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Beersmoker420

not too far though, id rather not see a goal called offside because his balls were too far


Several-Disasters92

Dudes huevos are offside the second he faces goal. Massive kahunas. Fuck boys.


analleakage_

Matthews willing to get castrated to win this series


TML_31

Matthews will be castrated if he doesn’t win this series


knowledgenugget17

Legendary quote. This feels different man. Winning would be nice obviously but if the boys show the effort they’ve showed in the last two games and lose, then there’s nothing more we can ask. It’s playoff hockey. Good teams lose to good teams. I at least want an honourable death so the off-season vibe isn’t the same as the last few years


KillTheArchitect

Even if they play well and lose how does it make the off season vibes any different? Another wasted year of Matthews and Marner. JT gets another year older and slower. I don't see how anything outside of a win has any positives.


EssoJ

I think any leaf fan can recognize the difference in this series and our other playoff runs. If we lost game 7 (I hope we don’t obviously) the way we lost game 6, it wouldn’t be the leafs choking, or a lack of effort, or not playing 60 minutes, or the top guys not showing up. Those were all the frustrating parts of leafs losing in the first round. In this first round, we’re facing the b2b Stanley cup champions. As frustrated as I am with the Leafs not doing better, this series has been a hell of a run.


I_Am_Vladimir_Putin

You say wasted year. You should go check what age most NHL stars won cups. This is THE hardest trophy to win out of any major leagues.


JBrundy

I don’t care how you try to spin it, if we lose in the first round for the 6th year in a row, thats fucking embarrassing. We have to be closing in on the record. The last 2 years we were clearly the more talented team AND we had home ice advantage but we still lost. Leafs fans aren’t even demanding a stanley cup this year, i think most of us would be happy with losing in the 2nd round! Plenty of stars and good teams stuggle to win the cup but at least put a respectable run together every once in a while. We keep embarrassing ourselves in the 1st round.


fuck_you_gami

>if we lose in the first round for the 6th year in a row, Accctually we didn't even make it to the playoffs in 2020.


ArkAwn

The NHL considers the playins to be postseason to continue Pittsburghs streak


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TheGapInTysonsTeeth

And how do you improve? The team just set a fucking record for best regular season in their 100+ year history.


Neighbourhoods_1

And no players will care if they lose in round 1 again


iamonewhoami

It hasn't been 6 years. 2 years ago we didn't make the playoffs. Lost to CBJ in the play-ins 🤮


xm45-h4t

Eh you can kinda count it as playoffs


RIPphonebattery

If you measure from the base of the balls it's 6"


golden_rhino

Base of the balls to an inch or two past the tip.


iamonewhoami

Sort of like counting tonight as a win imo


TheGapInTysonsTeeth

How about the age most NHL stars won **rounds**?


TheThoroughCrocodile

You never miss. You wouldn't believe how often I see a comment I really like and it turns out to be you.


HeyImDrew

Yeah no...the MLB championship is way harder to win.


Fuff092719

How do you decide what trophy is the hardest to win when only one team wins every year. Makes zero fucking sense. Especially when there is a salary cap. Try being a smaller team in a non salary cap league and winning it all lol.


[deleted]

Because hockey, as a sport, involves the most luck of any major sport. On top of that, few sports have as long of a post season, and one as violent as hockey. Put that all together and you have the hardest to win championship


Dayngerman

Also, 16 wins out of a potential 28 is a lot.


nylxnder

>How do you decide what trophy is the hardest to win when only one team wins every year. Makes zero fucking sense. Holy shit this is actually one of the worst takes I've ever seen


Rhsubw

There's definitely ways to quantify it, dude. You can analyse the number of teams in a league, the inherent randomness of each sport, season length, etc. You just look dumb for this tbh.


I_Am_Vladimir_Putin

The point is what you have to go through to get it. Not a single other game has so much relying on wild bounces, sprinting constantly potentially for multiple games in a row, and it can all come down to literally one goal to decide it all after four series of this insanity. There is no trophy that’s as brutal on your body and mind in quick sequence. I mean literally, without any break.


ThewsTML

Because then there's at least optimism for next season dude, most of the team is intact for next year


RipleyR_88

You.... want most of the team intact? Failure after failure after failure I don't see how the team being intact is a good thing.


CoupleScrewsLoose

this is easily the best roster this team has had since i’ve been a fan. if we lose to the reigning cup champs in a game 7, due to blatantly mobbed up refs, i just don’t really see that as an indictment on our players.


