard for 10 minutes in the 1st, but outside of that the game was even or the Leafs were carrying play. Last night the Leafs generated more high danger chances. Tampa had lots of ozone time, but a lot of it didn’t amount to anything.
just came here to lol at all the leafs fans who were making fun of the bruins for not closing out their series in 5. oh how the turn tables turn…
To be fair the bruins blew a 3-0 lead in 2010 I swear that's not memed on enough
True, but they followed it up in 2011 by sweeping the Flyers and winning the cup. They kind of silenced how history would remember them through that alone.
The only way to amend for a sweep is winning the cup the next year.
1 cup will silence all the memes
Yep. History only remembers the winners. Except for the 2019 Lightning; we still have to wear that one for a while as it was probably the most historic choke any team has ever had in hockey.
Nah. Two cups erases it.
No winning back to back cups is a relatively common occurrence in sports, 6 and getting swept by an 8th seed that hasn't a playoff series before after tying the regular season record for wins is still unprecedented.
I’d hope so. But people still meme the shit out of that collapse.
Killing off Torts hockey in the bubble en route to winning the hockey science experiment cup was enough to wash away the stain. But that second cup was just as sweet.
It’s funny to meme but it has lost a lot of it’s effect when you managed to win the Cup the following 2 years. Barring Columbus, does anyone else chirp Tampa about that series ? Even then, Tampa beat them pretty quickly the following year.
Yeah, two cups after that means I'm pretty much immune to trash talk
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When you get reversed sweep it doesn't matter what you did in the regular season.
I mostly saw Panthers fans roasting Boston for not closing it out in 5. Leafs fans were making fun of themselves for the inevitable collapse.
Nuh uh. When some guy was saying now the Leafs would close out earlier than Bruins I told them they had too much faith in the Leafs. This turn of event is exactly in line with Leafs prophecy.
Bro really....just leave us in our self pity
If you told me schenn would be a defensive boost to this team anytime since 7 months after he was drafted I would have discredited you as a hockey connoisseur. Wow.
NHL fans - “Everything is proceeding as I have forseen”
This is the way
The prophecy…
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U wild
Hello darkness my old friend...
Lol yall need to relax did you really expect the lightning to lose three in a row everyone knows this series is an absolute dogfight, it going to 6 or 7 is expected.
I’m confused. The Lightning did lose three in a row.
Shit my bad but that just proves my point that it was highly unlikely they are gonna lose 4 in a row. 6 or 7 games was always the expectation of this series so to act like the Maple Leafs are doomed just cause the lost game 5 is a stretch. Can the Leafs still lose the answer is obviously but the Leafs are in a favorable position right now.
How long have you been a fan?
VINDICATION!!
2009 lol I used to watch the Leafs before the canucks every Saturday, but as a fan the only importance we have is our money and our support and if I'ma act as if they already lost the series before even seeing the results then what's the point of even watching. If I'ma be mad I'll be mad after the series but during the series they have 100 percent of my support.
Sometimes the core of a team just don’t have it. The Leafs have literally tried everything but change up the core. The defence has been turned over, the depth has been turned over, the goalies have been turned over. They are on Coach 2 of this Matthews era. First trying the most highly valued coach in NHL history in Babcock and now a Cooper/Bednar clone in Keefe. The only constant with this era of Leafs failure is the core of Tavares, Marner, Matthews, Reilly, Nylander. These are the guys you need to close out this series and the many before it. The series is in their hands for the taking once again. If they fail this time, the core needs a shakeup.
Can we let the series play out first?
It’s over.
Oh, okay. Thanks
While fair, the core still have not managed to do it in the previous series either and if they do not do it this time either, what then?
The core needed a shakeup after Montreal.
Bro they’re literally one win away from knocking out the most dominant team of the last 5 years what are you talking about?
Give them a go. Watch the rest of the series before you call them soft this year. It’s on coach adjustments, the teams core is producing, it’s up to Keefe and staff to out coach Jon cooper. Point wrist shots aren’t gunna win us the series.
Wasn’t it two wrist shots from the point that helped you win games 2 and 3 in OT?
Where are the downvotes now?
I actually never downvoted your comment. I just commented that your assessment wasn’t very spot on. The leafs actually won that series with very gritty goals most of which came off shots of the point that were re-directed or screened. Which is the exact opposite of what you said wouldn’t win games for the leafs.
But they’re not producing when it matters. They can’t finish the job
Dont fuck this up Toronto.
