homepage Forums SimHQ Community Community Hall NHL Playoffs 2023

Down by 3, using their backup goalie ? hmmm, I say they win 1 or 2 games to prolong the agony.

The goalies name is Woll though.

Leafs live for another 60 minutes. Panthers didn't play like they wanted to win tonite.

Leafs down 2-0 in the 2cd. Still half the game to play tho, so maybe a come back.

Overtime now. WT has no fingernails left.

Panthers win and on to the next round.

Leafs put up a great fight. Will go back to calling them the Griefs.

That non goal screwed them.
But you can't lose the first 3 games.
Go on, say it KK.....

They get their fans hopes up and then no joy. Yes they are the Toronto Maple GRIEFS.

Didn't Maurice coach the Leafs not so many years ago?

2006 to 2008. Dark days. Non play off years.

I don't get the non-goal thing the Leaf fans keep bringing it up. I've watched the replays over and over and I've never seen conclusive evidence that the puck completely, or partially, crossed the line. You gotta think the War Room in Toronto had even more looks at it and they didn't call it a goal either.

There was also a holding-the-stick penalty that was not called on Radko Gudas on the Panthers’ winning goal in overtime.
The NHL has been so inconsistent this year when it comes to officiating. Why cheer for a team, when the referees/NHL war room are the ones in true control ?
I can't help but feel all the new gambling sites (that the NHL is pushing hard now) have come into play.
They caught a ref on mic last year, admitting he wanted to give a team a penalty. He was fired, he had to be obviously. The NBA has been caught in the past. Gambling can taint the integrity of the games. I can't see me watching much NHL anymore. I can find something else to spent my $285 on.

The puck was over the line. The question was, was it over before the whistle blew. The puck wasn't.

Yes it was. LINK
They used the "I intended to blow the whistle" BS.
Nice loophole the NHL made for itself to save face.

The NHL Player Safety board, has been very inconsistent this year, when handing out punishment as well.
One guy gets 3 games, another gets a $5000 fine for the exact same infraction.
I have lost faith in the leagues integrity.

And this has nothing to do with Leafs being knocked out. I have not believed in them since 2021 when Montreal knocked them out. That's when they lost me. Up 3 games to one, and blew it.
I know what happens every spring. In the end, they lost because the core 4 did not score. A game should never be left for the officiating to decide.

For sure the officiating has to be questioned as we in Ottawa have known for years.

Someone said to me, the Toronto problem is too many stars who can't work together.

They work together fine, in the regular season. Playoffs they choke. They may not be together much longer.
4 guys taking half your salary is not working.

I would trade Matthews this summer.

I heard a crazy rumor about Matthews going back to his home state of Arizona to play for the Coyotes. I can't see how that club could afford him.

Lot's of talk about the Leafs losing, but I think you have to give credit to the Panthers for how great they played all series long. They were on top of Leafs in every zone. The last game the Leafs could barely get out of their own zone because the Panthers forechecking was so constant.

I know you feel frustrated right now WT, I've been like that with the Wings many times in my life. Maybe the team next season will have many new faces, with old ones gone.

Arizona has been rumored forever. Bottom line, he needs to be extended this summer, or traded before the season starts. A no trade clause kicks in at season start. Dubas should be fired for how he handled Mathews last contract alone (unless he extends him). He only signed him for 5, when he could have went to for the max 8.

Matthews is from Arizona, but that franchise has been troubled for years. They are playing their home games at a University. 5,025 max capacity. Pretty Mickey Mouse. I can see him wanting out of the Toronto spotlight. He's had 7 years of it. He's an American, let him play there. I don't care, as long as the Leafs maximize a return.

This off Google
The New Tempe Arena is a proposed sports facility to be constructed in Tempe, Arizona. If approved by City of Tempe voters on May 16, 2023, it would serve as home arena for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). This would be part of a conceptual $1.7 billion Tempe Entertainment District

Vegas knocks off the Oilers. D@mn.

Vegas was the better team and they capitalized on Oilers mistakes. Vegas had 4 lines rolling and got scoring and contribution throughout the lines. This is the recipe for success in the NHL playoffs. Oilers still have a good team and lots in the tank for McDavid and Dreisaitl, they'll be back.

Another recipe for success is hiding an injured star player on LTIR list until the playoffs start. Vegas did it with Stone. 2 years ago Tampa did it with Kucherov. No salary cap in the playoffs. But you can load up with support at the trade deadline, with the LTIR cap space. Kucherov and Stone rose like Lazarus for game 1.

Hawks did with Kane too, got Martin Handzous and then went above the salary cap in the playoffs. Can't blame the teams for doing this, blame the salary cap and the system.