Cursebreaker (Toronto Maple Leafs NHL20 - Fun Only)

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

Why the change?

Alex was out with a minor Injury last round. It was technically playable but I replaced him with David Backes for games 4 & 5 so he'd be fully healed for this round.

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

LEAFS WIN GAME 1; FLYERS LOSE BAERSTCHI

Frederik Andersen made 29 saves and Alex Steen had a goal and an assist in his first game back as the Toronto Maple Leafs cruised by the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1 in game 1 of the Conference Finals

Alex Tuch also had two goals.

The first period started out poorly; a defensive turnover allowed Jakub Voracek to score the games first goal just over a minute in. After that the Leafs would take over, with Tavares scoring to tie it and Bouwmeester scoring to make it 2-1

The second period only saw one goal; Alex Steen at 1:33 as both teams would clamp down defensively

The third period began with a brilliant play; at the end of a series of tic tac toe passes, Timothy Liljegren made a backwards pass towards the net, where Alexander Kerfoot would tip it past Carter Hart

Alex Tuch would then score his two goals, one at 6:43. The other, in the PowerPlay, was scored at 10:08 for the final 6-1 score


The Flyers also lost forward Even Baerstchi to an injury during the game.

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

2021 Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 Preview

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Philadelphia Flyers
[TOR Leads 1-0]

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without Joakim Nygard for game 2 against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 28 year old forward has 2 goals and 7 points in 13 games.

As a result, Alex Steen will slot to his natural position of Left Wing after spending almost the entire season at center, and veteran Center David Backes will slot in as 4th line center

Philadelphia will be without Sven Baerstchi, who was also injured in game 1

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

2021 Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 Preview

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Philadelphia Flyers
[TOR Leads 1-0]

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without Joakim Nygard for game 2 against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 28 year old forward has 2 goals and 7 points in 13 games.

As a result, Alex Steen will slot to his natural position of Left Wing after spending almost the entire season at center, and veteran Center David Backes will slot in as 4th line center

Philadelphia will be without Sven Baerstchi, who was also injured in game 1

2021 Eastern Conference Finals Game 2
Game Lineups

Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Reilly-Liljegren
Brodin-Hamonic
Bouwmeester-Sandin

Starter: Frederik Andersen
Backup: Henrik Lundqvist

Philadelphia Flyers

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

Provorov-Gostisbehere
Sanheim-Spurgeon
Hagg-Myers

Starter: Carter Hart
Backup: Erik Comrie

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

FLYERS CHASE ANDERSEN; TIE SERIES

Claude Giroux scored a hat trick and Carter Hart made 30 saves to help the Philadelphia Flyers crush the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1.

The first period was quiet with both teams feeling each other out.

Claude Giroux would open the scoring at 1:15 of the second. Oskar Lindbolm would add another at 14:10 to end the period 2-0 Flyers

Giroux would add his second at 2:45 of the third. Then the dreaded Penalty monster reared its head. Alex Tuch and JT Compher would take back to back penalties and Giroux and Travis Konecny would score back to back goals to make it 5-0

Mitch Marner would take his second penalty if the night. Alex Steen would add a shorthanded goal to ruin Hart's shutout bid, but the game would go to Philadelphia. Game 3 goes in Toronto

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

2021 Eastern Conference Finals Game 3
Game Preview

M1 Philadelphia Flyers @ A1 Toronto Maple Leafs
[Series Tied 1-1]

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to hit the reset button after being trounced 5-1 in game 2. They'll take on the Philadelphia Flyers at home in Scotiabank Arena

Bad positional play led to the onslaught of goals that saw Andersen get chased after goal 5, something Coach Jacob Smaby had them working on in the following practice

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

2021 Eastern Conference Finals Game 3
Game Preview

M1 Philadelphia Flyers @ A1 Toronto Maple Leafs
[Series Tied 1-1]

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to hit the reset button after being trounced 5-1 in game 2. They'll take on the Philadelphia Flyers at home in Scotiabank Arena

Bad positional play led to the onslaught of goals that saw Andersen get chased after goal 5, something Coach Jacob Smaby had them working on in the following practice

2021 Eastern Conference Finals Game 3
Game Lineups

Philadelphia Flyers @ Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Reilly-Liljegren
Brodin-Hamonic
Bouwmeester-Sandin

Starter: Frederik Andersen
Backup: Henrik Lundqvist

Philadelphia Flyers

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

Provorov-Gostisbehere
Sanheim-Spurgeon
Hagg-Myers

Starter: Carter Hart
Backup: Eric Comrie

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

THIRD PERIOD COLLAPSE NEARLY COSTS LEAFS

Mitch Marner scored 43 seconds in the second overtime period to help the Leafs salvage a 3-2 2OT win in game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead over Philadelphia Flyers

After the Leafs would be up 2-0 early in the third, the Flyers would come back and tie the game with just two minutes to go

Jesper Bratt would score his seventh of the playoffs at 3:48 of the first to get the ball rolling for the Leafs; the third line forward has formed some great chemistry with linemates JT Compher and Tomas Vanek.

