Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

LEAFS HOST FLYERS; LOOK TO GAIN GROUND IN DIVISION

Toronto Maple Leafs (44-20-6)

Vs

Philadelphia Flyers (47-17-6)

Match 17 2021

Henrik Lundqvist will get the start tonight as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the conference-leading Philadelphia Flyers. The Leafs lost 3 games in a row after Andersen got hurt and the teams chasing the Leafs made them pay; the Leafs sit 3rd in the Atlantic, are 3 points back from first in the division and are now 6 points back from 1st in the conference & League

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

Game Lineups

Match 17 2021
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Philadelphia Flyers

Toronto Maple Leafs:

Matthews-Tavares-Marner
Tuch-Kerfoot-Nylander
Bratt-Compher-Vanek
Nygard-Steen-Korshkov

Reilly-Hamonic
Brodin-Bouwmeester
Sandin-Liljegren

Starter: Henrik Lundqvist
Backup: Matt Murray

Pittsburgh Penguins

Van Riemsdyk-Giroux-Voracek
Baertschi-Courturier-Konecny
Lindbolm-Stepan-Simmonds
Farabee-Patrick-Saad

Provorov-Gostisbehere
Sanheim-Spurgeon
Hagg-Myers

Starter: Carter Hart
Backup: Eric Comrie

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

LEAFS EDGE FLYERS; LOSE TUCH TO INJURY

Mitch Marner scored his second goal 45 seconds into overtime, Henrik Lundqvist made 25 saves and the Leafs hung on to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2

The first period saw lots of chances but only one goal. With 15 seconds left in the period, Mitch Marner would send the Leafs fans into a frenzy heading into the intermission

The second period was a defensive struggle with neither team getting much accomplished offensively. No goals were scored

Early in the third, Jakub Voracek would tie the game at 1. Shortly afterwards, Alex Tuch and Travis Sanheim went at it. Unfortunately, Tuch lost both the fight and his game - he would suffer an Injury that kept him out of the game

Tomas Vanek would score the go ahead goal with 2:02 left and it looked like the Leafs would hang on

But Philadelphia, refusing to give up, pulled the goalie and with just 7 seconds left, Travis Sanheim would score to tie the game and sent the game to Overtime

On the first face-off, a defensive turnover by the Flyers James Van Riemsdyk allowed John Tavares to get the puck where he passed it to a streaking Mitch Marner, who buried it for the game winning goal

Carter Hart finished with 22 saves

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

TUCH RETURNS; LEAFS HOST GRIZZLIES
March 28 2021

Toronto Maple Leafs (47-22-6)

Vs

Seattle Grizzlies (35-33-7)

It's Davis vs Goliath. Matt Murray will get the start tonight as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Seattle Grizzlies. Seattle, with 77 points, is in the middle of a battle for the second wildcard spot in the West; Dallas Stars currently holds it with 78 points and the Minnesota Wild also have 77 points and also holds the tiebreaker.

The Maple Leafs, with 100 points and 1st in the Atlantic, has already secured a playoff spot, but after that is anybody's guess.

The Buffalo Sabres are just 1 point behind them and Florida Panthers have 98 points. The battle for 1st in the Atlantic may come down to the final game of the season. The Leafs however may have an advantage; of the Leafs remaining 6 games (excluding tonight), only one of those is against a Playoff team (March 29 @ Colorado). The other games are against basement dwelling teams LA Kings, NJ Devils & Ottawa Senators. The New York Rangers & Boston Bruins will provide a little bit more challenge, but neither are Playoff teams this year; the Rangers have just 73 points and the Bruins have fell victim to the strong Atlantic Division; they have 86 points, yet remain outside the bubble

The problem is since losing Andersen to Injury, the Leafs have been playing .500 hockey - having gone 5-5-0 since his injury. The Leafs need to get some saves from backups Henrik Lundqvist and Matt Murray and need them to steal a couple games.

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

TUCH RETURNS; LEAFS HOST GRIZZLIES
March 28 2021

Toronto Maple Leafs (47-22-6)

Vs

Seattle Grizzlies (35-33-7)

It's Davis vs Goliath. Matt Murray will get the start tonight as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Seattle Grizzlies. Seattle, with 77 points, is in the middle of a battle for the second wildcard spot in the West; Dallas Stars currently holds it with 78 points and the Minnesota Wild also have 77 points and also holds the tiebreaker.

