Post by Toronto Maple Leafs on Jun 7, 2022 15:01:13 GMT -6
Maple Leaf off to Round 2!!! Lets go live to the post game/series press conference.
GM Gibbons: First off, the Maple Leafs would like to congratulate Jesse Edwards and the Buffalo Sabres on an outstanding inaugural season. We have been chasing them all year for home ice advantage and while we didn’t manage catch them, we were lucky enough to find a way to overcome them this playoffs. The team has a lot of skill up front and will be around for a long time.
Our team has been playing a consistent brand of hockey all year. We have good depth and have been able to roll four lines throughout the season and eventually it gave us a slight advantage as the series wore on. Only one player on the roster didn’t register a point in the first round which is a reflection of our overall team game. With Kessel joining the roster we have had to shuffle some guys around and adjust a few role for players but everyone knows what the goal is here and have checked their egos to try and go after the ultimate prize. Our top two picks in the Draft were our top two scorers in the first round. We have had solid secondary scoring and several guys on our blue line have chipped in with some solid offensive play. This was a tight series where the margin of error was very slim, the first three games were decided by a single goal and the goal differential over the 6 games was just two. I will open it up for a few questions I guess…
Steve Simmons: How many hot dogs did Phil Kessel eat this series? He only had 2 points.
GM Gibbons: This is kind of stuff is why no one respects you Steve. You’re a joke and do a great disservice to your colleagues who actually report for a living. Kessel was brought in to lengthen our line up, make all 4 lines competitive and help the power play get back on track. I think he has done all those things for us and I couldn’t care less about his hotdog consumption. How many did you eat during this playoff series, I can see the mustard stains on your shirt.
Steve Dangle: What was the biggest difference maker for your team in the series?
GM Gibbons: Honestly it was our 5 on 5 play, giving up 6 powerplay goals in a series would typically be a hardship you can’t overcome but the guys found a way to get it done at even strength. I think that Markstrom was a difference maker for team. He made some timely saves and in the biggest game of the series he shut the door on Buffalo. 34 save shutout in such a big game is why you pay those guys the big money.
James Mirtle: What challenges do Tampa Bay pose for you in the next round?
GM Gibbons: They are a very strong roster with as good a blue line as there is in the league. There is a lot of experience at every position and they have a world class netminder. It will take everyone on our roster playing their role and sticking to the team identity we have. Benn O’reilly down the middle provide a ton of veteran leadership, grit and skill at a key position. Karlsson and Pietrangelo are two of the best. We are going to have compete hard on every shift and make the most of our opportunities. A hot goalie can have the biggest impact on the series and Tampa has a guy that is hot almost all season long. If we tighten up our powerplay I think we can be competitive with them every night.
Sean Mackenzie: Practice tomorrow morning?
GM Gibbons: Haha no we are gonna give everyone the day off tomorrow, give us a chance to go through some video on Tampa and then hit the ground running with the guys later in the week. A bit of rest for some of the bruises and battering the guys took in the last round is just what the doctor ordered. Thanks everybody
GM Gibbons: First off, the Maple Leafs would like to congratulate Jesse Edwards and the Buffalo Sabres on an outstanding inaugural season. We have been chasing them all year for home ice advantage and while we didn’t manage catch them, we were lucky enough to find a way to overcome them this playoffs. The team has a lot of skill up front and will be around for a long time.
Our team has been playing a consistent brand of hockey all year. We have good depth and have been able to roll four lines throughout the season and eventually it gave us a slight advantage as the series wore on. Only one player on the roster didn’t register a point in the first round which is a reflection of our overall team game. With Kessel joining the roster we have had to shuffle some guys around and adjust a few role for players but everyone knows what the goal is here and have checked their egos to try and go after the ultimate prize. Our top two picks in the Draft were our top two scorers in the first round. We have had solid secondary scoring and several guys on our blue line have chipped in with some solid offensive play. This was a tight series where the margin of error was very slim, the first three games were decided by a single goal and the goal differential over the 6 games was just two. I will open it up for a few questions I guess…
Steve Simmons: How many hot dogs did Phil Kessel eat this series? He only had 2 points.
GM Gibbons: This is kind of stuff is why no one respects you Steve. You’re a joke and do a great disservice to your colleagues who actually report for a living. Kessel was brought in to lengthen our line up, make all 4 lines competitive and help the power play get back on track. I think he has done all those things for us and I couldn’t care less about his hotdog consumption. How many did you eat during this playoff series, I can see the mustard stains on your shirt.
Steve Dangle: What was the biggest difference maker for your team in the series?
GM Gibbons: Honestly it was our 5 on 5 play, giving up 6 powerplay goals in a series would typically be a hardship you can’t overcome but the guys found a way to get it done at even strength. I think that Markstrom was a difference maker for team. He made some timely saves and in the biggest game of the series he shut the door on Buffalo. 34 save shutout in such a big game is why you pay those guys the big money.
James Mirtle: What challenges do Tampa Bay pose for you in the next round?
GM Gibbons: They are a very strong roster with as good a blue line as there is in the league. There is a lot of experience at every position and they have a world class netminder. It will take everyone on our roster playing their role and sticking to the team identity we have. Benn O’reilly down the middle provide a ton of veteran leadership, grit and skill at a key position. Karlsson and Pietrangelo are two of the best. We are going to have compete hard on every shift and make the most of our opportunities. A hot goalie can have the biggest impact on the series and Tampa has a guy that is hot almost all season long. If we tighten up our powerplay I think we can be competitive with them every night.
Sean Mackenzie: Practice tomorrow morning?
GM Gibbons: Haha no we are gonna give everyone the day off tomorrow, give us a chance to go through some video on Tampa and then hit the ground running with the guys later in the week. A bit of rest for some of the bruises and battering the guys took in the last round is just what the doctor ordered. Thanks everybody
