NHL Playoffs: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins

[goofyintoronto]

Go Bruins!

 

[mickilee]

another leaf hater here...

i am surrounded by leaf fans.....

go red wings!

 

[Disneylover99]

GO LEAFS GO!!!!!

Leafs in 4!!!!!

Okay...I've changed my mind....Leafs in 5!!!!
GO LEAFS GO!!!!

 

[mommasita]

I think the leafs "MAY" win one...

 

[Sgt Mickey]

 

[BDL]

Opening Stanley Cup promo from CBC HNIC.

Thank you to Puck Daddy for pointing it out. See it HERE

Also, for anyone who has ever been annoyed by Vancouver's green men, click HERE

 

[bellanotte10]

Ference was suspended?

 

[BDL]

Wednesday's game was the type of game that we have come to expect from the B's. The hitting, the pressing, the communicating and especially the team work. You saw players calling for the puck. You saw them covering for their team mates if a coverage was blown (Kaspars Daugavins riding the break away all the way down). You got 4 goals from 4 different Bruins. And "Rajon" Krejci showed up in a big way, with 3 points (1g/2a). And can anyone deny that the Merlot line showed up to play? That sequence where they kept the puck in Toronto's zone for 100 seconds, which led to Toronto's bad change. I was also impressed with the 3rd line. Watching Jagr skate circles around opponents, while fending them off with 1 hand and stick handling with the other, shows that though he may still have the milage, there isn't much rust. And there was no shortage of watching each other's backs.

I do have to hand it to Toronto. They came to play. Well, at least 19 of them came to play (right Phil?). The Leafs came in and scored quickly on that power play early in the game. And they were not afraid to go into the corners. One crossbar different, and this game could've had a very different outcome. It's for that reason that, though I am enjoying the win, I will remain tentative until after game 3. In Toronto, the Leafs get the last change and can pick and choose when they want to put their personnel out to avoid Z and Seidenberg.

A few notes from Wednesday's game:

-Did anyone notice, that when the 2nd and 3rd defense pairings were on the ice, when they retreated, they would both draw to the middle of the ice? I think this might haunt them, playing a team that likes to hang out by the wings with no one to press them against the boards

-The number of slap shots that the Bruins took from the point, that made it through to Reimer without any deflections, blocks or redirects. Both teams should improve on that when they are around the Toronto net

-Chris Kelly is a very merciful man. I like to think that if a guy ran on me after the horn and then gave me some face washes... That after I got in a few shots and got his shirt over his head, I'd just restrain him in a head lock. But no. I'd light him up. Kelly is a saint

-Lucic gave a post game interview with Kathryn Tappen of the NHL Network:

Tappen: "Milan, what was the mood like after Toronto scored a goal, so early in the game?"

Lucic: "It sucked." (long pause... looks left, looks right...) "uhhh... the air right out of the Garden." And people think that Tuukka is the only one that can make nice saves.

-I like the new 'player of the game' tradition. Instead of the 80's Starter jacket, it is now an U.S. Army camo jacket

 

[stevea20]

I've been away this week so I didn't get to see Game 1. Glad they came out strong and were able to score. Looks like it's going to be an exciting playoff season

I did get to see the hit on Eller - OUCH! That's a scary sight to see a guy gushing blood on the ice.

Looking forward to tonight, hopefully it will be a 2 game cushion.

 

[stevea20]

2 goals on 6 shots. That's what you call a period that didn't go your way.

The one thing I was concerned about when the matchup with the Leafs was set was that this would be the time Kessel would wake up against the B's. One goal may not be that, but hopefully it's all he gets.

The games in Toronto are going to be crazy. The Bruins better bring ALL their intensity.

 

[BDL]

It was a rough game for the Bruins Saturday night. It was almost a flash back to the way the B's were playing in the weeks leading up to the playoffs. Whiffing on open nets. Not keeping an eye out for juicy rebounds. And giving up, time after time, break away opportunies. There was very little that went right for the B's on Saturday. Choosing to have Dougie come in to fill in for the suspended Ferrence was 1. I can understand an argument can be made here. Give the kid some playoff experience. Everyone will second guess if we don't bring him up. But all it did was create chaos on all 3 D-pairs. Breaking up Z and Seidenberg was a big mistake. And it exposed Dougie, in how much mass he has to gain, to make an impactful hit. Another personnel move, that got my head scratching, was putting Peverley on the 3rd line, in lieu of Daugavins. I have been behind Pevs since he got here. But even I can't get on board with this 1. Daugavins-Kelly-Jagr had a pretty good game 1. Breaking them up made no sense to me.

