March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
31
News Every Day |

Maple Leafs’ Mailbag: Playoffs, Playoffs & More Playoffs

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff play-in series is upon us and there are still some burning questions surrounding the team coming in from Leafs Nation. As the team continues their series against the Columbus Blue Jackets, we’ll be diving into some playoff talk with the latest set of mail-in questions.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Mailbag: Questioning Defence, Draft Picks & Will Matthews Leave?

With that said, I won’t pretend to be able to read minds or see into a crystal ball, but I will do what I can – based on my knowledge of the game and the Maple Leafs – to answer some of the recent questions sent in by fans of the hockey club.

How will they play in the rough, no whistle playoffs?

From Raymond Dubien on Facebook

Early observations of the 2020 postseason is showing that there will be a number of penalties called throughout playoffs. That said, the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets had just three penalties called in their Game 1 matchup – which was a seemingly clean, physical game.

The way I look at it is that the Maple Leafs can’t put themselves in a position to lose based on calls made or the lack of calls in any given game. Take advantage of the opportunities when you get them, but otherwise find ways of getting it done five-on-five.

Tyson Barrie Toronto Maple Leafs
Tyson Barrie and the Maple Leafs can’t put themselves in the position to lose based on calls made or not made. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Look, I’m just as guilty as anyone when it comes to criticizing officiating both in the regular season and during past playoff runs, but the fact is no team should go into a game expecting calls to get made. It’s the beauty of a game that still has some extent of human error involved in its officiating.

The whistles will be there. The power play opportunities will be there. But the Maple Leafs need to get it done in all situations, otherwise this is going to be another short-lived playoff push by the boys in blue.

Will Freddie finally win a Game 7?

From Dom Ferrante on Facebook

Fortunately, there won’t be a Game 7 at least for the first little bit of these playoffs. That said, I think the question here is more whether or not Frederik Andersen will be able to win an elimination game. My answer is simple. There is no doubt in my mind.

In past years, we have to remember that Andersen play 60-plus games during the regular season. He was leaned on heavily in regular season play – often among the top five goalies in the league in shots against – and was required to have big games again during playoffs.

By the time Game 7 rolled around in past years, whether it was fatigue or just knowledge of where to put the puck by the other teams, Andersen just couldn’t be the go-to guy for the Maple Leafs. That said, he has shown that he can dial in for big games. Even in Game 1 against the Blue Jackets, he finished with a .971 save percentage on over 30 shots again and the Blue Jackets had some high-quality scoring opportunities.

Frederik Andersen Toronto Maple Leafs
Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

He can’t be the only guy for the Maple Leafs. Hung out to dry, he’s going to leave holes in the wall and teams are going to score. Too often the Maple Leafs are pinned in their own end and give up too many chances. So should the question be – will Freddie win an elimination game? Or should it be more like – can the Maple Leafs finally win an elimination game?

What will it take for the Leafs to be the next Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup?

From Jeffrey Morris on Facebook

That’s a tough question Jeffrey, but a good one. It’s going to take growth, maturity and defensive coverage from a team that has lacked it in years past. Right now, the Maple Leafs need to gather experience from the past three playoff seasons they’ve been in. Guys like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner need to play a veteran role on a team that is still oh-so-young and lead them to victories.

On top of that, the Maple Leafs need that big game breaker on the blue line. Sure, they have Morgan Rielly who can be a force on the offensive end of the puck, but when it comes to shutdown guys who do they have?

Justin Holl? Cody Ceci? To me, that just isn’t good enough to get it done. Neither one plays overly physical and in the playoffs that’s a requirement in the defensive end. Instead, the Maple Leafs seem to get pushed around in their own end and have a hard time getting the puck out. Their breakout attempts are intercepted and play is quickly turned back in on Andersen.

They could very well be the next Canadian team to win the Cup. That said, it won’t happen until they make those changes. It’s just a case of whether or not another Canadian club comes in and wins it before they do.

Will the Leafs get better and tougher players for the playoffs?

From Dorris Ng on Facebook

I read this question twice – heck, maybe three times. Will the Maple Leafs get better players for the playoffs? Are Marner, Matthews and John Tavares not good players?