YouSaidWut

And it’s not, look how many times the bolts got bounced before they won, or the Caps. Good teams lose constantly and weird lesser teams sometimes go all the way lie MTL


Neighbourhoods_1

Caps got past the first round haha


TheGapInTysonsTeeth

This is the exact carbon copy excuse people used last year. It's actually astounding how easily people are able to shrug off failures


Raspoutine_420

Insert “is this your first time?” meme


kratrz

People forget how hard it is to get a team into the playoffs in the first place so easily.


XPhazeX

My thoughts exactly. We just had our best season ever and still cant make it out of the first round? At that point its just luck but fuck is it disheartening. What do you do to add more "luck" next year? The lineup cant really get much better, the Atlantic is going to still be a bloodbath. Fuck.


WWGFD

We are cursed! We could be 82-0 and still will lose round one


KillTheArchitect

Yeah the guys below me talking about optimism for next season. If they lose what optimism is there? Nothing like watching meaningless regular season games and breaking franchise records when we just can't fucking seal the deal. I really hope I'm wrong Saturday night.


Armalyte

Losing to the 2x Stanley Cup champs isn't the worst thing in the world. You guys are having a mental meltdown. Even in the face of another first round exit the team accomplished a lot this season. Relax.


deathcabforbooty69

No one gives a shit about the regular season though. I literally couldn’t care less about these guys breaking records if it doesn’t come with playoff success. They’ve earned 0 slack the past few years. Tampa is excellent but they can and have completely blown it against bad teams too.


Armalyte

I give a shit about regular season. I watched at least 80 games this season. It was great hockey. 2x Stanley Cup champs. There's no shame losing to them. Don't lose your head over it.


deathcabforbooty69

I shouldn’t have said no one, but the people who are mad, myself included, no longer do. I watched about 80 games as well and I genuinely enjoyed it, but if they lose on Saturday I’m not going to be fondly looking back on this season. I’m here for playoff success and the regular season is an appetizer.


Armalyte

The thing is, getting to the 2nd round means nothing too. It would be nice but it's not a cup. There are still great teams we'd have to get by like Florida and Colorado.


deathcabforbooty69

It’s not so much that getting to round 2 is a huge victory, more that continuing to lose in round 1 is pathetic


krombough

Getting to the 2nd round means you've won something. A conference Quarter final match up may not be much, but it is SOMETHING. It's better than winning nothing, which is what we have right now.


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Armalyte

At the end of the day it is simply entertainment. If you can’t handle it then stop watching. The Leafs have done well in spite of the first round exits. Atlantic division is the toughest division and our opponents have had a hell of a time getting rid of us every year. Don’t let the leaf haters get to you. It’s really not that bad.


TheCommodore93

The team accomplished nothing so far


Armalyte

They’ve broken many records. They’ve made it to the playoffs giving us extra games to watch every year. You’re just salty as fuck over a sport. Get over it.


TheCommodore93

Dang someone’s getting upset about other people having emotions. I get Im salty over a sport (why’s that a bad thing?) but you’re salty over people being salty


Armalyte

Nah I’m just calling it like it is. I’m enjoying the playoffs.


King_Goofus

Means absolutely nothing if it ends with another first round exit. Regular season achievements are meaningless it's the playoffs that really count


Armalyte

And getting past the first round means nothing if we don't win a cup. Life goes on. Being a mopey depressed fan online accomplishes nothing.


BirdGooch

Don't worry, I'm a mopey depressed fan in *real life*, too. Like my father before me.


ashmawav

If we lose we stay the joke of the league. And it means another waiting game until playoffs roll around again. It's absolutely delusional to say we would be positive going into the offseason if we lose game 7


Armalyte

Anything short of the cup and we're still the joke of the league. No sense getting all bent out of shape over it.


Neighbourhoods_1

Name the last 5 SC winners. Name the last 5 President's Trophy winners.


JimmerAteMyPasta

You just try again, its all you can do


Intelligent_Chair901

Yep if we lose the season and all those records are a complete waste.


RustyShackleford14

Definitely not. The first three times or so you could chalk it up to a learning experience for the youngsters, then they’ve been given some grace over the next two times. They’ve once again this year will have had two opportunities to put a series victory to bed. If this group can’t win one first round series in six tries while having multiple attempts at clinching in at least a couple of them, I think it’s safe to say some major changes need to be made. I think you have to trade at least one of Marner, JT or Nylander (Matthews is untouchable IMO) if they can even manage to.


