NHL Playoffs: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins

[BDL]

Hello all.

Though I am a Bruins fan, I am carrying on a tradition started by Habs fan Declansdad, and inviting fans of both teams to trash talk, boast and make excuses, here, in the safe confines of a Disboards forum. HERE you can see my 2013 Bruins thread. But as any hockey fan will tell you, the playoffs are a completely different season.

In this 1st round match up, you have the resurgent rivalry between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins. The Leafs have built their team around youth, speed and scoring. The B's, the complete opposite, are based on defense and goaltending. There is also the bad blood that has taken place between these teams lately. Not just on the ice, but off. Much has been made about how the Bruins have fleeced the Leafs' cubbard. You can directly attribute Bruins Rask, Seguin and Hamilton to deals that had been made between the 2 teams.

Here is the upcoming schedule:

Game 1 Wed, May 1 Maple Leafs at Bruins 7 p.m.
Game 2 Sat, May 4 Maple Leafs at Bruins 7 p.m.
Game 3 Mon, May 6 Bruins at Maple Leafs 7 p.m.
Game 4 Wed, May 8 Bruins at Maple Leafs 7 p.m.
Game 5* Fri, May 10 Maple Leafs at Bruins 7 p.m.
Game 6* Sun, May 12 Bruins at Maple Leafs TBD
Game 7* Mon, May 13 Maple Leafs at Bruins TBD

HERE is a good article from sbnation. At the bottom of the article, are links to biased sites. 1 for the Leafs and 1 for the B's.

The quest for 35 lbs. begins Wednesday.

 

[declansdad]

Thanks for the shout-out.

Bruins in 6. You guys need to smoke them!

 

[wiigirl]

Thanks for the shout-out.

Bruins in 6. You guys need to smoke them!

 

[Dan Murfman]

I'm so annoyed. They win last night and I would've gone to games 3 & 4 on the Island. They just don't seem to be clicking. I won't be surprised to see them lose a game 7 like last year.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I hate the Leafs (yes, even thou im from Toronto). So I think Boston will win in 4!

 

[Disneylover99]

I hate the Leafs (yes, even thou im from Toronto). So I think Boston will win in 4!

Ouch!!! C'mon!!! Throw your city a little love!!!!

GO LEAFS GO!!!!!

Leafs in 4!!!!!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Ouch!!! C'mon!!! Throw your city a little love!!!!

GO LEAFS GO!!!!!

Leafs in 4!!!!!

The LEAFS SUUUUCK!
I cant stress that enough.

 

[Disneylover99]

The LEAFS SUUUUCK!
I cant stress that enough.

I think you just did!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I think you just did!

 

[mommasita]

I hate the Leafs (yes, even thou im from Toronto). So I think Boston will win in 4!

I think I love you..

 

[kimblebee]

I am a true Canadian so I will be pulling for all Canadian teams... Even the Habs (that hurts to say)

It's time to bring the Cup home!

 

[BDL]

Yay!!!!

We don't have Ontario on Ontario crime. Though I did like the fire being spewed.

I was just at Puck Daddy and saw that NONE of the B's/Leafs games will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network in the U.S. Granted, I like the fact that I will have more Jack and Brick. But it is a kind of slap in the face that Boston and Toronto fans, across America, might not be able to be able to see any of the games unless they buy some sort of cable package.

Now, this could change, depending on how fast certain serieses will be decided. But, what really stinks, is that with some start time manipulation, NBCSN could have a quadruple header. on Sat May 4th.

12:30 NY/Wash
4:00 Ana/Det
7:00 Tor/Bos
10:30 St. L/LA

Tell me, who among us wouldn't love to see this line up and follow game after game throughout the day?

 

[abdmom]

I am a true Canadian so I will be pulling for all Canadian teams... Even the Habs (that hurts to say)

It's time to bring the Cup home!

Go Leafs!

 

[mommasita]

I am a true Canadian so I will be pulling for all Canadian teams... Even the Habs (that hurts to say)

It's time to bring the Cup home!

I'll bring you over to the dark side my dear

 

[LSmith]

The LEAFS SUUUUCK!
I cant stress that enough.

What part of "Toronto" are you from? Hamilton? Oshawa?

GO LEAFS GO!

 

[Bay Hill]

As much I dislike Jack Edwards....B's in 6

 

[HubbDave]

As much I dislike Jack Edwards....B's in 6

Jack rules, but I think my Bruins fold. They have been awful lately

 

[mom4463]

Go Bruins!

 

[BDL]

Well, the first controversy, that is not really a controversy, has emerged. Phil Kessel opted not to speak to a press corps (that number 30-40) after his practice and team meeting.

