Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

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

ANDERSEN BACK IN NET FOR GAME 4

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 4
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning
[TBL leads 2-1]

Frederik Andersen will get the start for game 4 as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Henrik Lundqvist started game 3 and lost 4-2. The Leafs look to be more disciplined with and without the puck; something that has been a constant issue in games 2 & 3.

Tampa Bay is hoping to get more out of Captain Steven Stamkos and too defenseman Victor Hedman; both are pointless (Hedman has played in 1 less game than Stamkos, having missed Game 2), Hedman has a -2 and Stamkos is tied for team worst -3 (Justin Schultz, Ondrej Palat)

Tampa Bay has a chance to put a strangled on the series as they lead it 2-1

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 4
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Game Lineups

Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Reilly-Bouwmeester
Brodin-Hamonic
Sandin-Liljegren

Starter: Frederik Andersen
Backup: Henrik Lundqvist

Tampa Bay Lightning

Hoffman-Stamkos-Kucherov
Gourde-Point-Killorn
Palat-Johnson-Carpenter
Verhaeghe-G Smith-Sceviour

Hedman-Sergachev
Cobourn-Schultz
Forbort-Rutta

Starter: Andrei Vasilevsky
Backup: Aaron Dell

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

LEAFS LOSE 5-3; TRAIL SERIES 3-1

Toronto Maple Leafs 3
Tampa Bay Lightning 5

Andrei Vasilevsky made 26 saves to help the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead

Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen had a rough night, making just 16 saves on 21 shots (.800%, 4.00GAA), just couldn't make the big saves when they needed them.

The Leafs, after finishing second in the league and conference, head back to Toronto on the brink of elimination and needing to win 3 straight games in order to win the series.

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

ANDERSEN SUFFERS INJURY; LUNDQVIST TO START

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 5

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs
[TBL leads 3-1)

Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen suffered a minor injury (MCL Sprain). The injury is minor and he was deemed fit to play, but head coach Jacob Smaby has decided to start the fully healthy Henrik Lundqvist instead. Frederik Andersen will slot in as the backup.

This game is do or die for the Leafs; a surprising situation considering the team finished second in the League in the regular season

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

ANDERSEN SUFFERS INJURY; LUNDQVIST TO START

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 5

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs
[TBL leads 3-1)

Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen suffered a minor injury (MCL Sprain). The injury is minor and he was deemed fit to play, but head coach Jacob Smaby has decided to start the fully healthy Henrik Lundqvist instead. Frederik Andersen will slot in as the backup.

This game is do or die for the Leafs; a surprising situation considering the team finished second in the League in the regular season

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 5
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs

Game Lineups

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

Reilly-Liljegren
Brodin-Hamonic
Sandin-Phaneuf

Starter: Henrik Lundqvist
Backup: Frederik Andersen [emoji856]

Tampa Bay Lightning

Hoffman-Stamkos-Kucherov
Gourde-Point-Killorn
Sceviour-Johnson-Carpenter
G Smith-Joseph [emoji856]-Verhaeghe

Hedman-Sergachev
Cobourn-Schultz
Forbort-Rutta

Starter: Andrei Vasilevsky
Backup: Aaron Dell

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

TAVARES SCORES TWO; LEAFS WIN 6-3 TO STAVE OFF ELIMINATION

Henrik Lundqvist made 28 saves (.903%, 3.00GAA) and John Tavares scored two goals to help the Toronto Maple Leafs overcome a Nikita Kucherov hat trick and beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3

Tavares opened the scoring at 4:55 of the first in a blast of a one timer from Mitch Marner, and JT Compher was the recipient of a similar okay by Tomas Vanek at 7:48. Alex Tuch scored at 17:53 by simply slapshooting it at poor Vasilevsky

Nikita Kucherov would score his first two goals of the game at 00:33 & 07:17 but Rasmus Sandin would also score to make it 3-2 heading into the third period

Johnny Tavares would score his second of the game at 1:59 and Kucherov would complete his hat trick at 11:01.

The Lightning pressured and pushed but Henrik Lundqvist made the saves we needed him to and the teams Defense handled the rest

Game 6 is back in Tampa Bay

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

LUNDQVIST TO START GAME 6

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 6
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning
[TBL leads 3-2]

Henrik Lundqvist will get the start again in game 6 as the Toronto Maple Leafs look to force a game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Henrik made 28 saves in Game 5 to stave off elimination.

Tampa Bay will be getting reinforcements as Alex Killorn, Blake Coleman and Anthony are all cleared to play in Game 6. Mathieu Joseph and Gemel Smith will sit out for Tampa

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

LUNDQVIST TO START GAME 6

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 6
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning
[TBL leads 3-2]

Henrik Lundqvist will get the start again in game 6 as the Toronto Maple Leafs look to force a game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Henrik made 28 saves in Game 5 to stave off elimination.