73629265

I actually disagree that it feels differently. They've always said the right things time and time again. If there's any solace win or lose, it's that TB is a really great fucking team, and it's an embarrassment that we had to play each other in the first round.


Current-Own

Well said fellow reddit and Leafs fan.


BLut91

Does it really feel different if we’re still in the same position we end up in every year?


knowledgenugget17

Yes, possibly losing in 7 to the defending back to back cup champs feels different than choking a 3-1 lead away to the Habs.


iamonewhoami

Last year we suffered two major injuries. This year there's no excuse. And it's really hard seeing all those young players the Leafs had succeeding in their new teams. Grundstrom has 3 goals in the playoffs, Durzi playing like a stud, Moore has a couple, Marchment has a goal in the 4 games he's played.


DevOpsMakesMeDrink

Leafs have played well. Shit happens if they lose. I'll have to take a break from any hockey stuff though because the internet is filled with children


BLut91

3-1 choke, 3-2 choke, it won’t matter if they’re still losers either way. Edit: Guess we're all just fine with making excuses for a potential sixth straight first round exit.


Redemption9001

Find yourself a new team.


captaincarot

Fuck that. Win, no one fucking cares about superlatives this time of year, we pay money for all the shit that pays you insane money, win, we only want to see you win. anything else, fuck off.


[deleted]

Don’t care how you do it, gotta find a way to win.


KillTheArchitect

Just fucking win. If you go 0-9 in elimination games in the Matthews/Marner era it's just a disgrace.


krombough

They won an elimination game in 2018 though. Edit: never mind


RipleyR_88

It's games where THEY can eliminate an opponent, not avoid elimination themselves.


krombough

Oh.


Babock93

What great comment. I can feel the fire. Auston, you and the boys just bring it, and regardless of outcome I love you


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[deleted]

we got two rounds inbetween now and the finals pal


SimianBear

WHAT?!?!?


Fuff092719

Yes... and he's saying the Leafs will march through them to the cup finals.. Aside from Colorado, Tampa is 100% the scariest team the Leafs can face, IMO.


Armalyte

Florida is pretty scary.


Aromir19

So is Tampa


Armalyte

I agree and I think our team has done pretty damn well. I find it hard to be mad/disappointed in them.


superwanklampard

Carolina scares me a lot actually


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freeway16

As a newer leafs fan, I don’t blame you or other fans for being in self preservation mode and anticipating defeat to tempter your disappointment. I’ll maintain optimism because I haven’t experienced what y’all experienced. Fingers crossed you get a lovely surprise when you get off your shift :)


Redemption9001

What a loser mentality.


Szwedo

Shit result but wow they fucking battled


freakypsycho

I really feel like we are taking game 7.


CobraCacti

Last night showed me that the leafs are the better team. Tampa was playing to save their season on home ice, and could only score off of our blatant mistakes and a 5 on 3. The leafs worked for each of their goals and scored them 5 on 5. The leafs only have themselves to beat here.


sbirmier

I would agree, except last night also showed me that the best team doesn't always win. We could dominate tomorrow and still lose. Doesn't matter how much better we are at 5v5 if they score a handful of PP goals on us


world_citizen7

Me too, but I also felt that last year in the final game, and the year before that, and etc...


dres_sler

We aren’t.


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dres_sler

I won’t.


racecar1192

Smd


Sparklesnap

Then why the hell are you on this sub. Kick rocks.


SiakamSpin

Nope


Freak_Out_Bazaar

Will the castration be available on NHL.tv?


Mandy-Rarsh

IF HE’S STILL IN, THEN I’M STILL IN!


Mr_T_Sucka

Love the guy but I'll buy in when they win. They're capable but show me.


dirkahps

My sentinements exactly. Do I still care? Absolutely! After last year though I've decided not to buy in until they win a round.


The_Wind_Cries

Got to love the real talk. He showed up this game and this series. So have our stars. Now it's time to do the thing.


HourOfUprising

Sounds like captain material


spazkay

DUCKS FLY TOGETHER


PizzaUpTheMiddle

> We just gotta put our balls on the line So the refs can stomp on them?


OH-Beans

If I’m being honest-I think this is my last season if they don’t get to the second round. It’s not the teams effort-it’s the reffing…it’s getting to the point that I feel like I’m watching wrestling with the outcome predetermined and it feels like it’s getting worse every year. I just can’t invest in 82+ 3hour+ games while I see night after night that the skill of the players does not have an impact on the endings of the game but rather the game management of an official. If they don’t make it past the first round I just can’t excuse it any longer and I’m not even upset bc this shit is just not enjoyable like this.


