Équipe: 2022-23 Maple Leafs de Toronto

Date de création initiale: 19 avr. 2023

Publié: 19 avr. 2023

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

It sucked. From top to bottom, everything about that game sucked. The Leafs coaching, the Leafs discipline, the Leafs effort. Everything about that game aside from Matthews, Marner, Rielly, and O'Reilly sucked. It's yet another repeat chapter in the Leafs long line of playoff failure. Now, obviously one game does not dictate an entire series (i.e Tampa lost 5 - 0 in Game 1 last year), but there were parts of that game that I think do warrant some worrying. Also, I am not going to talk about the officiating because that was classic playoff officiating. We can sit here and cry all day, but lets be honest, it happens to everyone. I was just as angry as any other Leafs fan last night, but we have the Leafs to blame for that loss, not the officials.

Now, let's talk about the thing that worries me most following that Game 1 loss: Sheldon Keefe. I tend to give Keefe the benefit of the doubt because he has coached this team to 2 straight 100+ point seasons, one of which was the single best regular season in Leafs history. After last night though, I am very concerned. First off, why structure the lineup in that way? Removing Jarnkrok from line 1? Why?? We had seen Jarnkrok flourish next to Matthews for a large part of the regular season. When he's on that top line, he is hugely impactful. Chalk it up to playing next to Matthews all you want, but he contributes very well. So keeping that in mind, it is only right that Keefe REMOVES Jarnkrok from the top line and plugs him into the third line where he has not contributed nearly as much, right? Then, deciding to move Tavares on the wing and play him with OReilly was also just a dumb decision. When we iced those two alongside Marner against Buffalo, it worked extremely well. But suddenly, it just stopped, and then we eventually had ROR centering the third line (which worked very well). So again, why does Keefe revert back to these lines that don't work? Plus, to insert a loose cannon like Bunting onto the first line in a playoff series was just stupid. We talked about Bunting's antics at length in the Leafs forums, and sure enough, his stupidity cost us any chance at getting back into the game. Keefe removed a winger that worked on the top line and replaced him with a guy that is prone to taking penalties against the TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING, A TEAM WITH KUCHEROV, POINT, STAMKOS, AND HEDMAN. It made no sense, and sure enough, blew up in our face. Then, when Jarnkrok was reunited with Matthews, he scored. Who could've seen that coming? Oh right, literally anyone that watched about 5 Leafs games this season. Plus, giving Acciari more 5v5 ice time than Matthews... It is so annoying just how poorly Keefe coached this game. The right lines could not be more clear, but no, let's go a different route to kick off the first stretch of games that actually matter. Starting the fourth line on home ice was another dumb thing. They got absolutely fed by the Lightning fourth line and got us down early in the game. Also the challenge on the Perry goal was just dumb. You gifted the Lightning a 2 man advantage. That was beyond stupid. One can only wonder what was going through Keefe's head, if anything even was.

The second concern I had was the discipline of the Leafs. Call the officiating bad all you want, but nearly every call against the Leafs (aside from the Kampf slash) was a penalty. Even if they were weak calls, they were penalties. But you know what? The Leafs actually fought really hard. The PK prior to the Nylander goal was excellent, and built momentum that led to a PP which led to a goal. It is just a fact that you are going to take penalties in games. Get used to it. What separates the winners from the losers is how you respond to those penalties, and the Leafs looked like winners when responding. Then of course, Bunting threw away a 3 - 2 game with one of the single dumbest plays I've seen a Leaf make in the playoffs since Kadri. That illegal check to the head on Cernak ensured our loss. Not only were we down a forward, but we know had to kill off a 5 minute major. Then, the Lightning scored 3, and what was once a 1 goal game was now a 4 goal game. We had everything trending in our favor momentum wise with only 1 goal to make up for in a game with lots of hockey left. Michael Bunting cost us that game. Yes, we had a bad start, but we responded. There was no coming back from that major though. It killed all momentum, set us back in the score, and made us 1 skater shorter. I still can't believe that play. If that is Bunting's last game as a Leaf then so be it. What an idiotic move.

The last concern I have is in regards to the effort of the Leafs, mainly in the first few minutes of the game. We cannot let ourselves have starts that bad period, let alone against a team like the Lightning. There isn't much to say about this point because after the start, we actually gave a pretty solid effort. It sucks that we were already down 2 - 0 by the time the Leafs had any life, but it was a positive sign. Then the Bunting penalty happened and the Leafs just gave up.

For Game 2, I'd like to see Knies draw in. I've seen some practice lines on Twitter, and they look improved, but the real killer is going to be how those lines are deployed. I also don't love Kerfoot being in the top 6, but it's whatever. Atleast he won't go headhunting. Also, the practice lines going around have had Gio and Holl dressed as the second pairing, but I want both of them sat. I'd like to see Liljegren and Gus given looks, even though they won't be extended that opportunity. The lineup I put together in this ACGM isn't a prediction, but what I think the best lines would be. With the inclusion of Knies, I think he should be played with Nylander. Him paired with OReilly and Nylander worked really well, but most of that had to do with Nylander. His puck moving ability and intellect to make plays just made it work for Knies. I find Kerfoot too passive to be on a line with Tavares and Nylander. Pairing him with some physical guys in ROR and Acciari is the way to do. And yes, I think Sammy should start.