Interesting. Brandon Carlo is a great guy. I saw him regularly because we both had dogs in the same part of Boston. And we both have a Bernese Mountain Dog
- RickJames77

I’m really enjoying his play.

These stats compared between this team and last year are not that encouraging.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...es-heading-into-playoffs/

Looks like the biggest difference between the Leafs last year and this year is that their goalies were stronger and the division got weaker. Everything else though, doesn't bode well for the idea that Berube has made this team better.

Leafs scored way less goals this year and allowed way fewer but the goal differential was basically the same. Again, better defending or just better goaltending? Giveaways are astronomically higher, takeaways are lower, 5v5 and possession numbers are all way worse.

Way fewer hits, same blocked shots and special teams the same; which most agreed needed to be way better to succeed in the playoffs.

The Leafs are going to have to take full advantage of the easier 1st round match-up for once and hope their shooting % takes a timely spike (and SV% stays sky high) because this team might not actually be better than ones we have seen in the past.
- Rare_Jewel

Matthews injury and going from scoring almost 70 to barely getting 30 is about a 30 goal drop right there. I think this team is much better than last year, especially defensively. Seeing Laughton on the 4th line instead of Kampf is all I need to see to know this team is better than last years team. Curious to know about puck possession as the team with the puck is usually not the team doing the hitting. Not sure i agree the division got weaker.

Tyler Bertuzzi – Auston Matthews – Max Domi
Matthew Knies – John Tavares – Mitch Marner
Nick Robertson – Pontus Holmberg – Calle Jarnkrok
Connor Dewar – David Kampf – Ryan Reaves

Morgan Rielly – Ilya Lyubushkin
Simon Benoit – Jake McCabe
Joel Edmundson – Timothy Liljegren

Our starting line up for game 1 last year. Does anyone actually think we aren't better this year?

Brandon Carlo - 83 games played this year
- Canada Cup

I think that same thing happened to Gilmour when he got traded from Calgary, and the sched was 82 and he played 84 or something like that.

Tyler Bertuzzi – Auston Matthews – Max Domi
Matthew Knies – John Tavares – Mitch Marner
Nick Robertson – Pontus Holmberg – Calle Jarnkrok
Connor Dewar – David Kampf – Ryan Reaves

Morgan Rielly – Ilya Lyubushkin
Simon Benoit – Jake McCabe
Joel Edmundson – Timothy Liljegren

Our starting line up for game 1 last year. Does anyone actually think we aren't better this year?
- systemtool

And that's without looking at the goalies!

I was just thinking, that'd be kinda neat if the Bruins missed the playoffs for the next 15 years.

I was just thinking, that'd be kinda neat if the Bruins missed the playoffs for the next 15 years.
- Zezel

Wishing anyone be like the Sabres is just cruel.

And that's without looking at the goalies!
- Zezel

I was just thinking, that'd be kinda neat if the Bruins missed the playoffs for the next 15 years.
- Zezel

After all of these years, I still can't understand the hatred some Leafs fans have for the Broons.

Like, is it because we had that epic collapse all those years ago? Is it because the Bs actually know how to hockey in the post-season and the Leafs have fizzled?

Just don't get it.

After all of these years, I still can't understand the hatred some Leafs fans have for the Broons.

Like, is it because we had that epic collapse all those years ago? Is it because the Bs actually know how to hockey in the post-season and the Leafs have fizzled?

Just don't get it.
- mjones242

I just don't like their stupid jerkoff faces.

Tyler Bertuzzi – Auston Matthews – Max Domi
Matthew Knies – John Tavares – Mitch Marner
Nick Robertson – Pontus Holmberg – Calle Jarnkrok
Connor Dewar – David Kampf – Ryan Reaves

Morgan Rielly – Ilya Lyubushkin
Simon Benoit – Jake McCabe
Joel Edmundson – Timothy Liljegren

Our starting line up for game 1 last year. Does anyone actually think we aren't better this year?
- systemtool

We are significantly better than last year. We are significantly better than we've been in decades.

It will be interesting to see the lines for the opener. For me, Jarnkrok and Kampf sit, Robertson and Patchy Patch in.
- winsix

I'd have Patches and Jarnkrok out, Kampf and Robertson in. Patches can come in later.

"Ottawa has the grit and toughness to edge the Leafs; and maybe the better goaltender in Linus Ullmark.

Prediction — Ottawa in 7"

Really getting tired of this narrative....what is it based on?

I'd have Patches and Jarnkrok out, Kampf and Robertson in. Patches can come in later.
- fifty__missions

We'll see, the one point would be that Holmberg and Laughton look like they are in at #3 and #4C, Kampf is not the winger that will punish the Sens d-men. He's faster than Patchy for sure.

