The Toronto Maple Leafs have to make a decision ahead of Game 5 involving Michael Bunting, Mike DiStefano and David Morassutti break down all the options but first they go through the aftermath of the team’s comeback win in Game 4. They discuss Billy Kapogiannis, the Leafs fan from the broadcast celebrating, getting to soak in his fame and other important storylines from the game. They move on to the conversation around Michael Bunting being eligible to return and if there is a conversation to be had about whether he should get back in at all. Mike and Dave discuss Sheldon Keefe saying Matthew Knies will remain in the lineup and wonder who would be the player coming out if Bunting returns. They end the show with Co-Sign/No-Sign looking at some narrative surrounding the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase.
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOLeafs?sid=YouTube
Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mickey_Canuck
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_morassutti
Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lockedonleafs
24 Comments
First 🍁
they've done great without Bunting… I say leave him out, It was a dirty hit that caused injury…, give him till round 2 to make him think twice about his next dirty hit…. Leave the roster alone please!
I don't think Bunting should be inserted back into the lineup..the chemistry is just too good right now. Knies isn't coming out, the fourth line has been playing really well imo, Jarnkrok just had literally the best season of his career, he's good defensively, he's fast and can score. If Keefe really wants to ease him back into the lineup, 3rd line left wing would be ideal, Ryan O'Reilly might be able to keep him in check with his veteran leadership. Personally I would leave him out for a game..If it's not broke, don't fix it as they say.
Makar laid a nice hit… Bullshit suspension… McCann should keep his head up after being chased past the net… We R taught in hockey to finish our checks…. the only cheap thing about the hit is the penaly / suspension!!
Bunting shouldn’t get put back in until they loose a game.
I think Mathews and Marner should be the ones that determine if Bunting comes back in. Ask them who would you rather? Bunting or Jarnkrok?
I dont think Michael should be back in the game. The problems with him and the officials, and he is such a hot head,,, and with it being Tampa Bay,,, I think if he is back in the game,, Tampa will push his buttons and it won't go well
Bunting – Mathews – Nylander
Knies – Tavares – Marner
Jarnkrok – O’Reilly – Accairi
Kerfoot – Kampf – Lafferty
If you will give me some artistic license. IT WAS 4-1 WITH 10 MINUTES LEFT.
Overall the Leafs have been able to score on Vasilevskiy. He as shut them out in games but overall he hasn't been that great against them in the playoffs. That said, they really need to make my prediction of Leafs in 5 come true; cause if they let Tampa hang around I don't want them to have to play him in a game 7.
Effective on a consistent basis. Marner it Keefe's magic elixir. Everywhere there is a problem, Keefe sends in Marner. Matthews struggling, play him with Marner. Tavares looks bad, give him some shifts with Marner. Nylander looks like trash. Personally responsible for two of Tampa's four goals. Play him with Marner to get him some redemption. Marner is second in the league in points. Tied for first in plus minus. Is Keefe's go to guy in virtually every situation. What do you want from the guy?
Bunting, I would sit him. Firstly, you don't change a winning lineup. Beyond that; who would you take out? Knies? Hell no. He is already better than Bunting. Jarnkrok? Nope. Acciari? Hell no. Break up the first effective forth line in the Dubas era. Nope. Add in all the Tampa players are going to be roughing Bunting up and he has already proved he can't be trusted to keep his temper in check. Plus his flopping around on the ice and bleating pisses the refs off and they are bad enough already. Unless there is an injury they are keeping quiet about. Bunting needs to wait.
Makar. LOL, hit on an unsuspecting player after the play is dead; that hit was twenty games thirty years ago.
Refs will continue to be terrible.
Way too early to give Draisailt the Conn Smythe. Is he a front running? Sure. He is tied with Marner for second in points and Draisaitl has only played one more game than Marner. But it is much to early to be giving out playoff hardware.
Changes to the lineup. Nylander with Matthews and Jarnkrok. Marner with Tavares and someone not named Kerfoot.
There is no debate no way Bunting plays again this series .
Bunting in the line up will energize Tampa with revenge energy and get them amped up, we need them sleeping, we need a boring win, and then let Bunting in the second round. Bunting made his bed its time he lay in it. Don't upset the apple cart right now, see if the winning streak can con't. And good point Mike, all the lines make up get changed with Bunting in.
Knies > Bunting > Järnkrok
No way Tampa is sleeping Bunting will wake them up .Also Bunting gets Mathews off his style of game that's why his goal production was down this year and the last game Mathews scored 2 important goals if Bunting was there only 1 at best .Toronto needs to learn from the Kadri mistake.
Keep Bunting out. Don't change a winning horse in mid-race.
We've been talking about Buntings antics all year. He's not Locked on…(no pun) He needs to sit the rest of series. Tampa will manipulate him,and we'll have another Kadri. I think Toronto sees that one mistake could cost them.
There is a difference between Kadri and Bunting. Kadri lashed out when the rest of the roster failed to respond. Bunting did not have that problem. Kadri is also a more valuable asset than Bunting. I understood Kadri's indiscretion more than Bunting's. I'd sit Bunts, first, to send a message to those who have built that 3-1 lead, and second, to let Bunting know that he has to play as a responsible team mate. Think about him this year … he's a productive player, but he needs to grow up.
They won two plus games , go one more without him and see what happens
What about 92/93 when we got cheated .
Leafs can't lose on Thursday if they wear their Justin Bieber jerseys.
Can Bunting play defence? Bunting for Holl lol😂
Let TBay chase Bunting around the ice take some dumb penalties because there are quite few cementheads on TBay.
Lafferty is probably is best option to sit out. Hasn't been a factor so far
Awesome Show Bunting In On The 3RD Line With Oreilly And Acciari And Lafferty Out Because Astin Reese Has Scored A Couple Big Goals In This Series So Far GLG From Way Up North Timmins Ontario Canada 🙂🏒🥅🍁🇨🇦
Keefe will stay with the current line-up in game 5. Bunting will be back if/when they lose i.e., either game 6 or next round.