But, not to take anything away from the Leafs, they played a great game. Their passing was crisp. They maintained the hitting. They're plays seemed to constantly get them through the neutral zone. And to me, it seemed like Toronto adopted a hybrid of the Caps' and Lightning's defensive styles. A pure zone defensive designed to keep the opposing team to the outside and then having all 5 collapse on the net when a shot is taken, with the man at the top of the zone ready to break out, if necessary.

I think we all saw how 1 person can make a difference in a game. And it doesn't have to be a headliner to do it. Lucky for Toronto, they won't have to find out. As of 9am, Dion Phanneuf has NOT been notified for a possible disciplinary hearing for his high hit against Paille. And now that the series has moved to Toronto, I can't imagine too many calls going the Bruins' way. Not so much as being Montreal-esque. But just the home ice advantage. Also, having a majority of Canada backing you to knock off the Bruins, doesn't hurt either (Nova Scotia is still in the B's corner )

Game 3 tonight. LET'S GO BRUINS! (clap clap clap-clap-clap)


PS: How great is it to see the passion of a full line brawl in the playoffs? Almost unheard of these days. Ottawa vs. Montreal seen HERE

By my count, I'd say Ott won the brawl 4-0-1.

 

[stevea20]

Great response by the Bruins tonight although that third period was nerve racking! They've got to carry the puck out of the zone because when they try to chip it out there's always a Leaf there to keep it in. Edwards describes the Leafs as "having intense bursts of energy" and the Bruins respond by running around unable to control the puck.

OK, enough negative. I loved the way the team banged and fought their way to that two goal lead. That's how they'll win this series and I was wild with the way they responded after Toronto's first goal(you could see it coming). Never saw a puck stick in the net as Hortons did. I never saw it go in. Then Paille with the great move to steal the puck from Kessel and pop in the SH goal.

Now, on to Game 4. The Bruins MUST continue to battle and hit anything in blue because, you know Toronto will be flying and fighting since they must win this game. I don't think the Leafs can come back from 3-1 down with two games at the Garden.

To the Habs-Sens match. BDL, if you didn't hear it, Felger agrees with you. Ottawa won all those fights in the brawl. I hope they keep it up.

 

[BDL]

Very impressive last night. Getting 3 of the 5 gaols from 3 unlikely sources. McQuaid, Peverley and Paille, all helped contribute to the win. With Horton hiding a puck under the back crossbar and Krejci finishing up with an empty netter. And Tuukka set a new personal record with 45 saves and turned away an incredible 90 second flurry that contained legit scoring chances, in the 2nd period.

It was a very back and forth 1st period. Both teams would go up the ice, take 3 shots and then turn the puck over in a break away; Repeat... That came to an end when Krejci won and offensive zone face-off to Horton, who fed it to Darth Quaider for the goal. When that happened, all of John Brewer's in Waltham erupted. At first glance, I thought (and laughed) that Phaneuf had deflected the puck into his own net. But it was all Quaider.

The next goal came about 5 min into the 2nd period. Jagr stole the puck, danced behind the Toronto net then hit Pevs just to the side of the net for a 2 - 0 lead. And speaking of Jagr, Fred Toucher, of Toucher and Rich on 98.5 does a funny bit where he impersonates Jagr. This morning, he enacted what was going through Jagr's head when he has the puck. "Out the way... Out the way... Out the way... Trickery." I laughed so hard in the car. Fear crept in, later in the same period when Jake Gardiner scored from the blue line. The mood in the bar kind of sunk... But only for a minute . Because 50 sec later, Lucic was hustling up the side, gets around 1 defender and feeds Horton right on the doorstep. Horton scored a goal that has redifined the term "roofing it." I had gotten really loud at this point. First, because I thought the puck had gone in, but the ref motioning with his hand, inside-out, instead of the "tomohawk" motion, so I though he was waving it off. Then I got louder when they officially called it a goal. It was also at this point, where BDLsgal commented on how loud I was. "You need to use your indoor yelling voice. Right now you're doing your outdoor yelling voice." That was hilarious. True, but hilarious. Paille made the score sheet when he intercepted Kessel's pass at Toronto's blue line and then beat Reimer, for a SH goal.

The 3rd period would begin with Kessel trying to redeem his role in the SH goal, when he banged in the loose puck into the open net. Giving Toronto fans hope (as seen outside the arena) and Bruins fans that eerily familiar "we've been here before" feeling. But, what this game also showed us (AGAIN) how valuable the 4th line is. Campbell winning his faceoffs. Paille giving the Leafs fits with his speed. And Thornton doing all the little things that don't make the stat sheets. They played an important part in the fact that there was no more scoring until Krejci banged home the empty netter. However, I think every Bruins fan everywhere yelled in unison "LIFT IT!!!!" when Thornton was driving to the net. But the puck got away from him at the last second.

