Round 1: Toronto Maple Leafs

cshea

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And so we meet again.

B’s have home ice, without diving into arena availability, I would think games 1 and 2 will be next Thursday and Saturday.
 

NYCSox

chris hansen of goats
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They should win in 5 but they will torture us for 7 games again.

Let's just hope whoever plays Tampa at least puts up some semblance of a fight unlike last year.
 

DJnVa

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Still the greatest fan reaction video ever:


The dude in lower right just staring at TV after the OT winner...
 

LogansDad

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Thursday would be great for game 1 if thats what happens, i get in town on wednesday. Anyone have any idea what the best way to get tickets might be? Never been to the Garden.
 

TFP

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Thursday would be great for game 1 if thats what happens, i get in town on wednesday. Anyone have any idea what the best way to get tickets might be? Never been to the Garden.
Get Napkin so sick he can't leave the couch and then take his tickets at face value.

Absent that, Stubhub/SeatGeek/etc are probably your best bet. They won't be cheap but it's worth every penny, the atmosphere is incredible.
 

TFP

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I wish there was a video on my living room during that timeframe.
 

OurF'ingCity

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It's a full 20 seconds 2:01 to 2:21 before that dude moves a muscle. He clearly broke, I've been there with the Sox pre-2004.
Possibly my favorite part of the entire video is actually the screen crawl at the end about how, despite the crushing loss, no one expected Toronto to put up a fight and that they would only "improve with time" because they were a young team. Total playoff series wins since that loss...0.
 

The Napkin

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The people on the left couch changed seats. You never change seats.

That intermission between the 3rd and OT was absolutely crazy. Biggest karaoke party I've ever been at.
 

pedro1918

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Possibly my favorite part of the entire video is actually the screen crawl at the end about how, despite the crushing loss, no one expected Toronto to put up a fight and that they would only "improve with time" because they were a young team. Total playoff series wins since that loss...0.
Hey now, Kessel has won two Cups since then. Puke.

There is an extended version of that clip where the guys are giving the woman in the back (gray sweatshirt) a hard time about taking off her Leafs jersey. You see her taking it off after the first goal. She has it back on for the OT. She is really doing her best to not laugh at the rest of the group the entire time.
 

TFP

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And with way more Bud Lights.

I've told this story before, but I had a bunch of friends over for that game. When Bergeron tied it I went running up and down the hallway of my house screaming and fist pumping. When he won it in OT we all did a group hug and jumped up down like the B's did after they won in OT at Fenway in 2010.

Bergeron's tying goal is still the single greatest moment of joy/excitement/elation I've experienced while watching sports.
 

Lupe Whalewatch

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I was at the game, and the intermission between regulation and overtime was the most surreal sports experiences I’ve ever been a part of. The Garden DJ absolutely crushed it too...
 

BuellMiller

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The people on the left couch changed seats. You never change seats.

That intermission between the 3rd and OT was absolutely crazy. Biggest karaoke party I've ever been at.
And the Bruins were Rich Peverly fanning on a juicy rebound at the end of regulation away from not even needing OT. (18:30 of the dafoomie video).
 

Mighty Joe Young

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Speaking from the enemy point of view ..

In my not so humble opinion .. most Leaf fans are resigned to losing to the Bruins .. mainly because they are a bad matchup .. the Bruins are a great forechecking team and the Leafs are bad at getting out of their own end.

As well, two of our best defencemen have been hurt (Gardiner and Dermott) for a month and the team has really struggled in their absence. Dermott is back and Gardiner in a few days so there’s some optimism at least.

The only way TO can win is if Anderson stands on his head . he had a bad series against the Bs last year but is certainly capable of doing that.

I expect they will lose in 7 again. It doesn’t matter .. Tampa is winning in a walk.
 

reggiecleveland

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If they eliminate the Leafs it will be as sweet as a cup for me. The hype surrounding the Leafs in Canada is ubiquitous. Add the number of nonfans that morph into die-hards when the Leafs get into the playoffs and the Leafs have joined the Habs as my team I want 2 lose.
 

Dummy Hoy

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I’m sure I’ve told this story before but my son was 5 weeks old and sleeping on my lap during that game 7. When Looch scored, I absolutely froze completely still because if I even twitched, I was going to uncoil like a spring and leap to my feet, launching my son through the air. I had just gained control of my facilities enough to put him in his crib when Bergy scored- I was tearing around my apartment.