The Maple Leafs, with 100 points and 1st in the Atlantic, has already secured a playoff spot, but after that is anybody's guess.

The Buffalo Sabres are just 1 point behind them and Florida Panthers have 98 points. The battle for 1st in the Atlantic may come down to the final game of the season. The Leafs however may have an advantage; of the Leafs remaining 6 games (excluding tonight), only one of those is against a Playoff team (March 29 @ Colorado). The other games are against basement dwelling teams LA Kings, NJ Devils & Ottawa Senators. The New York Rangers & Boston Bruins will provide a little bit more challenge, but neither are Playoff teams this year; the Rangers have just 73 points and the Bruins have fell victim to the strong Atlantic Division; they have 86 points, yet remain outside the bubble

The problem is since losing Andersen to Injury, the Leafs have been playing .500 hockey - having gone 5-5-0 since his injury. The Leafs need to get some saves from backups Henrik Lundqvist and Matt Murray and need them to steal a couple games.

Game Lineups
February 28 2021

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Seattle Grizzlies

Toronto Maple Leafs:

Kerfoot-Tavares-Marner
Tuch-Matthews-Nylander
Bratt-Compher-Vanek
Nygard-Steen-Korshkov

Reilly-Hamonic
Brodin-Bouwmeester
Sandin-Liljegren

Starter: Matt Murray
Backup: Henrik Lundqvist

Seattle Grizzlies:

Johnsson-Staal-Atkinson
Garland-Acciari-Kase
M Foligno-Girgensons-Hathaway
Svechnikov-Zajac-Blueger

McDonagh-McCabe
McCoshen-Hajek
Jones-Bernhardt

Starter: Tukka Rask
Backup: Corey Schneider

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

MURRAY EARNS FIRST SHUTOUT

Matt Murray made 18 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Toronto Maple Leafs cruised past the Seattle Grizzlies 5-0.

The Leafs PowerPlay was lethal tonight, going 3-for-3, needing just 2:03 of combined time to score those goals.

After Cam Atkinson would take a tripping minor, Alexander Kerfoot would score the games first goal on the PowerPlay at 5:04 of the first.

Just over a minute into the second, Auston Matthews would take a hard Slapshot from the point that would best Tukka Rask for the 2-0 lead. A hooking penalty by Ryan McDonagh led to Rasmus Sandin scoring with 4:44 left in the second period to make it 3-0

Alex Tuch would end Tukka Rasks night 4:02 into the third. Corey Schneider would enter the game. Unfortunately, he didn't fare better, at least at the beginning. Another hooking penalty, this time by Ondrej Kase, led to Auston Matthews welcoming Schneider to the game with his second of the game. It was the first shot Schneider faced after taking over

That's how the game would end as Matt Murray would make the key saves when needed, despite having so few shots against.

Next up is the Colorado Avalanche!

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

MURRAY EARNS FIRST SHUTOUT

Matt Murray made 18 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Toronto Maple Leafs cruised past the Seattle Grizzlies 5-0.

The Leafs PowerPlay was lethal tonight, going 3-for-3, needing just 2:03 of combined time to score those goals.

After Cam Atkinson would take a tripping minor, Alexander Kerfoot would score the games first goal on the PowerPlay at 5:04 of the first.

Just over a minute into the second, Auston Matthews would take a hard Slapshot from the point that would best Tukka Rask for the 2-0 lead. A hooking penalty by Ryan McDonagh led to Rasmus Sandin scoring with 4:44 left in the second period to make it 3-0

Alex Tuch would end Tukka Rasks night 4:02 into the third. Corey Schneider would enter the game. Unfortunately, he didn't fare better, at least at the beginning. Another hooking penalty, this time by Ondrej Kase, led to Auston Matthews welcoming Schneider to the game with his second of the game. It was the first shot Schneider faced after taking over

That's how the game would end as Matt Murray would make the key saves when needed, despite having so few shots against.

Next up is the Colorado Avalanche!

A personal note: My like for Rasmus Sandin has greatly increased with his goal with 4:44 left in the second. The number 44 & 444 were of special importance to my late grandfather. It's not often a goal gets scored at that specific time

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

MATT MURRAY TO START FINAL GAME OF SEASON

April 9 2020

Boston Bruins (44-33-4)

Vs

Toronto Maple Leafs (53-22-6)

Matt Murray will start and Henrik Lundqvist will be his backup as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Boston Bruins in the final game of the regular season.

