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As happy as I am the leafs lost again. This is the first year that I'm having a hard time "really" enjoying it. Yet another Sabre miss and subsequent new coach, I am just beat down. We are an embarrassment to all of professional sports; so I would take a game 7 OT loss at this point gladly.

So just like the NHL playoffs vs. regular season right? You see where I'm going with this? The one constant I've always had on this board is I want the Sabres to build a team properly. A team that is built for the playoffs and not just the regular season. After over a decade of no playoffs I do not want another decade of Leaf style exits after it (if and when it finally ends). Teaching our kids how to play that type of hockey and how to battle through it should be part of the learning process and veterans on Rochester should be there to help them through it.

Quite honestly the Amerks are an oddity in the AHL since they are very much akin to what the AHL is supposed to be, a developmental league. A lot of youngsters (19 to 26) with NHL aspirations and a few vets to shepherd them along. During the regular season it works for the most part because player are constantly getting sent down/called up and thus keeps teams developing primarily. The AHL playoffs are a different animal altogether. Whereas the NHL becomes less likely to make calls than usual but still generally resembles normal NHL play. The AHL playoffs turn into a no holds bar cage match and the Amerks aren’t exactly equipped to dominate a competition where skills mean less than how good you might be at playing dirty. This series has been much like the Bears series last year. A team of career AHLers and tweeners with a couple youngsters versus Rochester’s team of youngsters led by a few career AHLers and tweeners. As such they get bullied year round but whereas in the regular season they can use their speed and skill as well as PP to fight back; the playoffs practically let teams wrestle which is both absurd and unfair to the Amerks and multiple similar teams. A fast player can’t skate away if the opposing player can trip him without penalty. It’s why teams like the Hershey Bears are always near the top of the league; half of them are lifers that know this is their Stanley Cup and the other half are either being called up or developed for a future call up. When their NHL teams are eliminated, suddenly their teams play max experience allowed and while typically less refined in skill have a lot of pent up anger at the youngsters on the opposing side. Add to that refs that pretend to be blind and you get the Amerks struggles because they are more rule abiding and meant for the NHL versus pure AHL success.

I didn’t see him myself, but he was confirmed to be at game 3 by other Rochester fans I know. Have to imagine he was in the building tonight.

Possibly. They have a few tougher guys than last year but overall Florida is the tougher team. Probably. idk about 4 straight but Bruins don't have enough goal scoring talent to match Florida so they will likely end up on the losing side of a goaltending battle too. Beating the Leafs was satisfying though. I'm happy. Hate the Leafs.

Well that was FUN! Crunch fans were gracious and confused. A combination of Syracuse backing off to protect the lead and ROC pressing made all the difference. Halverson (Crunch goalie) lost the mojo and the Amerks made them pay. The Amerks vets (Biro & Murr) came through. Excited for game five in our barn!

I want to believe they used the play we did against them last year to tie it with Tuch one timing it off the boards. Even if it’s a common ish play lol

Don't think so. The Leafs' physical game was better than Boston's the past two games. Boston looks old. The Panthers have a solid physical game that can easily match Boston's right now. If anything we'll be treated to a goaltender duel, but, again, the Panther's skill surpasses Boston's by quite a lot. If I were a betting man I would lay money on this being a 4 and out series.

Game 7 in Boston is like Groundhog Day for the Leafs. So extra sweet that it was in OT this time and the Bruins came from behind to win again. Can’t wait to watch Steve Dangle tomorrow morning. 1967 forever baby!!! Let the bickering commence Leafs fans!

I don’t expect them to beat Florida but it will take a physical toll on the Panthers!

I hope Lindy has been at these Amerks playoff games.

You mean way back in the 2022-2023 season? 😉

101/106. Not too shabby.

Matthews is a great player, but he just doesn't show up and carry his team in the playoffs. This year he was injured or sick, but he now has over 50 playoff games and years of it being the same. When you are going to be the highest paid player in the league, an MVP, a multiple time goal scoring champ, you need to pick things up in the playoffs. Since they have been in the league: McDavid: +6% more in the playoffs Draisaitl: +36% more in the playoffs McKinnon: +16.6% more in the playoffs Matthews: -24% LESS points per game in the playoffs Sample size over 50 games now for everyone...over 80 for McKinnon There have been too many playoff games where just ONE goal would have given the Leafs a win and maybe/probably a series win. One of these years he's going to have to elevate in the playoffs.

This guy?

lol. I will get around to it.

What is the name of the ranting Leaf fan?

Yep.

Never mind. Don't watch. Nothing happened.

I think it's the end of the big 4. At least one of them is going to get moved, probably Marner. maybe Tavares. Domi and Bertuzzi were their best players in this series. Along with Knies.

I can't say I was exactly rooting for them, but I found myself rooting more strongly against the Leafs.

cause it's the Leafs. Now enjoy all the Leaf whining for months. and don't worry, unless Swayman performs miracles Bruins can't get anywhere near beating Florida.

Well he was right about the Lightning winning cups in that article. That’s it

To all who celebrate, Happy Leafs Elimination Day. Every year, i have an annual tradition of reading this beauty of an article. It's aging like fine wine! https://torontosun.com/2017/09/11/simmons-vaulted-by-big-3-this-maple-leafs-team-is-a-champion-in-waiting Watching Leaf Nation melt down over the next few months will help dull the pain of no Sabres until the fall, and this offseason should be better than most. Cheers to all!

I was surprisingly not angry when the Bruins won