The Lightning face a must-win scenario as they head up to Toronto for Game 5. The two biggest issues that have plagued the Bolts this series have been the suspect defense, along with a failure to play a full 60 minutes. Tampa suffered two straight late-game-tying goals that led to overtime losses. Adam discusses the serious Achilles heal, as well as a deeper dive into expectations for Andrei Vasilevkiy in the do-or-die Game 5.
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24 Comments
No
As the Leafs fan I hope for the best and prepared for the worst.
They can, they were better team 3 games out of 4.
The Leafs has a very long list of failures in playoffs and even this teams is better than all previous team I am far from sure
they can change it this time.
If they don’t get gassed out in the 3rd period, wins faceoffs, taking dumb penalties and Vasy becomes elite again… might get a chance.
But I think Toronto got it this time… sorry (not a leaf fan)
Vasi did fine. The leafs got incredible screens and tips in a way you can't really expect a goalie to save a team from. It's 100% on the defense and defensive pressure, which got caved in.
It got caved in for a simple reason; you hear it from the team in game, you hear it in the coaches complaining, and you hear it from the fans including yourself.
The bolts thought they had it, thought they deserved it, and I spite of all the evidence to the contrary, they thought the leafs couldn't put anything up. The leafs, just like the bolts, are capable of failing to hold or over taking a 3 goal lead in 12 minutes. Both teams have all the evidence, it's just the bolts have too much arrogance to appreciate what the leafs know all too well.
The bolts should know this. They got a preview right before the season ended. The leafs held back all their key players and trotted out every reserve they had and kicked in the bolts teeth. They were shown they had to take the current leafs team serious. They failed to and had two games stolen from the.
Like you said, the final buzzer isn't buzzing, but the HAVE to wake up and take the leafs seriously. They've been shown they have to in back to back embarrassments. Lets see if they learned.
Game 5 is going to see a lot of dirty hits, I predict. Unlike last year the leafs won't cave. Once again the bolts have all the evidence that playing a "what can we get away with" game will leave them more battle scarred than it's worth. The leafs have all the reason to play it clean, they are keeping bunting benched for just that reason. But, we'll see. I predict a bruiser of a game, although I'd rather see skill be the decider.
We don't need to make excuses. Vasy and Hedman went from best at their position to outside of the top 5….. And Hedman far below that.
That's the difference with this team. Those 2 have dropped off.
Doesn't mean defense can't be better or some forwards, but the dropoff from those 2 is too large to overcome.
I will say our Defense hasn’t been the same this season as in the past. Guys were throwing their body’s in front of the puck and making a bunch of stops. If we get back to doing that we can win it. Let’s Go Bolts!!!!
I think we should give the Toronto offence more credit. Lets look at Vassy's numbers in the playoffs the last few years.
Vs TOR:
2021/22 GP: 7 GA:22 GAA: 3.04 Sav%: .897
2022/23 GP: 4 GA: 19 GAA: 4.33 Sav%: .856
Vs FLA:
2020/21 GP: 6 GA: 16 GAA: 2.64 Sav%: .929
2021/22 GP: 4 GA: 3 GAA: 0.75 Sav%: .981
Vs NYR:
2021/22 GP: 6 GA: 14 GAA: 2.35 Sav%: .919
Vs COL:
2021/22 GP 6 GA: 20 GAA: 3.23 Sav%: .905
Vs NYI:
2020/21 GP: 7 GA:11 GAA: 1.59 Sav%: .940
Vs CAR:
2020/21 GP: 5 GA: 9 GAA: 1.77 Sav%: .940
Vs MTL:
2020/21 GP: 5 GA: 8 GAA: 1.58 Sav%: 9.43
it looks like there is a pretty significant difference between TOR and the rest of the teams they've faced the last few years. is it possible that TOR has found Vassy or the team defenders weakness?
im curious to see how the rest of this series unfolds, but like i said gotta give TOR offence some more credit, they've found a way to get the puck in the net, time and time again. They have used a lot of point shots with screens and deflections to beat Vassy.
im also concerned if he is really tired and thats the excuse for his "Poor" play, hes been given the opportunity to rest throughout the season but hasn't really. Also in that game two Cooper said he wanted to pull vassy, but he was told no. I don't think hes tired, i wont believe thats the reason his play in this series has been subpar.
Lightning underestimated the new Leafs squad
Toronto has to win this. We can't suffer to blow another 3-1 series lead.
You had a great run and you have a good team,but hey. It all comes to an end. Time for a younger fresher more scientific Toronto maple leafs. This year is their year.
Nothing but respect for the lightning. What they've done in this decade has been incredible, something we might not see again in a long time. With that said please just let us have this one thing
Its not so much that vasy is in decline as he is facing the leafs…tsn made a graph after game 4 about vasy facing the leafs vs facing every1 else and his stats were similar against the leafs and avs but were still elite against everybody else…leafs and avs have 2 elite offensive lines on their sqaud and i dont care who you are you’re gonna struggle facing them over and over again in a 7 game series…but series is not done…leafs need 1 more win and thats the hardest one to get…
as a leaf fan i know its not over tell its over lol and even then
Last season leafs raked up 186 pm in 7 games haha they way below that number refs really were a factor
Leaf fan here. This is crazy talk about Lightning being cooked.. Lets not forget that LEafs won 2 games in OT so this could easily be 3-1 from TB. Also Leaf fans know what TB has done and what the Leafs have not done in the past. If anything, if you see over exuberance from Leaf fans its because we are enjoying the moment that we know could easily be taken away. Sure TB might not be as good and this Leafs team finally has some playoff players. My take on the series so far…if Vassy or Dmen was just a little bit better with those long shots this is a different series.
I think the #1 thing no one is talking about is the face off % between these two teams. To is killing it compared to Tampa, especially as the series has gone on. If Tampa can start gaining more especially in dzone draws they will do a lot better. If they can't do that they're done. Also they TB players seems to be running out of gas the longer the game goes on. I personally hope that they blow it and the Leafs win, but thats just my opinion.
Win or lose they will go home regardless.
Bunting is a disgrace. totally unfair. cernak is so key. (and im a leaf fan).
What more can you say about the Lightning, they've been the best team in the league for the past 3-4 years and you can never count them out. But Toronto's youngsters seem to have FINALLY figured it out and the additions of O'Reilly, Acciari, Schenn, McCabe, Lafferty and rookie phenom Matthew Knies might have given this Leafs team what they need to finally take a deep run at a cup. Boston should be the next round opponent, and definitely their toughest task this playoff year. If the Leafs get out of the 2nd round, plan the damn parade because they are for sure better than any team that will represent the west in a Stanley Cup final. And yes, I believe the Leafs are better than NYR, NJ and CAR should they meet in the Conference Final.
Toronto is a strange team. They can get filled in against Chicago and then destroy a top ranked team. If Toronto can weather the first 10 minutes, the series is over.
Congrats on your very thoughtful and rational perspective of the series going into game 5. I’m a Leaf fan and this is the best analysis i have seen. Hoping the game tonight is close and competitive. Normally the Leafs don’t play well ( choke) when under pressure at home… and they are under tremendous pressure from TO fans and media to end it. Will be very interesting
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I thought this was America! 🤣🤣
Frankenstein is getting lit up blocker side every goal there defence is weak Toronto hasnt even woken up yet playing horrible except game 2, Tampa should be up 3 1