This game has no meaning for the Leafs; they're locked in for first in the Atlantic and second in the League; they can't catch up to the first place Philadelphia Flyers. So Head Coach Jacob Smaby has decided to rest some of the Leafs stars. Frederik Andersen, John Tavares and Morgan Reilly will all sit out today's game. Matt Murray, David Backes and Dion Phaneuf will slot in respectively.

Boston however needs a win, coupled with a regulation loss by Washington, to make it into the playoffs as the second wildcard. They will counter with Cam Talbot in net

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

MATT MURRAY TO START FINAL GAME OF SEASON

April 9 2020

Boston Bruins (44-33-4)

Vs

Toronto Maple Leafs (53-22-6)

Matt Murray will start and Henrik Lundqvist will be his backup as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Boston Bruins in the final game of the regular season.

This game has no meaning for the Leafs; they're locked in for first in the Atlantic and second in the League; they can't catch up to the first place Philadelphia Flyers. So Head Coach Jacob Smaby has decided to rest some of the Leafs stars. Frederik Andersen, John Tavares and Morgan Reilly will all sit out today's game. Matt Murray, David Backes and Dion Phaneuf will slot in respectively.

Boston however needs a win, coupled with a regulation loss by Washington, to make it into the playoffs as the second wildcard. They will counter with Cam Talbot in net

Game Lineups

April 9 2021
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastranak
Debrusk-Studnicka-Bjork
Ritchie-Sutter-Fast
Clifford-Frederic-Petan

Krug-McAvoy
Grzelcyk-Carlo
Vaakanainen-Ceci

Starter: Cam Talbot
Backup: Michael DiPietro

Toronto Maple Leafs

Tuch-Matthews-Marner
Vanek-Kerfoot-Nylander
Bratt-Backes-Compher
Nygard-Steen-Korshkov

Brodin-Sandin
Liljegren-Bouwmeester
Hamonic-Phaneuf

Starter: Matt Murray
Backup: Henrik Lundqvist

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

LEAFS CRUISE PAST BOSTON IN FINAL GAME

Rookie Yegor Korshkov scored 2 goals and goalie Matt Murray had to make just 16 saves to help the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Boston Bruins 6-1 in the final game of the regular season.

Boston, needing a win to make it into the playoffs, certainly didn't get the start they wanted; they were down 4-0 by end of the first.

Yegor Korshkov got the games first goal at 05:09 off a brilliant one time feed by JT Compher. Timothy Liljegren, making up for an earlier interference penalty, scored at 9:39, and David Backes would add another less than a minute later. Mitch Marner would round out the scoring at 17:40.

The second period was expected to be a push back by Boston, but the Leafs defensive scheme held them in check, limiting them to 6 shots in the period. Only at 19:27 did Nic Petan break through and score a lucky bounce to make it 4-1

The third period saw more of the same. Tomas Vanek would add a goal at 7:09 and "Korshy" would add his second at 17:05 for the 6-1 final.

The Leafs will head into the playoffs on a 7 game winning streak and look to face an old foe: The Washington Capitals

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

NHL REGULAR SEASON RECAP

Overall Record: 54-22-6, 114 Points

Atlantic Division: 1st
Eastern Conference: 2nd
League: 2nd
First Round Playoff Opponent: Tampa Bay Lightning

Goal Leaders:
•Auston Matthews: 44
•John Tavares: 35
•Mitch Marner: 31
•William Nylander: 27
•Alexander Kerfoot: 25

Points:
•Auston Matthews: 99
•John Tavares: 86
•Mitch Marner: 79
•Morgan Reilly: 71
•William Nylander: 69

Plus/Minus:
•Morgan Reilly: +37
•Auston Matthews: +33
•Mitch Marner: +32
•Travis Hamonic: +21
•Timothy Liljegren: +1920200916_204057.jpeg20200916_204117.jpeg20200916_204127.jpeg20200916_204137.jpeg20200916_204150.jpeg

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Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

2021 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE ROUND 1 PREVIEW

M1 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (55-20-7, 117 Points)
Vs
W2 WASHINGTON CAPITALS (46-33-3, 95 Points)

X-Factors:

PHI: Brandon Saad (25-23-48, +14)

In a testament to the depth of the team, Brandon Saad scored 25 goals while playing on the 4th line, averaging just 11:54 of ice time. In the playoffs, depth is everything and look if Saad and company can continue their regular season success, they should have no problem with Washington

WSH: Ilya Kovalchuk (32-30-62, +18)

One year after scoring 31 goals and 70 points, Kovalchuk shows he still has it, being second in the team in goals behind countryman Alex Ovechkin. If the Capitals want to have a chance, they'll need their Top 6 to shoulder the work.