The second period was quiet with no goals by either team

Early in the third, Alex Tuch would score his team leading 9th goal (4:15) to take a 2-0 lead that the Leafs would have liked to hold.

But two minutes later, Travis Konecny would score to make it 2-1 and former Leaf James Van Riemsdyk would score with 2:01 left to send this game to Overtime

Well despite many attempts (shots were 13-6), the Leafs could not find the winning goal in the first Overtime.

On the first play of the second however, Tavares would win the face-off back to Timothy Liljegren. He would then skate around Flyer winger Voracek and passed the puck to Tavares who would head to the left post, but would then do a cross ice one timer pass to the right side where a streaking Mitch Marner would snap it home, leaving Hart with no chance

The Leafs look to take a stranglehold on the series in game 4

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2021 Eastern Conference Finals Game 4

Philadelphia Flyers @ Toronto Maple Leafs
[TOR Leads 2-1]

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to take a stranglehold on the series as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Leafs won game 3 in double overtime.


Philadelphia will have Sven Baerstchi in the lineup; the forward missed games 2 & 3 with a hamstring injury. Another change will see Courtier moved to the top line and Giroux moved to line 2

"We have to be better positionally" said Captain John Tavares in a Pregame interview "They won the President's Trophy for a reason; we can't take them for granted or they will burn us. Watch us in this game. We're feeling better about our chances this game"

Hopefully Captain Johnny is correct; taking a 3-1 series lead back to Philadelphia would be a huge confidence boost for the team

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

2021 Eastern Conference Finals Game 4

Philadelphia Flyers @ Toronto Maple Leafs
[TOR Leads 2-1]

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to take a stranglehold on the series as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Leafs won game 3 in double overtime.


Philadelphia will have Sven Baerstchi in the lineup; the forward missed games 2 & 3 with a hamstring injury. Another change will see Courtier moved to the top line and Giroux moved to line 2

"We have to be better positionally" said Captain John Tavares in a Pregame interview "They won the President's Trophy for a reason; we can't take them for granted or they will burn us. Watch us in this game. We're feeling better about our chances this game"

Hopefully Captain Johnny is correct; taking a 3-1 series lead back to Philadelphia would be a huge confidence boost for the team

2021 Eastern Conference Finals Game 4
Game Lineups

Philadelphia Flyers

Van Riemsdyk-Couturier-Voracek
Baerstchi-Giroux-Konecny
Lindbolm-Stepan-Simmonds
Farabee-Patrick-Saad

Provorov-Gostisbehere
Sanheim-Spurgeon
Hagg-Myers

Starter: Carter Hart
Backup: Eric Comrie

Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Reilly-Liljegren
Brodin-Hamonic
Bouwmeester-Sandin

Starter: Frederik Andersen
Backup: Henrik Lundqvist

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

LEAFS CRUISE PAST FLYERS; ONE WIN AWAY FROM STANLEY CUP FINALS

Alex Tuch scored 2 goals to expand his team leading stat to 11 and the Toronto Maple Leafs trounced the Philadelphia Flyers 8-2 in game 4

The first period was even until 9:05 when Mitch Marner would connect with Morgan Reilly for a one-timer goal. Just over a minute later, Jesper Bratt would add another to make it 2-0, and Auston Matthews would score with 33 seconds left to give the Leafs a 3-0 heading to the first intermission

In the second, Alex Tuch would score his first goal at 8:50.

It was then that the Flyers had seen enough. Flyers defenseman Philippe Myers took offense to a hard hit by Alex Steen. Yegor Korshkov wasn't going to let the veteran fight that so he stepped in and pounded Myers in a one sided fight

Tomas Vanek would take a Penalty - fans know how scary penalties are to this team - but not only did they kill the penalty off, Vanek would redeem himself just 19 seconds after the penalty expired, scoring to make it 5-0. Alex Tuch would again score at 19:59 for his second

Shayne Gostisbehere would end Andersen's shutout bid at 3:49, but William Nylanders PowerPlay goal at 11:55 would make it 7-1 and Rasmus Sandin would make it 8-1 five minutes later.