Tampa Bay will be getting reinforcements as Alex Killorn, Blake Coleman and Anthony are all cleared to play in Game 6. Mathieu Joseph and Gemel Smith will sit out for Tampa

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 6
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Game Lineups

Tampa Bay Lightning

Hoffman-Stamkos-Kucherov
Gourde-Point-Killorn [emoji856]
Palat-Johnson-Carpenter
Coleman [emoji856]-Cirelli [emoji856]-Sceviour

Hedman-Sergachev
Cobourn-Schultz
Forbort-Rutta

Starter: Andrei Vasilevsky
Backup: Aaron Dell

Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Reilly-Liljegren
Brodin-Hamonic
Sandin-Phaneuf

Starter: Henrik Lundqvist
Backup: Frederik Andersen

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

FREDDY SAVES THE DAY

Frederik Andersen replaced Henrik Lundqvist midway through the second and stopped all 9 shots to help the Leafs rally to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-4 in Game 6

Henrik Lundqvist would get the start but would get pulled after Ondrej Palat scores at 16:48 of the second to make it 4-2. He finished with 11 saves on 15 shots.

John Tavares would be the recipient of a Tampa Bay own goal after Victor Hedman would accidentally poke the puck into his net. The lead held until 13:31 when Colton Sceviour scored to tie the game.

Second period started well enough, Mitch Marner scoring at 4:17 to make it 2-1

But then, while being 4 on 4, Alex Tuch and Morgan Reilly took back to back penalties (8:45, 9:28) to give them a lonf advantage, one they would take. At 10:41, Nikita Kucherov scored and immediately after at 10:48, Victor Hedman would end the PowerPlay. Ondrej Palat would end Henriks night at 16:48

In the third period, the Leafs needed two goals in order to stave off elimination. Alex Tuch took it upon himself to personally tie the game. Scoring first at 6:13 to make it 4-3, it looked like it would be in vain. But Alex would score again at 19:03 to complete the rally

15 seconds later, Travis Hamonic would score his first goal of the playoffs which turned out to be the game winner. Jesper Bratt would add an empty netter at 19:54

Game 7 is in Toronto. Coach Jacob Smaby has a decision to make: who starts Game 7? Both Lundvist and Andersen played 3 games, both had some good games and some bad. It'll be interesting to see who gets the start

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

ANDERSEN TO START GAME 7

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 7
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs
[Series Tied 3-3]

Frederik Andersen will start game 7 as the Toronto Maple Leafs look to complete the comeback against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andersen stopped all 9 shots he faced to help the Leafs rally to beat Tampa Bay in game 6 after relieving starter Henrik Lundqvist

Tampa Bay will look to not flop on the 3-1 series lead they once had against a vastly superior team; they lost game four 6-3 and game five 6-4

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

ANDERSEN TO START GAME 7

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 7
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs
[Series Tied 3-3]

Frederik Andersen will start game 7 as the Toronto Maple Leafs look to complete the comeback against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andersen stopped all 9 shots he faced to help the Leafs rally to beat Tampa Bay in game 6 after relieving starter Henrik Lundqvist

Tampa Bay will look to not flop on the 3-1 series lead they once had against a vastly superior team; they lost game four 6-3 and game five 6-4

2021 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game 7
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Game Lineup


Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Reilly-Brodin
Sandin-Hamonic
Phaneuf-Liljegren

Starter: Frederik Andersen
Backup: Henrik Lundqvist



Tampa Bay Lightning:

Hoffman-Stamkos-Kucheroc
Gourde-Point-Killorn [emoji856]
Palat-Johnson-Carpenter
Coleman-Cirelli-Sceviour

Hedman-Sergachev
Cobourn-Schultz
Forbort-Rutta

Starter: Andrei Vasilevsky
Backup: Aaron Dell

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

LEAFS WIN FIRST PLAYOFF SERIES SINCE 2004

Frederik Andersen made 24 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs completed the comeback to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3, both in game and series to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals

The Leafs, who were down 3-1 in the series by game 4s end, got goals from Vanek, Tuch, Compher & Nylander.

The first period was scoreless but Nikita Kucherov opened the scoring early in the second at 1:11. That lead was short-lived as Vanek would tie it at 7:55 and Nylander would add another at 9:58. Brayden Point would score at 14:27 and Alex Tuch would add another at 19:00 to end the period at 3-2 in favor of the Leafs

JT Compher would give the Leafs an insurance goal at 17:02, but Ryan Carpenter would make it 4-3 and gave the Lightning life.