I think my single greatest moment of sports elation was the Damon grand slam, a noise came out of me that never had before and likely never will again, just a guttural, primal scream. That said, after Bergy scored the shorty in game 7 v. the Canucks, I burst into tears of joy, so, there’s that too.
 

veritas

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I have so many vivid memories of that night. No great stories but a bunch of anecdotes. After the Leafs' 4th goal, I texted one of my friends who was sitting in a different part of the garden "if anyone can blow a 4-1 lead, it's Toronto". After both of Bergeron's goals, but especially the tying one, it was just screaming and beer splashing and strangers hugging each other. There was a lot of stranger hugging that night. Even at Sully's after the game, people were buying strangers beers and shots and giving high fives and hugs. Everyone knew they'd seen something special. Announcers always say cliche shit like, "the atmosphere is electric here tonight", but that was one of two times I've experienced where it really was. The other being Rene's first anthem after the marathon bombing.

After the tying goal, no one sat down the rest of the night, right through the winning goal. Which must have been 30 minutes later, with intermission and whatnot. Intermission was surreal (echoing Lupe Whalewatch), that's the thing I remember the most because it was so odd. There was NO ONE sitting down. It was like at a concert when the band walks away before the encore and everyone is trying to cheer as loud as they can like it's gonna make a difference whether the band comes back. Except this was 18 minutes of yelling at the Zambonis and you knew they couldn't come back out before the ice was clean.

There were a handful of Toronto fans in our section, they were all cool even when it was 4-1. After the game, bumped into an older guy in a Leafs jersey with tears in his eyes. Gave him a hug, said something awkward about the Red Sox and the Philly series. I think that night is why I can't hate Toronto fans, to this day. I respect them for not being dicks when it was 4-1, and I didn't have it in me to gloat after the game. Their emotional distress was palpable.

Anyway, let's not repeat that. Bruins in 5 plz.
 

IdiotKicker

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At the time, I was living with a buddy who was engaged to an Indian woman. Her brother had just started at BU the fall before and it was his first nine months in the US. He came over to hang out and watch Game 7, and it turns out it’s the first hockey game he had ever seen. At the end asks me, “Are all hockey games that exciting?” Poor kid was spoiled from the get-go.
 

Dogman

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I'm in Boston from 4/18-4/23. Here's to hoping for a home game during that stretch. Haven't been to a B's game in 22 years.
 

durandal1707

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I vividly remember watching the Bergeron game-tying goal. I was literally flipping furniture. Very glad my roommates saw I was watching hockey first before calling the authorities.

SCF Game 7 was another matter. I was just sitting in stunned silence for the entire 3rd period. I was anticipating anxiety that never came.
 

Salem's Lot

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I vividly remember watching the Bergeron game-tying goal. I was literally flipping furniture. Very glad my roommates saw I was watching hockey first before calling the authorities.
I believe that I discovered Uber that night. A very good decision after a half dozen Garden beers. I could never figure out why they seem to hit me harder than beer on tap at normal bars.
 

TFP

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I believe that I discovered Uber that night. A very good decision after a half dozen Garden beers. I could never figure out why they seem to hit me harder than beer on tap at normal bars.
Was it Molson Canadian? The Molson Canadian on tap at the Garden is straight moonshine.
 

LogansDad

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I vividly remember watching the Bergeron game-tying goal. I was literally flipping furniture. Very glad my roommates saw I was watching hockey first before calling the authorities.
I was standing on the coffee table in my living room from the tying goal onward. My kids were horrified, but that's okay.
 

biff_hardbody

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I can tell playoff hockey is coming because everything else in my life has less and less meaning as we get closer. Just stay healthy through Saturday.
 

joe dokes

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I can tell playoff hockey is coming because everything else in my life has less and less meaning as we get closer. Just stay healthy through Saturday.
Even Jack E. made a "Carlo should stay at the hotel" remark after a scrum last night.
 

j44thor

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So I'm going to ask the question that I'm sure some people are thinking about.
How long a leash does Rask get?

Halak had a better season by every statistical measure, especially Goals Saved above Average where he more than doubled Rask (14.33 to 6.28).
Halak finished the season stronger and Rask hasn't had a season statistically as good as the one Halak just put up since 14-15 (though you can argue Rask had a much bigger workload the last few seasons). Additionally Rask was pedestrian in the playoffs last year.

Rask has obviously earned the starting role but I wouldn't hesitate going to Halak if he struggles beyond a game or two.
 

PedroSpecialK

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So I'm going to ask the question that I'm sure some people are thinking about.
How long a leash does Rask get?

