Round 1 Bruins-Leafs

[cshea]

If you ditch the rotation because of the extra day off, you ditch it for the duration because you are making a definitive statement about your confidence.

And Ullmark has done nothing to shake confidence in his play. They lost game two because of stuff outside the blue paint, not in it.

I'm also firmly in the camp that sees these goalies as better individually because they are not alone carrying the burden.

If the Bruins go into game six with a 3-2 lead and two Ullmark losses, I'll reconsider. Until then, I'd just stick with the rotation.

It's not strictly because of the day off. That's just one of the variables in the equation. But it makes it a bit easier since some of the concern with not rotating is fatigue. If Swayman starts, it'll be 2 games in 4 days. That's not unusual, they have 3 games in 4 nights during the regular season where one of them has to play 2. Also, it's a small sample but when Swayman played consecutive games this year he posted a .923 save percentage in the second game.

I don't have a strong preference and agree with @kenneycb that it's probably 51/49 but I would lean Swayman. If it doesn't go well or they see a dip, there's nothing stopping them from using Ullmark in game 5.

 

[wiffleballhero]

I don't want my goalies playing with the implied threat that if they let in a soft one, the twitchy coaching staff is going to bench them.

I also think these goalies have shown that they can excel in the situation where they are not carrying the whole load, probably because of both the physical and psychological toll. This alone tips things, for me, to sticking to the rotation.

Swayman has played a couple nice games, but Ullmark played fine in game 2, and was playing great in the build-up.

This seems like way less of an issue than the questions around how to make a sausage out of the 120 individual defensive minutes you need to cover when you can't run McAvoy, Carlo and Lindholm out for 40 each.

 

[cornwalls@6]

Keefe going full Berube is exactly the game plan most teams have against the Bruins in the playoffs, because it works.

The Bruins absolutely have to fire back in the same way. The high road doesn't work and I hope they understand that by now.

I think they fire back the way they largely have been in this series: with tough, smart physical play. Their hit numbers are way up from the regular season(some of which is, of course, is attributable to the nature of playoff games). I don't think pushing the envelope with retaliatory, borderline cheap shots is a good idea at all. Keep bringing the hard checking game, and as much as possible, stay out of the box.

 

[tims4wins]

I think they fire back the way they largely have been in this series: with tough, smart physical play. Their hit numbers are way up from the regular season(some of which is, of course, is attributable to the nature of playoff games). I don't think pushing the envelope with retaliatory, borderline cheap shots is a good idea at all. Keep bringing the hard checking game, and as much as possible, stay out of the box.

I think SJH means firing back in the verbal / media game.

 

[Salem's Lot]

I think SJH means firing back in the verbal / media game.

They absolutely have to fire back verbally. Cassidy didn’t in 2019 and it cost them the series. Montgomery has to call out Bertuzzi and Domi for doing the same things.

 

[OfTheCarmen]

They absolutely have to fire back verbally. Cassidy didn’t in 2019 and it cost them the series. Montgomery has to call out Bertuzzi and Domi for doing the same things.

Does he have a history of doing that sort of thing though? Was Cassidy's lack of response his personal decision or do we think it would be more of an organization sort of policy (for lack of a better word). As a group, we've all continued to be surprised/amazed that the B's organization hasnt been more vocal about the officiating for the last couple years, so i dont know how much hope I have the Monty is going to respond in any way.

 

[cshea]

They typically just keep quiet and say it's out of their control or they just have to kill the penalty. Monty is similar to Cassidy in that he does the smirk on the bench thing (cue @The Napkin) with calls he doesn't like. Not as much as Butch did, Monty seems to yell a bit more but mostly falls back into the smirk and hand wave it off. The only time Cassidy really ever spoke out was in 2022 when he was baffled as to why the Bruins could draw the same type of calls that the Islanders were getting. That led to his "New York Saints" comment which YMMV on it's effectiveness.

 

[The B’s Knees]

View: https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1783490473081851908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1783490473081851908%7Ctwgr%5E94ea8aafb1b27b45764c1a38013e11bff0b11178%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportskeeda.com%2Fus%2Fnhl%2Fnews-game-changes-come-playoffs-nhl-fans-react-maple-leafs-bruins-exchange-133-hits-heated-game-3

Leafs and Bruins were 5 hits away from setting a record for the MOST in a Stanley Cup Playoff game that ended in regulation

Leafs 68 hits
Bruins 65 hits

 

[FL4WL3SS]

My kind of game, put me in coach!