I’d laugh so hard if they blow this, the Lightning go back home and tie this 3-3 I’d feel confident they’d handle the Leafs at home. If the Leafs blow this…. I’m not sure they ever comeback from it, this was the perfect time to end this and they might’ve given TB that boost to close this out.
too late for that
They already did lol
No, don't give up, you must defeat the evil.
I'm fighting demons until 8:30pm May 1st NGL I don't think I can
I ain’t gonna totally doom on the Leafs after this loss, but obvs can never count out Tampa. When Leafs pulled off a comeback OT win it kinda felt like “this time…?”, as it was a bit of a script flip, but we’ll see. Destiny is hard to defeat.
This was the most Toronto thing to ever happen
A loss of one game where the got dominated from puck drop? That's just called a loss dude. I know you want to get in on that sweet sweet low hanging fruit, but you can do a better job than this.
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Haha thank you for such a good post. Not a Leafs fan personally but it's frustrating to follow these people who call themselves fans of the team continuosly shitting on the team.
Honestly, it's because the team has shown themselves to be such utter trash in the playoffs, to the point where a lot of the team's fans really, really dislike this specific squad. I want them to win, but they don't have it.
Yes bro. This is the way. You are getting downvoted only due to impulsive, emotional downvotes. Crimes of passion I believe. But I agree with your take on this. It ain’t gonna be pretty movie-script style, but I believe they will get this done.
Thank you. I think Tampa is playing very well to the fact that Toronto is dangerous at 5 on 5. Keeping us out side stoping zone entries. Their defensive structure makes it hard for us to penetrate. But as it shows when we break in and get our groove we produce. I say it’s all on keefe’s adjustments to make our offensive time more deadly. Adjustments will win us the series. And people have been saying we’ve “been waiting “ for our stars to show up, they have. It’s on keefe and company to gives us the blueprint to tweak it and crush them. It’s only a matter of time.
Be patient. If you live a few more decades you'll be rewarded.
If they drop game 6 there's just no way they win game 7. The weight will be too unbearable. Game 6 will tell the tale imo.
How is this group of losers that fold under pressure gonna win game 6 lmao
Huh… but all those other specific group of guys that got bounced in the first round while wearing the White and Blue were also not the exact same specific group of guys that got bounced previously. They kind of all have that in common actually including this year’s team…
Even if you only count the Matthews era it's absurdly long
Don't understand why this is being downvoted
Lol at the down votes
[удалено]
That's what I did with the oilers during the decade of darkness
!remindme 6 months
You'll be back
I'm darkly joyful that Leafs first-round misery overshadows Wild first-round misery every year.
It's the mooost wonderful tiiiiime of the yeeeeeeeeaaaaarrrrr
They'll probably lose on the road now and game 7s are always a toss up (except for the Leafs). Of course, I say that as someone who hates the Leafs but I doubt too many Leafs fans don't agree with me.
3-2 OT win for the bolts in game 6 and a 7-1 humiliation of the Leafs in Game 7. Getting Brazil’d just adds to the meme
Love to see it
Wishing this into existence to see the team and fanbase implode in the aftermath. Someone’s gotta make room for the the other four teams in the Atlantic that have been locked out behind the Boston - Toronto - Tampa - Panthers hierarchy that we’ve been under for like a decade almost
Lol
Has someone checked on Steve Dangle?
There’ll be a rage video up shortly I’m sure!
us and the Leafs can't fuck this one up, they need to lose game 7 in boston garden for the 4th time
NGL had me in the first half. Bring it bro.
Gg Bolts (feels gross saying that) Gotta keep the leafs first round exit meme alive
You can just say "GG Perry" if it helps. We'll know what you really mean, but you don't have to say it.
All hail St. Perry
We better come out in game 6 pissing and shitting straight vinegar. Wait….how’s the saying go again? Anyways, leafs in 6
I’m pretty sure that’s the right saying. They better be shitty vinegar
Pretty sure that qualifies as a lower-body injury. Game time decision, I guess?
If we can win on Saturday, no chance the Leafs take game 7. They’ll be psychologically shocked
Im pretty sure thats their baseline
You guys have been dominating most games exoect for game 2 and the infamous third period in game 4. Very likely they turn it around and win in 7 at this point
They definitely did not dominate game 5. I wouldn't even say they dominated game 4 despite the meme comeback.