Halak had a better season by every statistical measure, especially Goals Saved above Average where he more than doubled Rask (14.33 to 6.28).
Halak finished the season stronger and Rask hasn't had a season statistically as good as the one Halak just put up since 14-15 (though you can argue Rask had a much bigger workload the last few seasons). Additionally Rask was pedestrian in the playoffs last year.

Rask has obviously earned the starting role but I wouldn't hesitate going to Halak if he struggles beyond a game or two.
My inclination is to give Halak a start after two bad Rask starts
 

biff_hardbody

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If the Bruins lose game 1 and Rask is bad, I'd start Halak in game 2. I'm also impulsive and have an irrational skepticism towards Rask.
 

Haunted

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I think a two-game leash is appropriate. He's proven that he can bounce back and I think his upside is much higher than Halak's.

Two crappy games? Sorry bud. Sit down. This ain't beanbag.
 

FL4WL3SS

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And with way more Bud Lights.

I've told this story before, but I had a bunch of friends over for that game. When Bergeron tied it I went running up and down the hallway of my house screaming and fist pumping. When he won it in OT we all did a group hug and jumped up down like the B's did after they won in OT at Fenway in 2010.

Bergeron's tying goal is still the single greatest moment of joy/excitement/elation I've experienced while watching sports.
Haha I remember talking during this game and we both went dead silent for the last half hour before coming back and both being like "I just did 10 laps around my house"
 

Salem's Lot

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So I'm going to ask the question that I'm sure some people are thinking about.
How long a leash does Rask get?

Halak had a better season by every statistical measure, especially Goals Saved above Average where he more than doubled Rask (14.33 to 6.28).
Halak finished the season stronger and Rask hasn't had a season statistically as good as the one Halak just put up since 14-15 (though you can argue Rask had a much bigger workload the last few seasons). Additionally Rask was pedestrian in the playoffs last year.

Rask has obviously earned the starting role but I wouldn't hesitate going to Halak if he struggles beyond a game or two.
I could see a shorter leash then in previous years. Halak is proven veteran former starter that took a team to a conference final a few years ago, which they haven’t had in years past. If Rask struggles early I don’t think Cassidy would think twice about going to Halak.
 

cshea

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I’ve been thinking about the lineup a bit. They have some decisions up front. Here’s how I think I would start for game 1.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Kuhlman
Johansson - Coyle - Heinen
Nordstrom - Acciari - Wagner

I really like Kuhlman’s speed and skating and think it will play well against Toronto. Small sample size, but he’s shown he can handle and produce in top 6 minutes with Krejci and DeBrusk as well as play will lower in the lineup. God bless Backes, but I worry he cant keep up this series. In 68 minutes together, 74/46/83 has a 56% CF, 58% Shots for, 53% scoring chances for, goals are 8-3. I can’t really believe I’m advocating for Karson Kuhlman in a top 6 role going into the playoffs, but here we are. He’s arguably been the best non-Pasta RW Krejci’s played with. At home in game 1, Bruce has more ability with matchups, so I think that is where I would start things. If they go south, he can move guys around. Drop Pasta down or double shift, move Heinen up, etc. I think to start, Cassidy will opt to keep Pastrnak up top with Bergy and Marchand given the history that line has had against Toronto.

D is pretty much set in stone.

Chara - McAvoy
Krug - Carlo
Grzelyck - Miller

Miller seems to have dodged a bullet last night. They said they took him out for precautionary reasons but the plan was for him to play in the finale tomorrow. Moore is probably unavailable for the series. Down late, they’ll probably out Krug and McAvoy together.

Goalies, I think I just ride Rask. Maybe re-consider if he plays poorly and they get down 2-0 or 3-1 or something and it is a last ditch effort. I’m generally just not a fan of messing with goalies in the postseason. Pick one and go.
 

kenneycb

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I could see a shorter leash then in previous years. Halak is proven veteran former starter that took a team to a conference final a few years ago, which they haven’t had in years past. If Rask struggles early I don’t think Cassidy would think twice about going to Halak.
While I don't disagree with the overall point, Halak's playoff run was 9 years ago, so let's not overstate things.
 

lexrageorge

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I think Rask has had a solid season and a good track record, and should get most of the starts. I do believe in the 2-game leash, however.
 

Dan Murfman

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I’ve been to 4playoff games. The first one was game 4 against the Whalers Bruins down 2-1 with no Bourque. Bruins were down 5-2 heading into the 3rd period. They didn’t even need OT as they scored 4 goals in the period to wi. It. And the last one was game 7 against the Leafs.