 

[cornwalls@6]

I think SJH means firing back in the verbal / media game.

Ah, ok. I guess Monty could go that route, though I think the actual impact of media gamesmanship on the officiating by either of them will likely be minimal. Marchand got away with one last night, but I’m not real worried that he’s now going be subject to make up calls.

 

[Jake Peavy's Demons]

View: https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1783552805304713508


Yeah, Montgomery does not seem to be very good at this media game.

'Sometimes I don't think (Swayman is in their heads), but when Domi goes off the bench and bumps him on purpose, it makes me think that maybe he's in their head a little bit.'

Not sure how this does anything but motivate the Leafs more.

 

[bsl394]

I think the idea that off ice comments motivate a team (or officials) is vastly overblown.

 

[Salem's Lot]

View: https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1783552805304713508


Yeah, Montgomery does not seem to be very good at this media game.

'Sometimes I don't think (Swayman is in their heads), but when Domi goes off the bench and bumps him on purpose, it makes me think that maybe he's in their head a little bit.'

Not sure how this does anything but motivate the Leafs more.

So the Leafs are really going to try hard to score now? What were they doing last night? I must’ve been watching a different game because it looked they were really trying hard to score.

 

[lexrageorge]

View: https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1783552805304713508


Yeah, Montgomery does not seem to be very good at this media game.

'Sometimes I don't think (Swayman is in their heads), but when Domi goes off the bench and bumps him on purpose, it makes me think that maybe he's in their head a little bit.'

Not sure how this does anything but motivate the Leafs more.

He’s rightfully calling out Domi’s bullshit. Which is exactly what most here want him to do, especially as Keefe is going full Berube.

 

[Jake Peavy's Demons]

So the Leafs are really going to try hard to score now? What were they doing last night? I must’ve been watching a different game because it looked they were really trying hard to score.

My preference would be to say something more in vain of what Berube & Paul Maurice have done, because we've seen that be successful (I think it is bullshit that it has been successful, but alas.). Keefe is trying to play that card with his Marchand comment. Montgomery should change his media game plan to something that we know works: mimicking the Berube brand, should he choose to play that game. It sounds like he might be trying to, but that comment is different than the other 2 (& throw in Jon Cooper too) where they focus on working the referees. It just seems to me that Montgomery is providing more bulletin-board material than he is trying to combat the referee mindgame that Keefe is now employing.

But YMMV, we're all wired differently.

Other players, fans, referees, coaches may not see it that way.

 

[IdiotKicker]

ALL YALL FUCKERS READY FOR A CLOSEOUT ON TUESDAY?

I’m starting Sway again. We can tate again in the second round, but he is absolutely in Toronto’s head right now.

Somebody put a body on Nylander.

And let’s score early and make it a party for 3 hours.

 

[wiffleballhero]

I think this is Swayman's series to close out now, and I am still on team rotation.

Hopefully they bury these Toronto frauds on Tuesday and they can sort of reset the rotation-- I think two sharp goalies are better than one.

It is funny how fast a perspective can change. At the start of the series it seemed like Marchand was sort of showing some age.
He's showing something and it ain't his age.

I do worry a lot about defensive depth. I mean, I am watching playoff Lohrei's shifts like a John Wasdin relief appearance.

 

[tims4wins]

Swayman gets game 5, yes. But if they lose, you re-assess IMO. Maybe it's Ullmark in 6. Maybe not.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Absent a complete meltdown, Sway has the series and then I go back to rotating next opponent until one guy proves they have the edge there.

 

[Cotillion]

I need to find it again, but I think there is a Montgomery quote from after the game last night saying “was always 1-1 then see what’s happening with goalies and adjust from there” or something to that effect.

 

[TSC]

Swayman has earned the right to close this series out in Game 5. If he falters, then you look at Ullmark. But if Sway does win game 5, Ully gets game 1 round 2.

Keefe is, unsurprisingly, in over his head. He had Reaves on the ice with less than 3 minutes to play in the game last night. Braindead coaching.

I was really down on Marchand leading into the playoffs, and halfway through game 3. He has since found his playoff game and my god is it a treat to watch.

The Leafs are cracking at the seams.

View: https://twitter.com/babybergy37/status/1784413277352505824


Get an early goal in Game 5 and they will fall apart.

 

[wiffleballhero]

The Leafs are cracking at the seams.