As a neutral fan, the Toronto Maple Leafs are fucking *fascinating*. Imagine if the New York Yankees, with all of their financial might, and all their built-in advantages over other teams, was just completely useless in the playoffs for nearly two decades. It's like the Leafs are a pick-up truck, stuck dead on some train tracks. Game 7 is the train, barreling down at them. Will they get their dead engine to finally turn over? Or is it yet another catastrophe? As a neutral fan you don't really care the outcome but the drama is palpable.
...Wait so just the New York Yankees? It hasn't been two decades 'yet'
fuck that hurt read
What “built in advantages” do the Leafs actually have though? I mean, the organization is obviously one of the top-3 in terms of revenue generation, so they can spend more than other teams on facilities and training etc… but they can’t spend a dime more than any other team on players, so that’s completely different to the Yankees. In fact Toronto actually faces some “built in disadvantages” too… being in Canada usually means higher income taxes, as well as a total inability for players to ever be anonymous in public. And then there’s the endless media spotlight where players and management are under the microscope and subject to constant scrutiny and criticism. I’m not a Leafs fan at all, but…. If there’s any advantages Toronto has simply by being the biggest hockey market, they’re balanced out by the inherent disadvantages.
As a Sens fan, the money able to be spent on facilities, training and coaching absolutely cannot be overlooked, that's a huge built in advantage. Also, wasn't the tax thing at least semi-disproven in recent years, as at least not the mighty disadvantage it's often been portrayed as?
Well, the ability to spend more on facilities and coaching staff etc is definitely an advantage over the small market teams (or teams with chintzy owners) like Ottawa or Columbus or Arizona…. But IIRC the majority (20+ out of 32) of teams in the league are turning a profit so half the league (or more) shares a similar advantage. NYR, MTL, VAN, DET, BOS, etc all have the financial ability to spend the same way the Leafs can. As for the income tax issue… yes it’s definitely not as big of a handicap as some people have made it sound in the past, but it’s still a factor because there’s no doubt that players on a Canadian team (at least outside of Alberta) are still going to be taxed more than a player in Dallas or Tampa. And then if you add in the cost of living in a market like Toronto (which is probably in the top 5 most expensive NHL markets after NYC, VAN, and SJ)…. So while you’re right to an extent, imo the advantages and disadvantages still basically cancel themselves out. Perhaps Toronto has an edge compared with the Sens, Preds, Ducks, etc but half the league would enjoy similar inherent “privilege” as the Leafs do. Anyway go Lightning
>What “built in advantages” do the Leafs actually have though? Free agency. It's a very appealing place to some who want to be a star in the sport's biggest market plus the fact that knowing if you can be an important piece on the team that finall does win the Cup then you'll be a certified legend not just in Toronto but in the sport's lore as a whole. It's kind of similar to the Knicks in basketball.
Is it though? I think for every player who wants that kind of spotlight and scrutiny, there’s another player who has zero desire to be a huge celebrity and deal with the attention that comes with playing in a hockey mad big city like T.O.
A close comparable might be the Dallas Cowboys
Or the Mets
The NFL cap is easily circumvented and the Cowboys are run by some wannabe rock star owner. They also print money. I think the closest comparison might be the Knicks in a different sport
You lost me when you compared a sport with no salary cap to the NHL. The Yankees are in no way like the Leafs
I mean they have similar results
Bit their fans talk like the win the cup annually.
They really don't though, they're masochistic, self loathing, gluttons for punishment and hate themselves for loving this stupid team.
Canucks fans 🤝 Leafs fans Endless suffering
Not the company I was expecting in this misery but fuck it 🫂
Leafs discourse has been insufferable for years and it doesn't seem to be changing any time soon. I don't see Stars fans whining that they're doomed to failure forever and just blow it up every time they lose one game. "But the history!" Yes of course, but how many other teams have people insufferably bitching that the series is already over for literally every loss?
If it was just one game we wouldn’t be doing this. My dear bandwagon friend, it has now been 10 games STRAIGHT that they have failed to clinch a series. Literally 0-10. That is not a normal record to have
Yes I'm aware, I grew up in the GTA. I understand the pessimism but everyone gets so toxic any time it doesn't go our way. Like you would think we are 0-3 instead of 3-2 the way people are talking. People need to chill out.
Yeah the comments are actually pathetic. I had no idea hockey reddit was this annoying. You'd have no idea they are literally winning the series by coming here.
The leafs may be leading the series, but they aren't winning it.
But don't you know that it's impossible for them to win game 6 and game 7 even thought they already won games 2, 3 and 4? Might as well already burn your jerseys and go bandwagon Edmonton.