Hopefully, the Bruins can keep up the intensity for the rest of the playoffs. And all the playoff serieses have been great. There has been underdog victories, real hatred and some great sudden death games. Every series, that is, except the 1 between the SJ Shraks and the soon to be swept Canucks. See you next year Green Guys.

To the Habs-Sens match. BDL, if you didn't hear it, Felger agrees with you. Ottawa won all those fights in the brawl. I hope they keep it up.

I did hear that. I listen to 98.5 regularly throughout the day. Do you think he will be happy now that there is no shortage of scoring (his 2nd biggest gripe with the Bruins) or that the "High Glass" line got a goal (his biggest gripe)?


In closing, does anyone think that THIS TOOL had the sign professionally made in the hopes of trying to market and profit from it?

 

[bellanotte10]

Yeah that guy wasn't thinking straight. But I think you're on to something. It did look way too nice to just be for him, unless he owns a sign printing company or something

 

[BDL]

If you do not have the NHL Network, I sugest you look into getting it or changing cable providers. Last night during their "Live Look In"s, we got to see, Ottawa tie the game with 30 seconds left. Tavares return to his MVP candidate form. And see San Jose tie the Canucks on their way to sweeping them.

3 out of the 4 games, last night, were just incredible.

ETA:

Don't know if anyone heard this, but THIS is about an evil 11 yr old girl.

 

[Disneylover99]

Well overtime sure had me screaming at my tv tonight!
Too bad about the Leaf's loss. They were playing a great game!
I know it will be very hard for the Leafs to come back at this point, but I'm gonna say it anyways......

Leafs in 7!!!!!
GO LEAFS GO!!!!!!!

 

[FayeW]

I'm a Senators fan, but I was still glad to see the Leafs finally make the playoffs this year. That said, Boston is my #2 team. With so many ex-Senators on the roster, how could I not cheer for them? I cheered for them when they won the cup over Vancouver, too. I said at the time "the only thing that would have made me happier watching Chris Kelley raise the cup was if he had still been in a Sens uniform when he did it!"

 

[BDL]

Where?

That's what I want to know. Where? WHERE? WHERE?!?!?!

...Has this David Krejci been? And why can't he do this during a Saturday matinee against the Florida Panthers?

A hat trick, including an OT game winner, where he just let the puck dangle as he skated along side. Or even his 1st goal, when he actually crashed the net. It happened so fast that I didn't even think Krejci was capapble of it. I kept looking to see if I was seeing the number right. But, yes... He is making me eat my words from the beginning of the season. Though I would still love to know where this player was from Jan to Apr.

And speaking of Jekyll and Hyde... The Bruins scored 2 power play goals. No, not in the entire playoffs. Not even just in 1 round. But in a single game. I think I'm starting to lose my grip on reality .

One thing this playoff series has taught me, it's that I really appreciate how the Leafs fans back their team the right way (with 1 OBVIOUS exception). They hang out, outside the arena, watching the game on the side of the building without a scuffle (or beer vendor ) in sight. And that serviceman that you have doing the anthems is incredible. And as a side benefit, (I attribute this DIRECTLY to both Toronto and Ottawa making a show of it in the playoffs) it seems that with the surge of other eastern Canada hockey teams, Montreal is no longer getting the gimme calls. And if the Sens put the Habs away tonight, any rhetoric coming out of Montreal may fall on deaf ears, for the near future.

Getting back to the fans, HERE is the video that has caused the biggest stir coming out of last night. Elisha Cuthbert and Mrs. Reimer. And to quell any rumors that there might be a a beef between them, April Reimer ( @april_reimer ) tweeted:

"For those who were thinkin @happyelishas and I were rolling our eyes @ eachother. Was the jerk beside us "

So there you go. But Puck Daddy had a great quote:

"But at the end, the two lock eyes and … well, it certainly seemed like a tension convention. And by that we mean we haven’t seen Cuthbert in that uncomfortable a stare down since that cougar.

Incidentally, nothing in that interaction is as awkward as Cam Neely blowing that last high five. C'mon Seabass..."

As for the video, I didn't notice this the first time I saw it, but BDLsgal pointed it out to me. Was that James Roday in the North Stars hat?

Sorry Leafs fans, but I hope the B's put them away tomorrow and the guys can get some rest while they see how the 2nd rd shapes up. I'll be at my Elks lodge where the beers and my swearing will be flowing freely. Don't worry hon... I'll try to remember to use my "indoor yelling voice".

 

[Disneylover99]

YES!!!!!! The Leafs are in it to win it!!!!
But that 3rd period power play by the Bruins nearly gave me a heart attack!!!

 

[LSmith]

GO LEAF'S GO!

That was brutal!