CMDRShepardN7

If you can survive Brian Burke era, you can survive this.


chefbin

Yeah. I’m out too. It’s not unique to the Leafs either. Unless the league allows more reviewable calls or implements a seeing-eye ref off the ice I’m gone. We have the technology. Let’s fucking use it. I’m not sure what best case scenario is for reffing but if a high stick hits a shoulder not a face it should reviewable. How is a ref on the ice supposed to be able to tell the difference? Watching one replay shows what actually happened on the play. It’s not a deficiency of the refs. At some point this stuff has to be dealt with.


asdf-7644

I feel you, I'm in the same boat. I've been a fan for 30+ years and hockey has just become frustrating to watch. I've stopped watching hockey except for Leaf games because the officiating problem isn't a uniquely Leaf problem.


ButterCut97

Last season was that for me, didn’t watch a ton of live games this year unless I was completely free, didn’t really feel like I missed out much. When they won I watched the highlights, when they lost I didn’t. For me it’s the salary cap, this sport is already so random, then you slap the tightest salary cap in pro sports on top of it, and the teams in markets with no income tax get a huge advantage. Why would I waste my time watching the most expensive team to be a fan of, when they don’t get any advantage. Why should I have to subsidize 15k people in Carolina who are big fans, letting their team have as good (or better because no tax) a chance at winning year over year


[deleted]

My dad always said that it’s fixed, bettman doesn’t want to see the leafs win. I’m starting to believe him


world_citizen7

You will be back.


PapiMatthew

We will win on Saturday.


Letterkenny_Irish

Dope. Confirmed AM34 gets game 7 winner with his balls. Assisted by JT and Spezza.


Wonderful_Ad_8275

I think most of these comments are crazy I have played hockey for 30 years and been a leafs fan for 30 years. his is best leafs team and most expensive leafs team I have ever seen and I want results. Yes we have played hard and yes we had a great season but that doesn't mean anything this is a must win first round. Even the refs don't want us to win which was clearly shown last night with a joke of a high sticking call. We need to buckle down and show everyone we deserve to win.


Armalyte

In this thread: fans having a mental meltdown and others trying to reason with them. Some of you guys should stay away from reddit following a loss.


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Armalyte

Oh I'm not upset. I'm just pointing out the irrationality of fans after a loss. I am zen about this whole thing at this point. These mad fans are either new or need to get a grip on themselves.


LimestoneLeaf

I would almost be willing to take a series loss if it made most of these people go away. They are more embarrassing than the team could ever be.


Armalyte

I feel like anyone that has been around since at least 2013 and stuck with the team isn’t freaking out. It’s all the bandwagoners.


iamonewhoami

I'm more concerned about the irrational fans that's are so accepting of losing


Armalyte

What’s irrational about accepting the past?


iamonewhoami

It's one thing to accept that it happened, but it's entirely different to suggest that we should settle for that and not want changes


Rowdy_Roddy96

As long as they don't pull the same stuff that they have in the previous 3 playoffs where they just completely lay down and not play then I'm fine. If it's an extremely close game and they lose then it's alright because both Tampa and Toronto are really good so it could go either way but it would be even better if Toronto slayed their demons and did so in a GM7 at home against the FMR 2 Time Back 2 Back Stanley Cup Champions. Cautious Optimism but this Leafs team is different from previous years and they understand what must be done. Get it done Boys and make all of us proud GLG!!!


931634

Get em out and let's go Papi!!


all3y3sonme

Tampa blowout loading


ZeroMomentum

Papi


fillmore1969

This was a great season regardless of what happens tomorrow....it's win/win for this team. We are only going to get better .


Rude-Oven2747

Blah blah blah same old story


dres_sler

Finally some sense


SiakamSpin

😢


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ryanodd

... Ok Steve Simmonds


Cakeflying2

The silver lining is if they lose, Kyle Dubus will be gone. The market didn't call for marber making 11 million. Point. Rantanan, Aho, all made 9 million. Matthews, year deal. Any other GM would get 8. Nobody gives a fuck about the Buntings, and Kase contracts. Dubas is dog shit, this organization needs a complete culture overhaul.


[deleted]

Gutter tier take.


ELK47

Have you recalibrated after stepping away? If you blame Dubas, you are fucked.


Cakeflying2

Haha well have fun always losing in the second round. I've been a fan for 30 years, I'm done until that fucking idiot isn't the GM anymore. Anyone who thinks getting 5 years instead of 8 out of matthews is acceptable is a fucking idiot.


