Life of a Delusional Leaf Fan

What bothers me isn't the fact the Leafs lost. It was the way they lost. They simply let the Panthers walk all over them. Losing on such a bad note will make us forget how good the season was, with some good moments that were not so bad. No one will remember that good season, only how they lost. It is too bad, because Stolarts played his heart out most of the season. We also have a warrior in Tanev. No matter how many times he was knocked down, he got back up.

We might have found a true superstar in Matthew Knies. The kid never gave up. He made huge strides this season. The release on his shot is truly excellent. But what we will remember is how we lost the season. They are a bunch of bums. Unfortunately, I am one of the nasty fans. I often get too negative, but tonight, I reflected on the good things this team has done this season. Seriously, I don't understand it myself.

John Tavarez showed us the true meaning of what it means to be a teammate. He was willing to give up his title and supported Matthews' captaincy. He went on to score 38 goals and 36 assists and showed more heart than I ever thought he had. But I chose to see how he didn't show up for the playoffs. Yes, this is a normal reaction to watching the clown show that was game seven.

As for Mitch Marner, I understand he doesn't show up in the playoffs. He forgets to give 100 percent at times. Let me play devil's advocate: he had a career year of 27 goals and 75 assists. But I choose to remember he didn't show up at the playoffs. He is a bum.

Conclusion

Oh, who am I kidding? They are a bunch of quitters. Fire everyone and start over with a clean slate.

I will never watch another hockey game for the rest of my life.

Oh, wait, the game is on. Got to go! See ya!

Randy Workman

Can the Leafs Fix Their Defensive Issues Before Playoffs?

In my opinion, the Maple Leafs have two main purposes going into the deadline. First up, they really need to find a solid third-line center, and second, the classic veteran defencemen. This may be harder because every team is looking for a dman. As for the centres, there are not too many available. Plus, with cap restrictions, they’ve got some limits to deal with.

My reasoning is simple. The Leafs are still giving up way too many scoring opportunities. Defensively, we have to clean up. To be fair, this is not on all the defence. Our forwards have been a bit lazy getting back into their own zone. They have to work on their entire game. Being a one-cycle player isn’t what the Leafs need. We need complete players who can do it all.

Snagging a defensive-minded third-line center would be ideal. It would be nice if he could fill in the top six in case of injuries and could add some offense. It’d be great to have someone reliable on the ice in those nail-biting moments when we’re trying to protect a lead. Come playoffs, shutting down the opposition will be vital.

The defense is still struggling in the defensive zone. We need a dman to stabilize the the third pairing. There are Way too many gaps in the defensive play. Time to fill in the gaps before the playoffs start.

The saying “defense wins cups” comes to mind. Let’s hope the Leafs adhere to this philosophy. 

Randy

Can the New York Islanders Make a Deep Playoff Run?

The New York Islanders are really coming together at the perfect moment. Patrick Roy has these guys firing on all cylinders. He's got them all on the same page, and everyone is fully on board with his game plan. The biggest difference I've noticed is their mindset — they are willing to do whatever it takes to get that win.

Kyle Palmieri

Kyle is really stepping up his game, scoring goals at just the right moment and and coming back to stop at Cole doing his back checking. He is skating with all his heart. He's like a whole new player out there.

Matthew Barzal and Bo Horvat 

Matthew and Bo have been clicking lately. They seem to have a good understanding of each other, which is vital to the success of the New York Islanders in the playoffs. Did I say playoffs? I should put a qualifier there if they make the playoffs. Bow and Barzal have been stepping up as leaders for the team, contributing on both ends of the ice. They are both such hot and talented players. It's good to see both showing up right now.

Semyon Varlamov

If there is a picture in the dictionary of a brick wall, you'd probably see Samyon's face plastered on it. He's totally in the zone. He sees the puck everywhere; his vision is nearly perfect. It is vital to have both goalies playing on the game.

But let's be real: the penalty-killing situation is a mess. The Islanders will have to address the issue of taking too many penalties. They need to cut down on the dumb penalties that are costing them. You know, like hooking or tripping a player instead of just hustling to catch up. 

As we head towards the end of the season, every game will be crucial. It's like a playoff game every night, which will only help the Islanders get ready for the real deal.

Randy

The Leafs' Playoff Roadmap to Beating the Panthers

I was understandably worried about the Leafs going up against the Florida Panthers. The Panthers had all the momentum going into this matchup, while the Leafs had nothing to lose. So what do the Maple Leafs have to do to emerge victorious?

I have three key concerns that I want to address regarding this series. There may be more, but these three are of particular importance.

Topping my list, my top three players must do what they do, only better.

Austin Matthews

Austin is to be the one the Leafs rely on to get the big goal. He has to be the leader. He's one of the most explosive offensive players in the NHL. With him for wheeling across the Sunrise shooting, passing, and doing what he does, Toronto will be much more successful.

Mitch Marner

Mitch is a slick playmaking forward. To be successful, Mitch has to be himself. He has to be involved in the play. He has to be stirred in the drink. If Mitch is being creative and causing havoc,  the Leafs will be successful.

John Tavares

The captain's responsibility is to lead by example, setting the tone for the rest of the team. He has to be the leader in the dressing room. The one that speaks up when things aren't going exactly right. He has to steer the ship. He can't sit back and be a passenger. He has to ensure everyone is contributing their fair share.

The second key: no one takes time off. One of my greatest peeves is an NHL team not playing the full 60 minutes. The Leafs have often taken their foot off the gas pedal and allowed teams to get back in the game. They can't take this team politely. They cannot sit on their laurels and expect the Panthers to roll over. Winning the series will take a lot of hard work and dedication.