The issue with the Maple Leafs isn’t the talent level of the players they have. It’s their ability to find open seams during high-pressure games and do it as complete unit. The talent is there, let’s not debate that.

Related: 5 Takeaways From Maple Leafs Game 1 Loss to Blue Jackets

Tougher players, however, is something that the Maple Leafs definitely need if they are going to make a deep playoff run. Now, they’ve added Kyle Clifford this year and have guys like Ceci on defence, but two players won’t make a difference – especially when a guy like Clifford is only seeing just over four minutes like he did in Game 1 against the Blue Jackets.

Mental toughness is going to be just as important as the physical side of the game. It seems that some of the Maple Leafs’ young players have developed that mental side of it, but they still need some more physicality to matchup against teams like Columbus and the Boston Bruins.

If they continue to put out players that shy away from the physical aspects of the game, they’re going to continue to see the same return – first round exits from the playoffs each and every year.

With that, we’ll close the books on another edition of the Maple Leafs’ Mailbag. There’s still tons of questions to be answered and we’ll get back to those soon with another edition of the mailbag. For now, if you have a question that you want answered, feel free to leave in the comments below or reach out to me on Twitter.

The post Maple Leafs’ Mailbag: Playoffs, Playoffs & More Playoffs appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

Симферополь

Творческая встреча с искателем приключений состоится в Симферополе

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

Ria.city






Read also

‘Pump Rules’ hookup reveal, Kim Zolciak’s new TV show, plus Lesa Milan spills how Beyoncé caused ‘RHODubai’ drama

Model Charly Jordan shows off sensational figure as she ‘marries’ Hollywood A-lister

1,357 arrests made in drug raids in France

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye



Sports today


Новости тенниса
WTA

Чесноков оценил шансы Александровой в борьбе за выход в финал турнира WTA в Майами



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Победителями Всероссийской олимпиады по физике стали школьники Московского региона



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Победителями Всероссийской олимпиады по физике стали школьники Московского региона


Новости России

Game News

Пробный запуск вампирского градостроя Vampire Legacy: City Builder


Russian.city


Москва

Боец MMA Минаков рассказал о своей мотивации для возвращения в спорт


Губернаторы России
Алексей Сёмин

Энергетические поля компенсируют растущие потребности в электроэнергии


Заказать недорогой ремонт кухонной мебели в районе в Москве и Московской области

Заказать недорогой ремонт шкафов купе в Москве и Московской области

Metaratings: "Спартак" может уволить Абаскаля по ходу сезона, клуб ищет тренера

Чем опасны чесночная настойка и другие народные средства для защиты собаки от клещей, объяснил кинолог


Певица Mia Boyka призналась, что в детстве ходила в церковь почти каждый день

Эксперты КА «Главный Советник» приняли участие в форуме «Тренды и антитренды корпоративного видео сегодня»

“Настя — не из дешёвых женщин”, – У Волочковой появился молодой ухажёр с серьёзными намерениями

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)


Российская теннисистка Калинская покинула WTA-1000 из-за проблем со здоровьем

Теннисистка Александрова оказалась сильнее полячки Швентек на турнире WTA в США

Хачанов: хочу вернуться в топ-10 ATP

Александрова обыграла первую ракетку мира на турнире WTA



Перенос дат II этапа культурного проекта «Классика: история и современность» в Дмитрове

Архитектурные доминанты округов Москвы

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

«Радио Зенит» – информационный партнер форума «Мы вместе. Спорт»


Консультации, Составление Договоров, Присутствие Продюсера при заключении договоров и переговорах. Лекции. Переговоры. Встречи и Обсуждения.

Лавров заявил, что сфер сотрудничества России и Запада практически не осталось

Где в России жить хорошо?

Благотворительный фонд «Свет в руках» проведет Всероссийскую акцию «Росток памяти»


Олег Матвиенко принял участие в совещании Федерального агентства лесного хозяйства в Москве

Эксперт Президентской академии в Санкт-Петербурге: «Инвесторы заинтересованы в развитии Республики Коми»

Боец MMA Минаков рассказал о своей мотивации для возвращения в спорт

В Минтрансе Подмосковья назвали оптимальные сроки замены авторезины на летнюю



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Рэпер ST

Рэпер ST признался, что не смог написать песню о трагедии в "Крокусе"



News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости