Stanley Cup Playoffs

MikeyFresh

MikeyFresh

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Hard to believe these two old-school rivals had not met in the post season for 42 years.
Also hard to believe the last time the Leafs had won their division was the '99-'00 season, and the last time Les Habitants (the NY Yankees of pro hockey) won Lord Stanley's Cup was 1993.

That playoff rivalry drought ended tonight with a fantastic game, decided by a spectacular shorthanded goal scored from the knees:

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35 Carey Price saves later, and the Canadiens hold a 1-0 series advantage.
 
Wow. I didn't even know the playoffs had started. Shows what a fair weather fan of the NHL I am. Since the Red Wings have become the Dead Things again, I have lost interest. I have always thought playoff intensity in hockey is the greatest of the 4 major sports. Since one goal can mean so much, the players are going all out all the time. I'll have to catch some on Hockey Night in Canada this weekend.
 
JoeThePop said:
Wow. I didn't even know the playoffs had started. Shows what a fair weather fan of the NHL I am. Since the Red Wings have become the Dead Things again, I have lost interest. I have always thought playoff intensity in hockey is the greatest of the 4 major sports. Since one goal can mean so much, the players are going all out all the time. I'll have to catch some on Hockey Night in Canada this weekend.
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The Red Wings did have a heck of a run though. I really like the first round match ups. It's true the stakes are higher the further along they go, but I like to think they have more energy and are less beaten up during the first round.
 
airdronian said:
The Red Wings did have a heck of a run though. I really like the first round match ups. It's true the stakes are higher the further along they go, but I like to think they have more energy and are less beaten up during the first round.
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Yeah they had a great run starting in the mid-90s. Before that though, when I was a young lad and into my 20s, they were known around these parts as the Dead Things. They were awful pretty much every year during that period.
 
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins tonight in Game 7 at Boston (8 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS, CBC).

There is a long storied history between these two Original Six bitter rivals, this is the 17th time they have met in the postseason. Though the Leafs had the better of it in winning 8 of the first 10 playoff series between the two teams, thats now ancient history recorded between 1933 and 1959, with 1959 being the last time Toronto managed to beat Boston in the postseason. The teams are even now at 8 post season series wins a piece.

Beyond just the Bruins being a thorn in the side of the Leafs, Toronto is also on a very long/painful to their fan base Stanley Cup drought, the last time they brought home the trophy was 1967.

Is this the year the Leafs get the monkey off their back? I personally wish them all the best tonight, as a New Yorker there is not one ounce of love lost for Boston in any pro sport whatsoever. My own New York Rangers, another Original Six team, were once cursed by a similar Cup drought between 1940 and 1994, finally slaying the dragon with the help of the great Messiah (Mark Messier).

A win tonight for Toronto would be great, but then I turn my back on them, as the Rangers were first in the regular season, New York are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders this year, and 1994 now seems like a very long time ago to me.

1959 Leafs.jpeg
From left: Toronto Maple Leafs’ Frank Mahovlich, Gerry Ehman, Bob Pulford and Billy Harris celebrate Ehman's overtime goal against the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup semifinal on March 28, 1959 at Maple Leaf Gardens.
 
MikeyFresh said:
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins tonight in Game 7 at Boston (8 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS, CBC).

There is a long storied history between these two Original Six bitter rivals, this is the 17th time they have met in the postseason. Though the Leafs had the better of it in winning 8 of the first 10 playoff series between the two teams, thats now ancient history recorded between 1933 and 1959, with 1959 being the last time Toronto managed to beat Boston in the postseason. The teams are even now at 8 post season series wins a piece.

Beyond just the Bruins being a thorn in the side of the Leafs, Toronto is also on a very long and painful to their fan base Stanley Cup drought, the last time they brought home the trophy was 1967.

Is this the year the Leafs get the monkey off their back? I personally wish them all the best tonight, as a New Yorker there is not one ounce of love lost for Boston in any pro sport whatsoever. My own New York Rangers, another Original Six team, were once cursed by a similar Cup drought between 1940 and 1994, finally slaying the dragon with the help of the great Messiah (Mark Messier).

A win tonight for Toronto would be great, but then I turn my back on them, as the Rangers were first in the regular season, New York are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders this year, and 1994 now seems like a very long time ago to me.

View attachment 78548
From left: Toronto Maple Leafs’ Frank Mahovlich, Gerry Ehman, Bob Pulford and Billy Harris celebrate Ehman's overtime goal against the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup semifinal on March 28, 1959 at Maple Leaf Gardens.
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With the Red Wings missing the playoffs again, I have been rooting for the Leafs. It's time.
 
billfort said:
I would LOVE a leaf loss tonight. Actually, my favorite team is whoever the leafs are playing...and I can't stand Boston. :)
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I'm actually surprised they've been able to force a Game 7 with their star center Auston Mathews out these past 2 games due to some undisclosed injury. The Athletic is reporting he only took part in 15 minutes of the morning skate and looked limited, as such he is not expected to play tonight.

I think you might just get your wish tonight, even though the Leafs have circled the wagons without Mathews, I don't think they can do it again a 3rd straight game, on the road, in a game 7.
 
airdronian said:
Getting beat with a set play. Now everyone else has seen it.
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I was listening to the NHL Network on Sirius/XM this morning, and I was surprised just how many callers to the show were wondering if it was a set play or not, the commentators assured all of them it most certainly was.
 
Set play? Might have been, but...

lindholm's dump-in had to get a lucky bounce off the boards right into the slot (check), Samsonov had to back off it, stay deep in the net and not play the puck (check). You needed a fast, good scorer to be on the way in full-boil like Pastrnak was (check), a great shot (check) and 3 or 4 leafs to half-heartedly watch it all happen (including Marner, check *3).

Even if set and practiced a lot, there was a lot of variables in there. Hockey can be fun to watch sometimes.
 
billfort said:
Set play? Might have been, but...

lindholm's dump-in had to get a lucky bounce off the boards right into the slot (check), Samsonov had to back off it, stay deep in the net and not play the puck (check). You needed a fast, good scorer to be on the way in full-boil like Pastrnak was (check), a great shot (check) and 3 or 4 leafs to half-heartedly watch it all happen (including Marner, check *3).

Even if set and practiced a lot, there was a lot of variables in there. Hockey can be fun to watch sometimes.
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Thats true and probably impossible except in your own home rink where you know more intimately how the puck comes off the boards. Still very difficult to execute, but it looked set to me and on the radio this morning they were talking about one camera angle that showed Pastrnak pointing with his stick as if to gesture where he wanted the puck to go just prior to taking off after it. In watching the replay I don't really see that clearly however, but it kinda looks like he does (watch the final closeup of him in the clip below).

Yes the Leafs seemed to be spectating there, and Samsonov would likely try to play the puck if he had it all back again, either that or don't stay deep in net, come out and try to check Pasternak's stick/stuff him.

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Pastrnak backhands OT winner | NHL.com

TOR@BOS R1, Gm7: Pastrnak delivers OT winner with dazzling backhand
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In the broadcast Hrudy pointed a finger at Samsonov for not playing it. I disagree, it happened fairly quickly and I don't think Samsonov likes to wander much.

I think that play was patented by the Sedins in VAN.
 
And the bourbon I had, after having a couple of beers at my brother’s 40th anniversary celebration, kicked in and I fell asleep during the intermission before OT.
I’m getting old.
 
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