We'll see, the one point would be that Holmberg and Laughton look like they are in at #3 and #4C, Kampf is not the winger that will punish the Sens d-men. He's faster than Patchy for sure.
- winsix

I want Kampf available for killing penalties. Enough of Matthews killing. Our PK is bottom of the league. It will kill us if our PK performs like it has. We need to absolutely win the special teams component of the series.

I want Kampf available for killing penalties. Enough of Matthews killing. Our PK is bottom of the league. It will kill us if our PK performs like it has. We need to absolutely win the special teams component of the series.
- fifty__missions

Our issue is more our PP and lack of offense. If our PP catches lightening in a bottle Leafs win easy. Let Lorentz, Marner, Holmberg, Laughton run the PK. Special teams will be a huge factor for sure but so too our 5 on 5 scoring and Kampf doesn't help there either. Don't want a guy in there to just kill penalties. Patches is more well rounded for our playoff needs imo.

Our issue is more our PP and lack of offense. If our PP catches lightening in a bottle Leafs win easy. Let Lorentz, Marner, Holmberg, Laughton run the PK. Special teams will be a huge factor for sure but so too our 5 on 5 scoring and Kampf doesn't help there either. Don't want a guy in there to just kill penalties. Patches is more well rounded for our playoff needs imo.
- systemtool

I actually feel pretty good about our PP going into the playoffs. It's a different unit this year. Discount how bad our PK has been at your own peril. It absolutely needs to be better than it's been all year.

I actually feel pretty good about our PP going into the playoffs. It's a different unit this year. Discount how bad our PK has been at your own peril. It absolutely needs to be better than it's been this year.
- fifty__missions

Not sure i follow how the Unit is different this year...still same 4 guys running it. Not discounting the PK but going off the last many runs with this core it's nearly always coming short offensively. The addictions of Laughton and Carlo have improved the PK imo.

Our issue is more our PP and lack of offense. If our PP catches lightening in a bottle Leafs win easy. Let Lorentz, Marner, Holmberg, Laughton run the PK. Special teams will be a huge factor for sure but so too our 5 on 5 scoring and Kampf doesn't help there either. Don't want a guy in there to just kill penalties. Patches is more well rounded for our playoff needs imo.
- systemtool

I think the Leafs PP since Jan 1 is third in the NHL behind only Vegas and the Wings. Matthews looking reasonably healthy, and he was not that at the start of the season. He missed 15 games and was not 100% for a good stretch to start. That said, I don't expect many PP opportunities for the Leafs. Leafs were 17th in the NHL in PP opportunities this season, Sens (with a plethora of divers and fakers) were 1st in the NHL.

Not sure i follow how the Unit is different this year...still same 4 guys running it
- systemtool

5 forwards. Marner, not Rielly running it. Lots of puck movement and player rotation. Far less predictable. Knies netfront presence.

Serious question. Have you not been watching??

5 forwards. Marner, not Rielly running it. Lots of puck movement. Far less predictable. Knies netfront presence.

Serious question. Have you not been watching??
- fifty__missions

That's about the same as last season and the PP still goes through Marner as always. It's hardly different at all. I've been watching just not sure how 5 guys that played the PP last year and play it this year has made it different. same as always lots of puck movement, leading to turn overs, never enough shots on net.

That's about the same as last season and the PP still goes through Marner as always. It's hardly different at all. I've been watching just not sure how 5 guys that played the PP last year and play it this year has made it different. same as always lots of puck movement, leading to turn overs, never enough shots on net.
- systemtool

I think we see the game very differently.

I think we see the game very differently.
- fifty__missions

I think so. Last season top 4 players in pp were matthews tavares marner and Nylander. same as this year. Rielly dropped from 5th most to 6th most pp time and Knies getting more PP time is the only legitimate difference. It's really not much different.

I think the Leafs PP since Jan 1 is third in the NHL behind only Vegas and the Wings. Matthews looking reasonably healthy, and he was not that at the start of the season. He missed 15 games and was not 100% for a good stretch to start. That said, I don't expect many PP opportunities for the Leafs. Leafs were 17th in the NHL in PP opportunities this season, Sens (with a plethora of divers and fakers) were 1st in the NHL.
- winsix

The Leafs PP in the playoffs is what scares me. Leafs can't let Tkachuk get in their heads. Make him be the one taking stupid penalties.

The Leafs PP in the playoffs is what scares me. Leafs can't let Tkachuk get in their heads. Make him be the one taking stupid penalties.
- systemtool

Tkachuk will be playing hurt, he scored less points than Knies this season. Leafs should be finishing every check on Tkachuk. Leafs are far superior at 5 on 5 hockey, and over 85% of the game will be played 5 on 5. Leafs were 7th best in the NHL and Sens were 19th in 5 on 5 situations. If you're curious about 4 on 4 hockey, Leafs were 2nd in the NHL, Sens were 22nd.