Despite a desperate push including 20 seconds of 6-on-4, the Leafs would hang on for the 4-3 victory and will advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2004

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

LEAFS WIN FIRST PLAYOFF SERIES SINCE 2004

Frederik Andersen made 24 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs completed the comeback to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3, both in game and series to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals

The Leafs, who were down 3-1 in the series by game 4s end, got goals from Vanek, Tuch, Compher & Nylander.

The first period was scoreless but Nikita Kucherov opened the scoring early in the second at 1:11. That lead was short-lived as Vanek would tie it at 7:55 and Nylander would add another at 9:58. Brayden Point would score at 14:27 and Alex Tuch would add another at 19:00 to end the period at 3-2 in favor of the Leafs

JT Compher would give the Leafs an insurance goal at 17:02, but Ryan Carpenter would make it 4-3 and gave the Lightning life.

Despite a desperate push including 20 seconds of 6-on-4, the Leafs would hang on for the 4-3 victory and will advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2004

Has it really been that long since they won a series? Oof.

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

2021 Eastern Conference Semi-Final Preview

M1 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (4-2)
Vs
M2 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (4-2)

X-Factors:

PHI: Travis Konecny (6GP, 4-3-7, +1)

Travis was their top goal scorer in Round One. In order to keep up with the high octane offense that Pittsburgh is known for, the Flyers will need him to continue his scoring ways

PIT: Dominik Simon (6HP, 3-4-7, +3)

The second line has been phenomenal this postseason; combining for 9 goals and 22 points (compared to just 5 goals and 15 for the top line of Malkin-Crosby-Guentzel). Bryan Rust being at the top isn't entirely unexpected but Dominik Simon's rise is impressive. Look for Pittsburgh's depth to shine this series

Prediction: The Battle of Pennsylvania never got better. Both teams are reliant on their second lines in the first round and both teams had good Goaltending. It may come down to puck luck in this one. PIT in 7

A1 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (4-3)
Vs
A3 Florida Panthers (4-2)

X-Factors:

TOR: Auston Matthews (7GP, 1-2-3, +3)

A total of 11 players have more points than Matthews. That's telling when you have spent considerable time in John Tavares wing. The Leafs will need him to produce more as the Leafs go deeper into the playoffs

FLA: Johnathan Toews (6GP, 1-7-8, Even)

Acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks, Johnathan has solidified the second line. The 32 year old is tied for first on the team in points with Aleksander Barkov.

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

2021 Western Conference Semi-Finals Preview:

C1 Winnipeg Jets (4-1)
Vs
C2 St Louis Blues (4-2)

X-Factors:

WPG: Jason Pominville (5GP, 3-2-5, +3)

Of all the players to be an X-Factor, Pominville was not expected. Despite averaging just 9 minutes per game, the 38 year old forward is tied for 2nd in points and 3rd in goals on the team

STL: Brayden Schenn (6GP, 6-6-12, +5)

Scoring a goal a game and 2 points per game is no easy feat but that's what Brayden Schenn managed to do against the Chicago Blackhawks. St Louis needs him to continue to have a chance against a strong Winnipeg Jets

Prediction: St Louis is a strong team with one of the Top Centers in the league. Unfortunately, Winnipeg has one the best goalies and deepest forward depth in the league. WPG in 6

P1 Vancouver Canucks (4-1)
Vs
W1 Dallas Stars (4-1)

X-Factors:

VAN: Evgenii Dadonov (5GP, 4-0-4, +3)

Leading the Canucks in goals, he's found a spot on the top line with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. The top line played a key factor in eliminating McDavid and the Oilers in 5

DAL: Tyler Seguin (5GP, 8-3-11, +3)

By far the biggest surprise of the first round was Wildcard team Dallas Stars upsetting the Vegas Golden Knights. The main reason was the play of Tyler Seguin who averaged over 2 goals per game. The team will need him to continue his stellar okay against Vancouver

Prediction: Dallas upset the higher seeded Vegas last round, and may find it an easier task against Vancouver. They find themselves against former Vegas goalie Robin Lehner. If Dallas defense can hold Vancouver's offense, Dallas has a decent chance. DAL in 7

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

2021 Eastern Conference Semi-Final Game 1

Florida Panthers @ Toronto Maple Leafs
[Series Tied 0-0]

Frederik Andersen will start for Game 1 against the Florida Panthers. Andersen, 31, went 3-1-1 in 5 games in the first round with a .889% & 3.09GAA. Freddy is looking to improve on those stats

Maple Leafs winger Alex Steen is out until May 1st; he may return in time for Game 4. Veteran Center David Backes will slot in the lineup

Florida, having eliminated Carolina in 6, have had a bit more rest than the Leafs, who just finished edging the Tampa Bay Lightning in 7