Atlantic Division: (2) Boston Bruins vs (3) Toronto Maple Leafs

[4T2]

man , chara starting to looks like andre the giant in his later years .

He's definitely not the player that he used to be and can be a bit of a liability at times. But overall, he is still a valuable member of the Bruins D.

The toughest part of watching great players decline with age is that we still measure them against themselves when they were playing at their peak, rather than measuring them against, let's say an average NHL d-man. Even with his slowing down, I would still take what Chara brings to the table in his physical presence, leadership and hockey sense over half the d-men in the NHL. Of course, my view is also going to be tainted by loyalty to a player who has been such a huge part of Boston's success over the last decade so I may just be seeing his play through black and gold glasses. But overall, I still think Chara brings enough to the table to be a great second or third pairing d-man in the NHL for at least one more year.

[2014olympicgold]

Chara got away with a lot of slashes. I didn't notice how many until they did the little slow mo's before a commercial break. He was hacking everyone. But I'm not blaming refs for missing anything. He was just doing it a lot more, or I just noticed it this game.

Leafs lose home ice, need to steal one going forward. Commmeee on buds

[Axeman33]

Chara got away with a lot of slashes. I didn't notice how many until they did the little slow mo's before a commercial break. He was hacking everyone. But I'm not blaming refs for missing anything. He was just doing it a lot more, or I just noticed it this game.

Leafs lose home ice, need to steal one going forward. Commmeee on buds

EVERYONE slashes all the time. They just don't call them. Do you remember a couple years ago when they were calling all those slashes to the hands or anything that was mid-level? That was crazy but it's what everyone does.

[lucafen4]

Huge one tonight. Do not want to go into Boston tied 2-2.

Leafs need to:
1. Improve dump ins. Too many have been lost. Time them better to improve forecheck/recovery rates.
2. Continue to pound Chara. He's looking old and slow. 3rd period of Game 3 he was starting to look for the incoming hit
3. Continue to improve defence of Boston's entries. They made adjustments on Marchands entries & were actually knocking him off stride/puck.
4. Improve backchecking and man assignments.
5. more traffic in front of Rask. Having it too easy.
6. A physical, engaged Nylander.
7. More mistake free Gardiner.

Everytime Toronto made a mistake it ended up in the back of their net.

Details.

They didn't do this until 10min to go in the 3rd. Then they were able to really make a push.
Now they know (sadly it took 4 games) what it's going to take.

[2014olympicgold]

EVERYONE slashes all the time. They just don't call them. Do you remember a couple years ago when they were calling all those slashes to the hands or anything that was mid-level? That was crazy but it's what everyone does.

Oh ya, I'm not saying they were missed calls. This is just part of the sport (illegal, but I know they won't call it). I just saw Chara do it A LOT more than the previous 3 games after I noticed it during a slow mo. So I wonder if it was him getting mad with all the abuse he's been taking and turned back the clock of "you'll earn your space around me" mentality.

[lucafen4]

They should probably shift a bit of that Chara focus onto McAvoy & Krug. All things considered

[Axeman33]

Oh ya, I'm not saying they were missed calls. This is just part of the sport (illegal, but I know they won't call it). I just saw Chara do it A LOT more than the previous 3 games after I noticed it during a slow mo. So I wonder if it was him getting mad with all the abuse he's been taking and turned back the clock of "you'll earn your space around me" mentality.

It's probably due to him not being fast enough to skate with them so that's the easiest way for him to slow them down.

[2014olympicgold]

It's probably due to him not being fast enough to skate with them so that's the easiest way for him to slow them down.

Ya, that's what I was thinking too.

[hockeyrobot]

I originally thought Bruins in 5 or 6 but this is going 7.

[bondon]

I actually felt like looking at the body of work, this was probably the best game the Leafs played in this series. Sounds idiotic considering they lost 6-4 but I thought this was the first time in the series that the Leafs actually controlled the play for most of the game. Giving up 2 goals in the first 5 minutes is pretty backbreaking though.

[2014olympicgold]

I actually felt like looking at the body of work, this was probably the best game the Leafs played in this series. Sounds idiotic considering they lost 6-4 but I thought this was the first time in the series that the Leafs actually controlled the play for most of the game. Giving up 2 goals in the first 5 minutes is pretty backbreaking though.

It is crazy how greatly surviving the first 5minutes for the Leafs alters their games against Boston.

[lucafen4]

It is crazy how greatly surviving the first 5minutes for the Leafs alters their games against Boston.

Yup... go back to last year and the last few regular seasons as well. Babcock preaches starting on time... Maybe he should set their clocks ahead. My god, Not sure there's another playoff team that routinely starts 10min into games as often as the Leafs

[DusterDave]

Whoever wins tonight wins the series in my opinion.

[4T2]

Whoever wins tonight wins the series in my opinion.

I think this series was always destined to go seven games. And honestly, for the Leafs to ever win the Stanley Cup pretty much requires them to beat the Bruins in a Game 7 on the way there. I can't see the Hockey Gods having it any other way. I just hope that this year isn't that year.

[DusterDave]

I think this series was always destined to go seven games. And honestly, for the Leafs to ever win the Stanley Cup pretty much requires them to beat the Bruins in a Game 7 on the way there. I can't see the Hockey Gods having it any other way. I just hope that this year isn't that year.

You had yours. Step aside for us other guys.