The final key is coaching the coach. Keefe cannot simply be out-coached. To avoid this, the Maple Leafs need to play their own game instead of playing a wide-open game like the Panthers. For the Maple Leafs to succeed, they must play their game.

Randy

Islanders' Playoff Push

The New York Islander fans have to be pleased with how the team is playing going into the playoffs. Despite the injury of Matthew Barzal, the team has managed to remain resilient and competitive. When star player Bo Horvat experienced a bit of a slump, other players stepped up to make a difference. Each game brought with it a new hero; one night, it was Brock Nelson, and the next night it was Hudson Fasching.

I have two players in particular who have truly impressed me this season. The first is the ageless wanderer Zach Parise. How many of you said he would score 21 goals this season? Raise your hand. Those who raised their hands are either the greatest liars or have astounding foresight. Personally, I never thought that Zach could post such an impressive tally.

Considering the rash of injuries that have plagued the Hurricanes, I figured the Islanders had a pretty good chance of winning this series. They have a huge advantage in the goal with Sorokin. Granted, the Hurricanes' defense is probably one of the best in the NHL, but with three of their players sidelined, Carolina may struggle to keep up with New York's offense.

So what do the Islanders have to do to win this series? The first thing that comes to my mind is the Islanders must continue to enforce physical play. The key to the Hurricane's success is having their defense lead the offense into the offensive zone. Disrupting the Canes defense will lead them to panic, causing giveaways. Hitting everything in sight is also a good strategy. When players anticipate getting hit, they will get rid of the puck faster, which causes more defensive giveaways.

The last thing on my list is that the leaders must put up or shut up. I am talking about Barzal, Horvat, Nelson, and finally, Lee. They have to step up their game and produce these last two games. For the powerplay to work, they must score! Who knew? Obviously the New York Islanders haven't figured that out. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. It is not pleasant, but it's the truth. 

Randy. 

New York Islanders: This is Not a Eulogy

 

First of all, let me say this is not a eulogy. There is no death of this team, only growth. As a New York Islander fan, there is so much to be proud of. So many players hung it out there for the fans. Sure, I could concentrate on the loss. If only Nelson had scored on that breakaway. Sometimes, you have to give credit to the opposition goalie. Andrei Vasilevskiy made a tremendous save. I would rather concentrate on my inaugural year-end awards. So here we go.

The Coming of Age Award

Anthony Beauvillier

Anthony became a man in this playoff run. I saw glimpses of what Anthony will become. Beauvillier was, at times, the best of the New York Islanders, showing his speed, his shot, and his skills around the net. What excited me the most were the signs of him becoming a sniper. 

The Warrior Award

Adam Pelech

This one was a no-brainer. Seriously, he is the clearcut winner. Adam showed the Islanders' heart when he played in game five with a broken wrist. He is probably the best stay-home defenseman on the team. In the last two minutes left in a game, there is no one I would want more on the ice than Adam. His contract is a steal. What heart this player has. 

MVP

Seymon Varlamov

Semyon made a statement about these playoffs. I have something to say before heir apparent Iylia Sorokin takes the throne. I am goalie hear me roar! Semyon was outstanding. He did everything he could to take this series into game six. There is no one I felt put more into it than Seymon. He was the last man standing—what a statement he made before going into next season.  

Last word

Yes, the loss sucks. But the Islanders have a lot of exciting times coming down the pipe. The new arena. The best coach in the NHL. Matthew Barzal, one of the most exciting players. Ilya Sorokin, one of the best prospects in the NHL. And last but not least, GM of the year, Lou Lamoriello. I admit I questioned some of the moves he made, but I can't question the success he has had this season. Every year the so-called experts tell us why this team has no chance. Every year, they get one step closer to the big prize. (The big prize is the Stanley Cup, in case you fell on your head.) Hold your heads up, Islander fans; it is only going to get better from here. 

Randy

Maple Leafs: The Year that Was

If I had bet you before the season started that the Maple Leafs would be a playoff team, would you take it?  I predicted the Leafs would get around 70 points, 80 points max. Instead, the Leafs made the playoffs with 95 points.

The Awesome 

Auston Matthews

Mathews, with his 40 goals and 29 assists, was clearly the best rookie all year.  Auston was used in all aspects of the game. He was deadly on the power plays. He was the complete player with a plus two on the season.

Mitchell Marner 

Mitchell would have been the best Rookie on most teams.  His 19 goals and 42 points for 61 points were impressive.  By far, the most impressive playmaker on the team.

Nazem Kadri 

The best pest in the game! Kadri 32 goals were a shock to me. That completely blows my mind. He plays with his heart on his sleeve. He has to control his emotions and start playing with his head.  Kadri was the complete player, often played against the number one centre on the opposition team.  In fact, he outplays Mc-everything, when they played the Oilers twice.

The Good 

William Nylander

William has the skills of someone twice his age. Nylander is a skilled, playmaking forward, who gained more confidence with each game.  He matched Marner's points, with more goals and fewer assists. William is the fastest skater on the team. He might very well be the most exciting player on the team.

Morgan Rielly

Morgan is probably the best defencemen on the roster.  He is the best in defensive zone coverage. He has a great shot and covers up others mistakes with his speed. He saved a lot of players' bacon, with his excellent defensive skills

Those are the few examples of how we can be excited about this teams future. And I didn't mention the goalie, Frederik Andersen.  He is very bright, and like Matthews, Marner, and Nylander, will only improve.