The article can be read HERE

Now, if I am a Maple Leafs coach, GM or team leader, before the morning skate tomorrow, I grab Kessel by the back of the neck and say, in NO uncertain terms, "You are going to go out there. Address the press. And show that we as a TEAM are not afraid of anything!"

The only thing that could possibly save Kessel, is if he tries to laugh it off with something like "I left the meeting and saw how many lady reporters were here. And after what 'Grapes' said..."

For those that don't get the reference, look up Don Cherry's opinion of women hockey reporters in the locker room.

But the first media shot has been fired. I wonder how Hockey on the Fly will cover it?

By the way, the Stanley Cup odds are out.

Pittsburgh Penguins 7/2
Chicago Blackhawks 15/4
Boston Bruins 17/2
Anaheim Ducks 12/1
Montreal Canadiens 12/1
Los Angeles Kings 14/1
St. Louis Blues 14/1
Vancouver Canucks 14/1
San Jose Sharks 16/1
Washington Capitals 16/1
New York Rangers 18/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 20/1
Minnesota Wild 22/1
Detroit Red Wings 28/1
Ottawa Senators 28/1
New York Islanders 40/1


T-minus 28 hrs til face-off

 

[BDL]

With Game 1 only hours away, it's time to do some head-to-head comparisons.

Team (Ranks):

Toronto offense (6th) vs. Boston defense (3rd)

The Leafs have 2 top 20 goal scorers on their team, in Phil Kessel and Nazem Kadri (3 top 25 with James van Riemsdyk), and an emerging table setter in Cody Franson. Also, not to be forgotten, are Toronto anchors Joffrey Lupul and Dion Phaneuf. With these players and other complimentary other scorers, it's easy to see why Toronto scored 145 goals in just over 1/2 a season. But, now that the playoffs have started, the Bruins will be re-uniting the top defensive pair of Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg. With these 2 together, and Boston having home ice for the series, to allow last change, they could be standing up any odd man rush that comes their way. Along with the other 4 blueliners, 3 of the 4 centers, have the ability to pick the pocket of anyone crossing in front of them. And after all that, the Leafs still have to get past Tuukka Rask. The whole world knows that he is suceptible to high glove side. But any where else, he is getting in front of it.

Edge: Bruins

Boston offense (14th) vs. Toronto defense (17th)

This category is tricky. Every Bruins fan is hoping that the B's can "flip the switch" and and get the scoring going again, which has been all but non-existent the past 10 games. It is impossible to blame anyone because everyone, save the 4th line, is to be held accountable. It is troubling when a good amout of your goals scored, down the stretch, come from D-men and new aquisitions. So offensive on the Bruins side is going to have to be "wait and see." By contrast, the Leafs only have 7 players on the good side of +/-, that have played 20 games or more. And though Reimer is only middle of the road in GAA, he is top 10 in SV%. And he will still have Phaneuf in front of him.

Edge: Push

Special Teams (Ranks):

Toronto PP (14th) vs. Boston PK (4th)

Even with the Bruins stifling PK being... well, lapse lately, you still have Big Z and Seidenberg out there eating the minutes pushing forwards off the puck. And that is only if Bergeron hasn't already broken up the play at center ice. And the familiarity favors Boston here as well. They know that Kessel will ALWAYS go for his spin move at the face-off circle then snap shot. And van Riemdyk prefers the "Gordon Bombay" triple deke. But the 2 Leafs that scare me most are Lupul and Kadri. Lupul plays an honest game and never shows his hand til the last second. And Kadri is a firecracker with bursts of speed.

Edge: Bruins

Boston PP (26th) vs. Toronto PK (2nd)

I have to admit. I never would've guessed how impressive Toronto's PK was. This one isn't even a contest.

Edge: Maple Leafs

Intangibles:

When you look at the intangibles, most of them favor the Bruins. I'll give the Leafs the "chip on the shoulder" motivation. But other areas, like experience (16 skaters and 1 goalie were on the '11 Cup team), their ability to win clutch face-offs, and depth, the B's can't be touched. And God help the Leafs if Seguin scores the 1st goal of the game and early on. The "Thank you Kessel" chants will be deafening, and Kessel will be doing his best impression of a turtle.

In closing, I have re-thought my position on no scheduled NBCSN games being broadcast for this series. This way, I am spared Eddie Olczyk drooling all over himself and screaming "JVR... blah blah blah" into his mic every chance he gets. I legitimately can picture him in the role of Hans Gruber in Die Hard. "You asked for a miracle? I give you the J - V - R."

LET'S GO B's!!!!!