Leafs Lose Game 2, Series Even Vs. Boston
It was a big day in Toronto sports, with the Raptors and the Leafs were both in the playoffs.
There were three possible scenarios.
1. Both teams win. The best case.
2. Only one of them wins. Still good enough.
3. Both lose. Ugh.
So it was No. 3. I am writing this during the second intermission of the Leafs' 4-1 loss to the Bruins.
I ended up finding out the score just before I started watching the game on demand (inadvertently, I might add). But I didn't mind it so much. It's the playoffs. I'll watch the Leafs on replay, win or loss, because I love the game, period.
The third period hasn't started at this writing, but here are my takeaways from the first 40 minutes.
Bruins Come Roaring Back
As well as we played to win the first game, the Bruins looked really flat. They are a far better team than that, and it didn't surprise me one bit that they came out with the guns blazing in Game 2.
There was no way these guys were going to go down 2-0 in the series on home ice. Their fans would have let them hear it, too. Coach Cassidy started the game with their fourth line centered by Acciari. Babs sent out his JT unit but immediately made change to another line.
Well, this was Babs up to his old tricks, trying to play the matchup game which ended up working right into Cassidy's hands. Babs didn't get caught up in this in the first game, which is one of the reasons why I think we won. But right from the opening face-off, Babcock got into a scramble mode.
What's wrong with playing your top line against their fourth line? I mean, Acciari's line maybe would have been really physical against our top unit. But did Babcock forget that JT and Marner were two of the best Leafs in Game 1 victory? Why doesn't he want his top dogs play against the other guys' fourth line? Those guys could throw their bodies and what have you, but eventually, our line's skills could have been the difference maker.
If I am the coach, well, I'd love for my first line to play against the opposing fourth line all game!
Bringing back the top dogs right after the face-off also sends a wrong message up and down the bench, if you ask me. Cassidy tried to set the tone early by having his physical guys on to start the game, and Babcock should have just trusted JT's line to get the job done against those grinders.
Benching Nylander?
Nylander had a pretty breakaway goal in Game 1 and had an assist on our lone goal in Game 2. Otherwise, he's been awful.
There were moments in this game when Nylander was just too soft and didn't look engaged. He made that terrible gaffe to gift-wrap the Bruins' third goal in the second period.
I wrote in my preview that Nylander was the one that had to step up his game because he had fresh legs and he has skills that can take this team over the top.
But no, he's played like his mind is somewhere else. At least we got a split on the road. If we had been down 2-0 in the series, I'd seriously consider scratching Nylander for Tyler Ennis in Game 3 on home ice.
But if we lose the third game and Nylander doesn't bounce back, well, Babcock could be doing this team a favor by sitting Nylander. He isn't ready to battle and do what it takes to win this time of the year.
Kadri at It Again
Oh man, Naz was at it again in this one, taking a foolish major penalty for cross-checking DeBrusk in the third after we'd made it 3-1 and won a bit of momentum back.
Now, Kadri and DeBrusk had been at it all game. Pushing, grabbing, shoving, yapping and even a knee-on-knee collision in the second that looked worse than it was.
Kadri took exception to DeBrusk's hard hit on Marleau along the boards. But the thing is, Marleau popped right up. He was fine. But Kadri took it upon himself to take revenge for his teammate, and did the Kadri thing again.
He got suspended for 3 games in last year's first round series for a stupid, meaningless check in Game 1. He's a repeat offender. Won't surprise me if he got suspended again this time.
There's a fine line between playing with an edge and letting your emotions get the better of you. Kadri may have thought he was trying to exact revenge for Marleau. But in essence, he was being extremely selfish. He had his personal agenda against DeBrusk.
And it was Kadri himself who'd scored the goal to get us back in the game. Why do such a stupid thing when we should have been pressing for another to make it a one-goal game?
The Bruins had a 5-minute power play, which just about covered the rest of the game, and got one PPG to seal the win.
What's Next
If you never watched these two games and saw the Leafs had a split on the road, you'd be tempted to say, "Hey, that's great. The Leafs should be happy with that split."
Well, no. It's one thing to lose on the road. This was was particularly deflating because we did lot of stupid things and we got pushed around really hard. In a perfect world, we'd be up 2-0 or tied at 1-1 after two well-played games.
If Kadri is suspended, well, that's a bit different story than scratching Nylander. We have a couple of wingers available who can step in for Nylander and play as well as, or better than, the Swede.
With Kadri gone, Nylander will likely slide into the center position on that third line and maybe Brown will get promoted to the RW spot there. Ennis or Petan (less likely) will see time on the fourth line in that case.
On the final note... I thought officiating was really bad in this one. Look, I understand this thing about the refs letting the guys play in the playoffs and swallowing their whistles and all that. But I think there comes a point when the refs have to step in and start policing the game. In this one, there were some blatant roughing, interference, high-sticking, etc, etc.
We saw lots of extracurricular activities after the whistle because, well, the guys were pushing their limits and trying to see how far they could go before calls started getting made. Playoff games do tend to be officiated more loosely but, man, these refs have to start earning their keep, too.