Derek Stepan would score a nifty breakaway goal at 17:03 but that's all there was as the game ended 8-2

The Leafs are one win away from advancing as they travel to Philadelphia; they haven't played in the Stanley Cup Finals since 1967 - same year as their last Stanley Cup victory

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

LEAFS LOOK TO ADVANCE TO CUP FINALS; FLYERS LOOK TO STAVE OFF ELIMINATION

2021 Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals Game 5

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Philadelphia Flyers
[TOR Leads 3-1]

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1967 as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers in game 5 at Wells Fargo Center

Philadelphia may be without defensemen Travis Sanheim - the defensemen suffered a leg Injury last game. He didn't take part in yesterday's practice and will be a game time decision. The hope is he'll be able to play - Philadelphia doesn't have a defensemen scratched, all 3 healthy scratches are forwards (Derek Ryan, Kevin Hayes, Scott Laughton). Forward Sven Baerstchi is playing through an injured hamstring

The Toronto Maple Leafs are finally fully healthy in the playoffs and look to continue that info the final round

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LEAFS LOOK TO ADVANCE TO CUP FINALS; FLYERS LOOK TO STAVE OFF ELIMINATION

2021 Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals Game 5

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Philadelphia Flyers
[TOR Leads 3-1]

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1967 as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers in game 5 at Wells Fargo Center

Philadelphia may be without defensemen Travis Sanheim - the defensemen suffered a leg Injury last game. He didn't take part in yesterday's practice and will be a game time decision. The hope is he'll be able to play - Philadelphia doesn't have a defensemen scratched, all 3 healthy scratches are forwards (Derek Ryan, Kevin Hayes, Scott Laughton). Forward Sven Baerstchi is playing through an injured hamstring

The Toronto Maple Leafs are finally fully healthy in the playoffs and look to continue that info the final round

2021 Eastern Conference Finals Game 5
Game Lineups

Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Reilly-Liljegren
Brodin-Hamonic
Bouwmeester-Sandin

Starter: Frederik Andersen
Backup: Henrik Lundqvist

Philadelphia Flyers

Van Riemsdyk-Couturier-Voracek
Baertschi [emoji856]-Giroux-Konecny
Lindbolm-Stepan-Simmonds
Farabee-Patrick-Saad

Provorov-Gostisbehere
Sanheim [emoji856]-Spurgeon
Hagg-Myers

Starter: Carter Hart
Backup: Eric Comrie

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

LEAFS DROP CHANCE TO END SERIES

The Philadelphia Flyers needed a win to stay alive and they made it look easy, winning 4-3 despite only having 18 shots.

They possessed the puck most of the time and despite the disparaging shot numbers, the chances the Leafs had were all low danger chances. Any high danger chances were either intercepted, deflected or got broken up by a stick. In some cases, the Leafs inaccurate passing bungled golden opportunities. A Game Misconduct by Auston Matthews didn't help - the Leafs Penalty kill was unusually in effective, allowing 2 goals during that PowerPlay to go along with a third

1st Period:

PHI James Van Riemsdyk (Voracek, Gostisbehere), 1:32

TOR Alex Tuch (Kerfoot, Matthews), 4:35

2nd Period

PHI Travis Konecny (Voracek, Giroux), PP, 3:55

PHI Sean Couturier (Saad, Van Riemsdyk), PP, 8:49

PHI Joel Farabee (Saad, Provorov), PP, 11:11

3rd Period:

TOR Mitch Marner (Nylander, Liljegren), PP, 11:19

TOR Morgan Reilly (Tavares, Marner), 19:36

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

LEAFS LOOK TO CLOSE SERIES AT HOME

2021 Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals Game 6

Philadelphia Flyers @ Toronto Maple Leafs
[TOR Leads 3-2]


The Toronto Maple Leafs will try again to eliminate the Philadelphia Flyers, this time at home. They lead the series 3-2 after dropping game 5 by a score of 4-3

Head Coach Jacob Smaby focused on passing and puck work in yesterday's practice; the team was at just 74% during game 4s loss

Another change is the PowerPlay strategy; the Umbrella formation just wasn't working against the Flyers tough defense. The Coach had the players running an Overload playbook this time; combined with a new diamond Penalty Kill strategy should give the Special Teams advantage to Toronto.