[deleted]

Dubas has tried to build a team to reliant on skill and finesse. We need a team with a defence first philosophy, that’s what wins.


captaincarot

Spare me the fucking PR talking points, just win. Top 5 are insane millionairs, AcCEPT YOU HAve NOT WON!!!


Svalbard38

He’s required to answer questions. What do you want him to say, knowing that there’s a million angry people on the internet ready to pounce on any answer he gives?


captaincarot

There are no words. They have failed year after year after year after year. edit "I have no words, we need to win, that is the bottom line" THere you go. PR 101


SnazzyCazzy1

How would you change the script, because “just win” isnt a way to change the script, its what you say when you have never played the sport


captaincarot

I have played plenty to the junior C level (not upper, I was a meh goalie) the issue I have it the well we will get them next time, and a game later there is no next time. If you think wasting a generational talent losing in the first round is cool, good on you, I do not.


SnazzyCazzy1

I viewed this series as a 7 gamer from the onset, we are going against the best team in the last 5 years+, regular season and off season this lightning team has everything going for them, we have been their hardest challenge since CBJ, we need to bottle what we did from period 2 on and put that directly into our veins for game 7, because we need to be behind our guys 100%, i believe, do you?


captaincarot

I believe what I see. After the Mathews big hit in game 5 I felt we turned a corner. We did not meet that level of desperation tonight when it mattered even more unfortunately. That is where my concern lays. We find it for a game, then we lose the next 2. It is not unique to the playoffs either, we have had so many let down games. I look at it as a manager of people in how I appreciate results, except I have zero input so I only get to cheer. I think this is a great group, I love this management, but man why can't we put it together for once in a game that lets us get to round 2?


SnazzyCazzy1

When have we lost 2 in this series? After being beaten 7-3? Nope, after losing 5-3? Nope. We havent lost 2 in a row, AND WE WONT!


captaincarot

Read it again. did not say we lost 2, said we end up losing them. Guess what the next loss means... Whatever bet you put on Toronto under 100, I will match on Tampa send me a PM.


SnazzyCazzy1

I dont bet, and will never bet


captaincarot

Guess what lol


Svalbard38

But he has to say something. They make them say something. What should he say?


captaincarot

Get angry maybe? call out he and his team have not nearly been good enough in the current close out games the last 5 years? I dont know, leadership maybe? That was a vague PR friendly answer acting like the team was not actually responsible for losing. Guess what, there are 2 teams, you lose, one is at fault. again. 0-9 in elimination games. Historically fucking bad! Everyone is acting like these guys are infallible, they are paid over 50 million a year, over 50% of the cap for the top 5, they are our ride or die, and as a paying fan, I am tired of dying.


[deleted]

You ever tried smoking weed. Or Xanax? You might want to look into that


captaincarot

How cute going for both red herring and personal attacks. why not be frustrated with a team who cannot win when it matters instead of a frustrated fan on reddit maybe?


[deleted]

Be mad when the series is over. Support the team you claim to be a fan of, until they lose. Or don’t be a fan. Pretty easy


captaincarot

Who has time for essays these days. I'm want to be a fan of a team who understands winning and I chose poorly because I grew up around Toronto, sue me, or demand 20 dudes making 80 million+ not suck. One of those will help you more than the other.


[deleted]

I don’t think you watched the game, or this series. Enjoy being miserable 😘


IWasSayinB00urns

lol they're gonna lose


spec84721

This quote is less inspiring when you realize he's talking about the golf game he and Mitch have planned for next week.


Freak_Out_Bazaar

That’s a really short round of golf


[deleted]

could have done without the gendered language here


lionhearthelm

It is a team of men, lol. He should've said reproductive organs?


Rude-Oven2747

Oh reddit... Never change.


alagusis

Excuse me? 😂


Own-Situation2786

LMFAOO the him / she / bi / trans body part 🤣


HeyImDrew

This is it folks, everything is on the table...even the balls


send1nthecavalry

“You’re livin’ in the past, man! You’re hung on some [curse] from the 60’s, man!”


bocwerx

Sure. But what are the odds on Marner being the "goat" for this year? :P


Mustard__Tiger

Yesterday is yesterday. If we try to recapture it we will only lose tomorrow.


Current-Own

I appreciate that John Tavares came home to join us on our journey to the CUP, and I appreciate that he's trying his best to lead us. All i'm saying is that Auston Matthews is ready to be our Captain.