PREDICTION:

Rookie Ilya Samsonov did a decent job getting the Capitals, but the depth of the Flyers will prove too much for the Capitals. This is the Flyers series to lose. PHI IN 5

A1 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (54-22-6, 114 Points)
Vs
W1 Tampa Bay Lightning (46-29-7, 99 Points)

X-Factors:

TOR: Penalty Killing (77.8%, 17 SHGF)

Although the Leafs don't have the most effective Penalty Killing Units (Philadelphia, 84.6%), this is mostly a result of their aggressive play while shorthanded. Play that has led to a whopping 17 shorthanded goals, good for first in League (second place has just 8). Playing with fire when you draw a penalty

TB: Andrei Vasilevsky (38-22-5, 4 Shutouts, .908%, 2.73GAA)

The Leafs led the league in goals with a whopping 336 and Andrei Vasilevsky is the first goalie in the playoffs to face this onslaught. He will need to stand tall in order for Tampa to have a chance

Prediction: The Leafs defense isn't quite as physical as it was with Byfuglien, but their offense remains as potent as ever and their goaltending has been greatly improved. TOR IN 5

M2 Pittsburgh Penguins (50-22-10, 110 Points)
Vs
M3 Carolina Hurricanes (46-26-10, 102 Points)

X-Factors:

PIT: Tristan Jarry (36-16-6, 5 Shutouts, .895%, 3.05GAA)

Jarry took over as the unequivocal starter when the Leafs traded for starter Matt Murray. Pittsburgh did aquire Alexandar Georgiev as well but he played backup. Pittsburgh needs him to continue his winning ways against Carolina

CAR: Elvis Merzlikins (39-22-9, 4 Shutouts, .908%, 2.78GAA)

Merzlikins, acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, played in a career high 70 games. He will have to be at his best for Carolina to have a chance against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Look for fatigue to be a factor in this series

PREDICTION:

Merzlikins shines in the regular season, where he played a whopping 70 games. But the offensive firepower of Pittsburgh is too much. PIT in 6

A2 Buffalo Sabres (48-26-8, 104 Points)
Vs
A3 Florida Panthers (49-27-6, 104 Points)

X-Factors:

BUF: Jack Eichel (47-67-114, +21)

He scored 47 goals to practically will the Sabres back to the playoffs. If he can continue that info the playoffs, Florida Panthers goalie will have his work cut out for him

FLORIDA: Johnathan Toews (17-43-60, +24)

Acquiring Johnathan Toews finally gives the Panthers two good top centers, which is something Buffalo lacks. Look for the Panthers to spread out the scoring between the top two lines

PREDICTION: This one is so unbelievably close. It's nearly impossible to pick a winner. But based on regular season success, I would give the advantage to Buffalo. BUF IN 7

[SENS_AK27]

Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

If I can add one critique Vett, try using some Bold or Italics to break up all the text in your posts. I love the EC Recaps you did. Looks like some solid matches.

Do you or Tampa have any key injuries?

[Vettz25]

Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

If I can add one critique Vett, try using some Bold or Italics to break up all the text in your posts. I love the EC Recaps you did. Looks like some solid matches.

Do you or Tampa have any key injuries?

I use mobile. I'm afraid I can't use bold or italics. Unless you can and I just don't know how? I try and put big spaces in between when I type, but the post never actually does that when I post. I usually leave 3-4 lines seperating the paragraphs as in typing it out

[Vettz25]

Re: Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

If I can add one critique Vett, try using some Bold or Italics to break up all the text in your posts. I love the EC Recaps you did. Looks like some solid matches.

Do you or Tampa have any key injuries?

To answer your injuries question.

Maple Leafs are fully healthy for the first time In a while

Tampa Bay has lost center Blake Coleman, he's currently pending evaluation