There were three possible scenarios.
1. Both teams win. The best case.
2. Only one of them wins. Still good enough.
3. Both lose. Ugh.
So it was No. 3. I am writing this during the second intermission of the Leafs' 4-1 loss to the Bruins.
I ended up finding out the score just before I started watching the game on demand (inadvertently, I might add). But I didn't mind it so much. It's the playoffs. I'll watch the Leafs on replay, win or loss, because I love the game, period.
The third period hasn't started at this writing, but here are my takeaways from the first 40 minutes.
Bruins Come Roaring Back
As well as we played to win the first game, the Bruins looked really flat. They are a far better team than that, and it didn't surprise me one bit that they came out with the guns blazing in Game 2.
There was no way these guys were going to go down 2-0 in the series on home ice. Their fans would have let them hear it, too. Coach Cassidy started the game with their fourth line centered by Acciari. Babs sent out his JT unit but immediately made change to another line.
Well, this was Babs up to his old tricks, trying to play the matchup game which ended up working right into Cassidy's hands. Babs didn't get caught up in this in the first game, which is one of the reasons why I think we won. But right from the opening face-off, Babcock got into a scramble mode.
What's wrong with playing your top line against their fourth line? I mean, Acciari's line maybe would have been really physical against our top unit. But did Babcock forget that JT and Marner were two of the best Leafs in Game 1 victory? Why doesn't he want his top dogs play against the other guys' fourth line? Those guys could throw their bodies and what have you, but eventually, our line's skills could have been the difference maker.
If I am the coach, well, I'd love for my first line to play against the opposing fourth line all game!
Bringing back the top dogs right after the face-off also sends a wrong message up and down the bench, if you ask me. Cassidy tried to set the tone early by having his physical guys on to start the game, and Babcock should have just trusted JT's line to get the job done against those grinders.
Benching Nylander?
Nylander had a pretty breakaway goal in Game 1 and had an assist on our lone goal in Game 2. Otherwise, he's been awful.
There were moments in this game when Nylander was just too soft and didn't look engaged. He made that terrible gaffe to gift-wrap the Bruins' third goal in the second period.
I wrote in my preview that Nylander was the one that had to step up his game because he had fresh legs and he has skills that can take this team over the top.
But no, he's played like his mind is somewhere else. At least we got a split on the road. If we had been down 2-0 in the series, I'd seriously consider scratching Nylander for Tyler Ennis in Game 3 on home ice.
But if we lose the third game and Nylander doesn't bounce back, well, Babcock could be doing this team a favor by sitting Nylander. He isn't ready to battle and do what it takes to win this time of the year.
Kadri at It Again
Oh man, Naz was at it again in this one, taking a foolish major penalty for cross-checking DeBrusk in the third after we'd made it 3-1 and won a bit of momentum back.
Now, Kadri and DeBrusk had been at it all game. Pushing, grabbing, shoving, yapping and even a knee-on-knee collision in the second that looked worse than it was.
Kadri took exception to DeBrusk's hard hit on Marleau along the boards. But the thing is, Marleau popped right up. He was fine. But Kadri took it upon himself to take revenge for his teammate, and did the Kadri thing again.
He got suspended for 3 games in last year's first round series for a stupid, meaningless check in Game 1. He's a repeat offender. Won't surprise me if he got suspended again this time.
There's a fine line between playing with an edge and letting your emotions get the better of you. Kadri may have thought he was trying to exact revenge for Marleau. But in essence, he was being extremely selfish. He had his personal agenda against DeBrusk.
And it was Kadri himself who'd scored the goal to get us back in the game. Why do such a stupid thing when we should have been pressing for another to make it a one-goal game?
The Bruins had a 5-minute power play, which just about covered the rest of the game, and got one PPG to seal the win.
What's Next
If you never watched these two games and saw the Leafs had a split on the road, you'd be tempted to say, "Hey, that's great. The Leafs should be happy with that split."
Well, no. It's one thing to lose on the road. This was was particularly deflating because we did lot of stupid things and we got pushed around really hard. In a perfect world, we'd be up 2-0 or tied at 1-1 after two well-played games.
If Kadri is suspended, well, that's a bit different story than scratching Nylander. We have a couple of wingers available who can step in for Nylander and play as well as, or better than, the Swede.
With Kadri gone, Nylander will likely slide into the center position on that third line and maybe Brown will get promoted to the RW spot there. Ennis or Petan (less likely) will see time on the fourth line in that case.
On the final note... I thought officiating was really bad in this one. Look, I understand this thing about the refs letting the guys play in the playoffs and swallowing their whistles and all that. But I think there comes a point when the refs have to step in and start policing the game. In this one, there were some blatant roughing, interference, high-sticking, etc, etc.
We saw lots of extracurricular activities after the whistle because, well, the guys were pushing their limits and trying to see how far they could go before calls started getting made. Playoff games do tend to be officiated more loosely but, man, these refs have to start earning their keep, too.
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