View: https://twitter.com/babybergy37/status/1784413277352505824

"This isn't fucking juniors"

Lip readers are fun

 

[astrozombie]

Watching the game last night, the Leafs seem like a team getting crushed by the weight of their own expectations, or at least those of its market. As a pre-2004 Sox fan, I got a lot of "oh no, not again, please God no" energy from that crowd last night.

 

[tmracht]

Anyone know a good place to watch Game 5 outside Toronto, I'm in meetings until 6:30 so don't think I'll get to downtown Toronto, anyone know a good place in Markham or Oshawa?

 

[scottyno]

Anyone know a good place to watch Game 5 outside Toronto, I'm in meetings until 6:30 so don't think I'll get to downtown Toronto, anyone know a good place in Markham or Oshawa?

Already told you bro

View: https://twitter.com/riger1984/status/1784415602922160410/photo/1

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

ALL YALL FUCKERS READY FOR A CLOSEOUT ON TUESDAY?

I’m starting Sway again. We can tate again in the second round, but he is absolutely in Toronto’s head right now.

Somebody put a body on Nylander.

And let’s score early and make it a party for 3 hours.

I agree with all of this. I'd start Sway. Don't get cute right now.

I am guessing Toronto starts Woll.

 

[tmracht]

Already told you bro

View: https://twitter.com/riger1984/status/1784415602922160410/photo/1

Yeah but it's too hard to get there in time or I would have.

 

[Salem's Lot]

I agree with all of this. I'd start Sway. Don't get cute right now.

I am guessing Toronto starts Woll.

It should be Swayman’s net as long as he’s 100% healthy for the rest of the series.

 

[mwonow]

Anyone know a good place to watch Game 5 outside Toronto, I'm in meetings until 6:30 so don't think I'll get to downtown Toronto, anyone know a good place in Markham or Oshawa?

If by "good" you mean "someplace where Leafs fans will be numerous and sad if/when the Bs usher them out of the playoffs," pretty well anywhere in Ontario with a bar and a TV should do.

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

I need to find it again, but I think there is a Montgomery quote from after the game last night saying “was always 1-1 then see what’s happening with goalies and adjust from there” or something to that effect.

This tweet from Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports confirms it:

View: https://twitter.com/renlavoietva/status/1784417359786029301?s=46&t=QgPlur015YjYmVsNzWFFfg

 

[TSC]

View: https://twitter.com/_tyanderson/status/1784971899228831913?s=46


Brazeau for Maroon is a switch I’d be interested in seeing.

 

[BaseballJones]

I agree with all of this. I'd start Sway. Don't get cute right now.

I am guessing Toronto starts Woll.

I'm actually a little worried about Woll. Not because he's any sort of HOF caliber player but because (a) the Bruins did nothing against him once he entered the game, and (b) sometimes the backup coming in provides a real spark. I am a bit concerned that he has one of those crazy great games that ignites a team.

Hopefully the Bruins just bury them early and it is all moot.

 

[The Napkin]

no Matthews on the ice for the Leafs. Looks like they're sticking with Samonsov

View: https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1784962909895905599

 

[tims4wins]

no Matthews on the ice for the Leafs. Looks like they're sticking with Samonsov

View: https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1784962909895905599

Well that’s favorable all the way around.

 

[The Napkin]

View: https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1784980199685169535

 

[Haunted]

I definitely advocating going back to Ullmark for game 4 (though not strongly). At this point I agree with consensus - ride Swayman in this series until he falters. He's earned game 5 at the least. Next round is next round.

 

[tims4wins]

I definitely advocating going back to Ullmark for game 4 (though not strongly). At this point I agree with consensus - ride Swayman in this series until he falters. He's earned game 5 at the least. Next round is next round.

I felt the same before G4 and the same as you now.

 

[wiffleballhero]

View: https://twitter.com/_tyanderson/status/1784971899228831913?s=46


Brazeau for Maroon is a switch I’d be interested in seeing.

Please make it so!

I don't think Brazeau is the key to all our hopes and dreams, but he sure would give them a look that Maroon is just not able to muster. And I'd be eager to see him get some game action.

 

[jezza1918]

I hate even thinking along the lines of "if they lose game 5," but if that indeed does happen the question Monty has to answer is a tough one: is our chance of winning the series better with a fresh Linus in game 6 and Sway in a game 7 with 3 full nights off, or just give all the games to Swayman and asking him to play 3 games in 5 nights? There are quite a few arguments for both I think, Id personally probably lean giving Linus game 6, but with like a 51/49 conviction rate. That assumes Sway doesnt implode/get injured tomorrow.

