GAME FOUR HOPPER NOTES: A somewhat abbreviated report o’ you many, loyal followers. My Baby Laura is to be wed on Friday and I need to catch a 7 am flight to Cancun (I really should be in bed !).
The Leafs got off to a jittery start and some might have even questioned their level of commitment in this crucial game 5. Tampa Bay went up 2-0 in :52 seconds with 2 goals on six shots. Credit the Leafs crowd who stayed loud and faithful despite their club being outshot 14-4 in the opening stanza.
You have GOT to give the second period to Toronto, showing a courageous and determined effort throughout. Not only did they dominate by outshooting the Lightning 14 to 8, but they really made Vasilevsky display his A+ game. Captain John finally got off the snide with his first of the series.
Morgan Reilly tied things up early in the third and the joint went nuts ! Just :73 seconds later, Nyalander put one in off the post to create the first lead change of the series. You just new that the defending (x 2) Stanley Cup Champs weren’t going to roll over and sure enough, some poor Leaf clearing allowed McDonaugh to roof one for the tie. Soup Campbell continued to shine and the all-stars Marner and Mathews combined a beauty of a winning goal.
I’ll be on the beach for my next report – cheers – and don’t let anybody tell you that faith is for chumps.
My first thoughts after the first period….
Leafs will make Coach Keefe the fall guy after another first round loss and bring in Barry Trotz.
My thoughts after the second period..Barry Who ?
My thoughts at the end of the game..Why didn’t Coach Keefe win Coach of The Year?
Now the big question ..
Do they have the killer instinct to get this over with in six games ?
Enjoy the wedding..what a special day for your family..