Morphinity 2.0 Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 (2A) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3A) Tampa Bay Lightning REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Maple Leafs: 54-21-7, 115 points Lightning: 51-23-8, 110 points SEASON SERIES: TOR 2-2-0; TBL 2-1-1 GAME BREAKERS: Maple Leafs: Matthews led the NHL in goals with 60 and even-strength goals with 44. The center led the Maple Leafs in points with 106, nine more than Marner. The 24-year-old scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in three games against the Lightning this season. Lightning: Stamkos scored a hat trick in a 6-4 victory against the New York Islanders on Friday. The forward's 33 points in April are the most by a Lightning player in a calendar month and the most by any NHL skater in a month since Mario Lemieux had 34 in December 1995. GOALTENDING: Maple Leafs: Jack Campbell rebounded from a midseason swoon to win eight of his final nine starts. The 30-year-old represented the Maple Leafs at the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas and finished 31-9-6 with a 2.64 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and an NHL career-high five shutouts. Rookie Erik Kallgren was relied upon to back up after Petr Mrazek was sidelined with a groin injury last month, going 8-4-1 with a 3.31 GAA, .888 save percentage and one shutout. Mrazek resumed skating last week but there is no timetable for his return. Lightning: Despite showing some inconsistency down the stretch, Andrei Vasilevskiy tied Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky for most wins in the NHL (39) and had a 2.49 GAA, .916 save percentage and two shutouts. He has won 34 postseason games in the past two seasons. Veteran Brian Elliott (11-4-3, 2.43 GAA, .912 save percentage, one shutout) is a solid backup. X FACTORS: Maple Leafs: Getting Bunting back is key after he led all NHL rookies in points during the regular season with 63 (23 goals, 40 assists). Just as important is the sandpaper and feistiness he brings to the top line, goading opponents into penalties and creating space in the offensive zone for Marner and Matthews. Lightning: Nick Paul has been a revelation since being acquired in a trade with the Senators, scoring 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 21 games with the Lightning after scoring 18 points (11 goals, seven assists) in 59 games with the Senators. The Lightning knew they were getting a physical forward in the March 20 trade, but Paul has shown the type of secondary scoring that is so vital in the playoffs. WILL WIN IF: Maple Leafs: They can get out of their own way. As daunting a task as it is facing the powerhouse Lightning in the first round, this edition of the Maple Leafs is the most skilled one in a long time. Consider this: 13 players set NHL career highs in points this season. But recent postseason history shows the Maple Leafs have been unable to match their success once playoff time comes around. A year ago, for example, Matthews and Marner, their leading scorers, combined for one goal (by Matthews) in seven games in the series against the Canadiens. The talent is there but so is the pressure of playoff failures past. It's a mental obstacle they need to overcome. Lightning: They can smother the Maple Leafs' high-octane power play. Playoff series often are determined by the special team battles, and this one should be no different. Toronto had the NHL's top power play (27.3 percent), led by Matthews (16 power-play goals) and William Nylander (13), so Tampa Bay's penalty killers will be put to the test. The Lightning ranked 11th in penalty kill (80.6 percent) and scored seven shorthanded goals this season, five less than the league-leading Maple Leafs. MORE: https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-tampa-bay-lightning-first-round-playoff-series-preview/c-333638354?tid=333423736 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Lightning in seven. Leafs go on full scale suicide watch this summer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Toronto is due for a win. tampa is due for a series loss. im betting based on that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Falco Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Bolts in 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-ERIK- Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Think Leafs finally win a series Tampa due a loss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 19 minutes ago, josh said: Toronto is due for a win. tampa is due for a series loss. im betting based on that. I completely agree, but against each other, I have a very difficult time putting any confidence behind this. Almost any other series matchup and I'd be right there with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Poor Toronto lol. Tampa in 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Tampa sweep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Tampa starting to play better, and Toronto has to battle their own playoff demons as well as the Lightning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Tampa in 7. Matthews requests trade over the summer... But Nylander moved at the draft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 TBL in 7. Just too hot down the stretch and all their playoffs experience will kick them into another gear. Although I could see TOR somehow pulling this off and going on a deep run if they get that monkey off their back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-ERIK- Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 dirty hit,puck was long gone Snapped him against boards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 20 minutes ago, jsrangers said: That’s one way to get a series going… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 They are losing but Vasy looks very in form. This is the Leafs best and Tampa isn’t even remotely clicking yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 12 minutes ago, Keirik said: They are losing but Vasy looks very in form. This is the Leafs best and Tampa isn’t even remotely clicking yet. This is far from the Leafs best. They're still overplaying the game so far, probably still feeling the nerves and excitement from the home crowd. They still have another couple gears. Marner and Matthews haven't even gotten going yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 6 minutes ago, Karan said: This is far from the Leafs best. They're still overplaying the game so far, probably still feeling the nerves and excitement from the home crowd. They still have another couple gears. Marner and Matthews haven't even gotten going yet. Ok let me clarify what I mean. I’m saying in terms of effort. They are feeding off the crowd and buzzing on every shift. Tampa looks a bit too casual thus far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Refs are not calling this like a playoff game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 107th Powerplay coming up of the game. I hope this crew does our games lol 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Damn and now a SHG for TOR. All Leafs so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Think the Leafs just won the cup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Same in Carolina! same here tomorrow night if we jump out early to a big lead 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 4 minutes ago, Keirik said: Think the Leafs just won the cup Watch them lose the next game 8-2. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 108th penalty lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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