Bolts vs Leafs Round 1

[TexasBolt]

I definitely caught the whiff of sandbagging at the end of the regular season, and boy does it look like that was the case. Oh and Toronto is a toxic work environment.

[dmaxf9]

Good start. Certainly Lighting played with a purpose and 4th line stepped up.

[Puckhead]

34 and 16 were pretty much neutered. Contain those two and you win the series. Btw, Subban’s act is getting REAL old.

[TexasBolt]

Bunting gets 3 games for the hit on Cernak. Cue TSN whining about how it was too harsh.

[the_narrow_way]

That call against Cernak which gave TOR some life was pathetic. It 100% felt like game management by the refs, the home crowd was booing, it's 3-0, and Bettman was likely pulling strings.

[jdhebner]

As dirty as it makes me feel. I’d love to see Boston get swept

[TexasBolt]

Well that was pretty much a writeoff when Hedman was ruled out. Hope he's ready to go soon.

[dmaxf9]

Absolutely no urgency tonite and 88 was awful.

[TexasBolt]

Every night there’s some total bullshit with the referees. I heard the officials association or the league has been trying to make former players into referees, which is ridiculous. No wonder the standard of officating in the NHL has taken a nosedive since the last wave of qualified officials retired.

[dmaxf9]

Vasilevskiy just not right. Not sure what is wrong but he appears uncomfortable and not confident in net. Team played very well but did not get result they deserved.

[the_narrow_way]

How does a 5-min major turn into no penalty? It certainly was boarding and worth 2 mins.

And what should have been the 4th TB goal being waived off. The 'lost sight of the puck' excuse has got to go. They can blow the whistle because they lost sight but why does that invalidate an actual goal if further review shows it was a good goal?

And the quick whistles, etc. A total embarrassment every night.

[dmaxf9]

If there was any game Vasilevskiy needs to return to his standard this is it.

[the_narrow_way]

They've lost their mojo.

Game 3 was stolen by the refs and I think still hurts more than this one.

[dmaxf9]

This team seems mentally exhausted and satisfied with what they have accomplished over past 3 years and Vasilevskiy continues to struggle mightily. After collapse Saturday nite Toronto realized they are never out of a game and that every shot they take could go in. Going to be tough Thursday nite. To be completely frank don’t think any team can beat Boston this year.

[TexasBolt]

I'm not upset at the prospect of FINALLY getting a real offseason and charging up to take one or two more legitimate shots at the title. The only fans laughing at this team right now are the ones whose teams haven't won shit. The Chicago and Pittsburgh and LA fans who have seen their team win a couple Cups... they understand what's going on here because it happened to them. You play tons of playoff hockey, the team gets really tired, and the second thing to go, after the fresh legs, is the concentration to focus on the little things.

All that said, no "best goalie on the planet" should ever have a GAA of almost 5 in a playoff series.