Eastern Conference Second Round: (2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs (WC2) Florida Panthers

[2014olympicgold]

Knies-Matthews-Marner
Jarnkrok-JT-Nylander
Bunting-ROR-Acciari
ZAR-Kampf-Kerfoot

McCabe-Brodie
Rielly-Schenn
Gio-Lilj

Those were the practice lines for the Leafs. They aren't going to the 11-7 format, and Holl isn't in the top 3 pairings.

[Daydream Nation]

Knies-Matthews-Marner
Jarnkrok-JT-Nylander
Bunting-ROR-Acciari
ZAR-Kampf-Kerfoot

McCabe-Brodie
Rielly-Schenn
Gio-Lilj

Those were the practice lines for the Leafs. They aren't going to the 11-7 format, and Holl isn't in the top 3 pairings.

I never like when a team splits up the talent into 3 lines. Load up on 2 lines and keep sending them out there.

[2014olympicgold]

Only like 7.5hrs away from Game 1, Game 3 is not announced yet. Rumour is it could very well be played Sunday.

[Axeman33]

That's the point. None of those teams are as formidable as Tampa and Boston. Granted, if Schmid keeps playing this way that'll change things.

That's also part of the problem; folks underestimated teams like Florida and NJ. I dont think anyone underestimated Toronto.

[random-d]

That's also part of the problem; folks underestimated teams like Florida and NJ. I dont think anyone underestimated Toronto.

Lol, who is underestimating NJ after the season they had? The teams they're playing or the armchair analysts?

[Axeman33]

Lol, who is underestimating NJ after the season they had? The teams they're playing or the armchair analysts?

I'd say a lot of people were underestimating the Devils in the playoffs due to their inexperience versus the Rangers in the first round. Is this the first you are hearing of this?

[Belexus75]

I'd say a lot of people were underestimating the Devils in the playoffs due to their inexperience versus the Rangers in the first round. Is this the first you are hearing of this?

personally i still do, i give them 1 game max vs Carolina....I said this after the trade deadline and i stick with it....Rangers had too many of "the same player"...not enough versatility in the line up and it costed them...

the kid will need to stand on his head for NJ to give Carolina any kind of chance and while he has proven he is capable im not sure he can carry them in round 2...time will tell.

[Daydream Nation]

personally i still do, i give them 1 game max vs Carolina...

Does Carolina impress you that much?

[Belexus75]

Does Carolina impress you that much?

they dont need to...they are way more structured than NY and will offer completely different challenge..

[Feenom]

personally i still do, i give them 1 game max vs Carolina....I said this after the trade deadline and i stick with it....Rangers had too many of "the same player"...not enough versatility in the line up and it costed them...

the kid will need to stand on his head for NJ to give Carolina any kind of chance and while he has proven he is capable im not sure he can carry them in round 2...time will tell.

Fair points. Both teams have speed but I think it comes down to the bottom 6 and goalies. Slim edge to NJ. But who knows.

[The Comish]

Two periods in and this series is going to be fun!

[Invictus]

Neat how the only Leaf scorers are Knies and Bunting

[2014olympicgold]

Notes:
- Way different pace from the Tampa/Toronto series. Holy that was quick
- HUGE hits on both teams.
- Samsonov is really a "I'll make THE save for you" goalie it seems
- Bobrovsky was ON THE CASE all night. If he's like that all series, Florida will win
- Because of the speed this is going to go at, Gio is going to get exposed. I wonder if Toronto will go 11-7 to help. It's not like Florida is a 4 line team, so going 11F shouldn't hurt Toronto.
- Toronto's powerplay will be the difference maker here. They were crazy good, just no goals. They also let a big opportunity slip away in the first 5min. That needs to change.
- Tkachuk is the best American player on the planet right now
- Brodie/McCabe were on the ice for 3GA, and all were off of mistakes they made that lead to the goal.
- Nylander had an awful first 40min, but he did pick it up in the 3rd. Hopefully that's the Nylander we see going forward.
- It was the Leafs 7th game in the playoffs, doomed to lose.
- Going forward, the Leafs need to make this a slow series. They need to drag the Panthers down. They need to get into the center of the ice more often. And they need to get on puck retrieval. This back-and-forth type of game, the Leafs won't win.

I really have no complaints from a Toronto side. It was a fun, fast, hard hitting game where a goalie robbed the Leafs all night. The 2 Leafs goals were from making the extra move. Bobrovsky was on top of the save until those extra moves. Fun game.

[Feenom]

Speed kills. Leafs are fine if they continue to fly but need to put the chances away. I thought AM had a good game but Marner not so much. They need to keep funnelling the offense through him. Best players gotta be at their best. Tkachuk and Bob definitely were. Thursday then Sunday? Then Wednesday? Wtf?

[2014olympicgold]

Speed kills. Leafs are fine if they continue to fly but need to put the chances away. I thought AM had a good game but Marner not so much. They need to keep funnelling the offense through him. Best players gotta be at their best. Tkachuk and Bob definitely were. Thursday then Sunday? Then Wednesday? Wtf?

Miami does have the Heat playing this weekend and an F1 event. I wonder how much of the schedule is for that. Could also be ratings based and the NHL isn't trying to compete with things. Could also be the NHL trying to help Florida Panthers with attendance.