 

[TSC]

If they lose game 5, you have to go Ully game 6. You don’t want him getting rusty, and you want Sway getting the rest.

 

[bsl394]

If they lose game 5, you have to go Ully game 6. You don’t want him getting rusty, and you want Sway getting the rest.

This - let's not overthink it.

 

[Cotillion]

Please do not reinsert Derek Forbort into this lineup.

 

[IdiotKicker]

I wouldn’t make any lineup changes for Game 5. Stick with what got you up 3-1 and reassess if/when you get to the next series or if you look like shit on Tuesday.

 

[Myt1]

I wouldn’t make any lineup changes for Game 5. Stick with what got you up 3-1 and reassess if/when you get to the next series or if you look like shit on Tuesday.

Maroon is the only one I’d consider. Guy plays like seven minutes a night and it feels like four of them are a long shift that he can’t end. He brought fire the first game but he’s pretty plainly not in game shape and I think there are rapidly diminishing returns.

 

[astrozombie]

If they lose game 5, you have to go Ully game 6. You don’t want him getting rusty, and you want Sway getting the rest.

I agree with this on paper, but I hate the idea of both - very good! - goalies are playing in a constant mindset of "if I lose, I'm going to get yanked for the next game." That just doesn't seem healthy or good for confidence. I agree with breaking the rotation for this round because Sway has given them the best chance to win, but he's gotta get smoked in game 5 to make a change. If the Bs lose 1-2, Sway makes 45 saves and then gets pulled for the L, that seems counter-productive.

ETA: I appreciate the idea that its to prevent rust on Ullmark and get Sway rest (as I said - I agree on paper), but it just seems like a panic move if not handled well.

 

[tims4wins]

I agree with this on paper, but I hate the idea of both - very good! - goalies are playing in a constant mindset of "if I lose, I'm going to get yanked for the next game." That just doesn't seem healthy or good for confidence. I agree with breaking the rotation for this round because Sway has given them the best chance to win, but he's gotta get smoked in game 5 to make a change. If the Bs lose 1-2, Sway makes 45 saves and then gets pulled for the L, that seems counter-productive.

ETA: I appreciate the idea that its to prevent rust on Ullmark and get Sway rest (as I said - I agree on paper), but it just seems like a panic move if not handled well.

It's an easy conversation: Ullmark is starting the next game no matter the opponent or venue, purely from a rest/rotation standpoint. Doesn't matter if you pitch a shutout or give up 5. So don't sweat it, kid.

 

[The Napkin]

and it's not like they haven't done that the whole year. these guys are pros and love each other and wouldn't have an issue with it in the least.

In case anyone was waiting for my opinion I was okay with Swayman in 4 and 5 because of the extra day off before both but am totally in favor of going back to the rotation for 6/7 (if needed) and the next series (if it happens)

 

[IdiotKicker]

Maroon is the only one I’d consider. Guy plays like seven minutes a night and it feels like four of them are a long shift that he can’t end. He brought fire the first game but he’s pretty plainly not in game shape and I think there are rapidly diminishing returns.

Yeah I guess I wouldn’t feel terrible about this. Maroon’s one move right now seems to be to stick his ass out and stall with the puck for a couple seconds, so if we can get a bit more, I’d be ok going that route. I think I really just read the name Forbort and panicked.

 

[Myt1]

Yeah I guess I wouldn’t feel terrible about this. Maroon’s one move right now seems to be to stick his ass out and stall with the puck for a couple seconds, so if we can get a bit more, I’d be ok going that route. I think I really just read the name Forbort and panicked.

Understandable given the rush to reinsert him last season.

 

[cshea]

Maroon is the only one I’d consider. Guy plays like seven minutes a night and it feels like four of them are a long shift that he can’t end. He brought fire the first game but he’s pretty plainly not in game shape and I think there are rapidly diminishing returns.

I agree that when Maroon's out there I get nervous as he looks extremely slow.

However, his on ice results at 5x5 are actually quite good.

Shot attempts 31-28 Boston
Shots 14-12 Boston
Scoring Chances 14-9 Boston
High Danger Chances: 8-1 Boston
Expected Goals: 1.48-0.52 Boston
Actual Goals: 1-0 Boston

I think I would just leave the lineup alone for tonight, re-evalute going forward. Brazeau provided a nice boost late in the season but he has only played 19 NHL games in his career, has been idle for a month and isn't really fleet of foot to begin with. I'd stick with the veteran.