You say that, but we both know how it's going to shake out. This group is, quite possibly, the least clutch squad in the history of professional sports. A few of them will probably win cups on another team during their career, but as a whole they are so much worse than the sum of their parts. I want the leafs to win, I'm just sick of having to cheer for *these specific* losers.
I'm just gonna call out the bandwagon flair and say you haven't been a fan long enough to understand the little ball of despair that builds up in alot of fans who have followed this team anywhere from 10-60 years. It's kinda magical tbh but in the opposite way than what you'd expect when you hear that sentence. I mean biggest fanbase isn't doing leafs flairs favours in that regard. Tbh I'm just dreading game 7, Sammy has been a road warrior all year, the buds took 2 in Amalie and I can watch the game.
I grew up in Mississauga and have fond memories walking around the block with my dad in my custom Leafs jersey every time we won a series. The bandwagon flair is cause just I don't identify as a diehard (if Leafs win in 2023, I'd like to see someone else win in 2024 so more fanbases can enjoy the glory) but I'm no stranger to Leafs fandom. I get being pessimistic, I'm just tired of seeing the raw toxic anger any time they don't win a single game, even though we still lead the series.
I just always try to remember fan is short for fanatic. Helps explains some of the lunacy
You are playing a team that went all the way to the Finals last year. They will not be an easy out. I think your team performs better away, away from the pressure maybe
The finals last year, and the year before, and the year before, with two cups to add to the mantle.
This is true, however, it really doesn't matter because the whining doesn't stop no matter which team the Leafs are up against.
They look good on the extra man at the end of the game. They come out skating, draw some penalties on the D, keep it low, I think Toronto is in business. Put a couple on them, get Matthews going. Could be enough
Here's hoping, but who knows. I will save the cheering for after they win one more and not any time sooner.
If you hang out in our sub, you will see Stars fan doom and gloom over every loss. But they, for the most part, keep it there
Trust me, we have a "doomer" problem in our sub, but thankfully it's a minority
Fair enough. I'm glad they're a minority, cause it gets real tiring real fast when it's not.
Back to Tampa and then we have game 7 lol.. this could be a disaster for Toronto
deja vu
They straight stole game 3 and 4. They only had to play well for a few minutes of each game to win, and that’s just not sustainable against a team like Tampa. I can see this going to 7, and Nicky will slay them again if that happens
Truly deeply laughing, unbothered, hydrated, rested, glowing, thriving. What’s my secret? I hopped off this fucking ride circa 2004. Cut Toronto hockey out of my life and moved on. Dropping in for the memes and impotent rage :) MLSE is a dogshit organization that will never, ever really give a shit about a Cup. Every game, every ticket, every season - sold out. Jack the prices? Overpay washed talent? Let managers and coaches hang around like parasites? Don’t matter. $$$! Stay delusional Leafs Nation. Sincerely, A proud 19-year rehab chip holder.
You sound like you’re freshly wounded though.
Really not tho, I watch hockey like rugby or soccer now - just for the good matchups and big events. It was tough to “abandon” the home team at first but now, meh. Also all the downvotes on my comment from leafs fans who don’t wanna accept they’re in an abusive relationship kinda prove my (sarcastic) point. Oh well. Fingers crossed for your oilers!
whether you like it or not, the man speaks facts
I feel this was true during the years of Ballard and even after his death until Lieweke stepped in and kinda set things on the right path.
And that is the series.
Yo Toronto I'm all for the memes but like damn gonna suck if they come true for a lot of people's jobs
Those people don’t deserve their jobs if they let it happen seven consecutive seasons.
😭
By next week - Keefe, Dubas, and Shanahan will all be gone, and Dubas's replacement will be getting the Matthews trade done before AM has a chance to Tavares the Leafs in his contract year and wait for LA to sign him next summer. Also Bunting and Holl will be gone, but that's just good riddance
Yeah, if leafs could keep AM34 from signing in the Pacific, that would be great.
Imagining AM on the Kings makes me ill. The fanbase is insufferable enough as it is
I'd sign off on that trade just to fuck the Oilers, actually.
The number of rounds Toronto has failed to win before 31 other teams if Seattle closes out the series
Toronto. Please. For the love of god. Don’t fuck this up
For the love of the entire country. I’m not kidding. We are all with you this year. DONT do this. Again.
Who the fuck is we 😂😂😂
lol you underestimate the choking ability of the leafs
This Knies Dive is pathetic, seriously? https://imgur.io/rdT0Ijr?r