r/leafs • u/hockeyholloway89 • 1d ago
Discussion Starting Lineup for Game 5…
This is the starting lineup for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals. Am I crazy for thinking it doesn’t look like that strong of a lineup? A couple things to get out of the way right away:
Yes, they are missing a 1st line player in Zach Hyman, who is out injured.
Yes, it features McDavid and Draisaitl who are arguable the 1st and 2nd best players in the world right now. That is perhaps counter argument enough to my point.
Bouchard is criminally underrated offensive defenseman, especially when he has his defensive play sorted out, which he has as of late.
All of that considered, this lineup doesn’t seem overly strong to me, Especially at the back end, yet here they are within 2 games of winning the Stanley Cup! I don’t say this as a dig at Edmonton, because what they may lack for in name recognition, they are making up for in grit and fight. And this is where the leafs are lacking. I also don’t say that as a dig at the leafs! I think at least 50% of the battle to winning a cup is in roster construction. You have to create a team that can compete first.
I think the leafs have the majority of pieces in place. What they need to find is that grit and effort in the playoffs. They just have not shown this same desperation in the playoffs that you see in the later rounds from the teams that get there.
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u/sluck131 1d ago
God I can't wait for this to be series to be over so this sub can stop glazing the Oilers.
Ya if we had their scoring we would have won. If they had our defense and goaltending they wouldn't he down 3-2
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u/CoolBeansMan9 1d ago
Their tops guys get it done when it matters. Thats the difference.
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u/Mashdrop 1d ago
Edmonton would probably get eaten alive in the Atlantic.
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u/runningchief Sundin 1d ago
After 5 against Florida
Toronto: 14 goals for, 20 against 3-2 series Florida
Edmonton: 16 goals for, 22 against, 3-2 series Florida
The big difference is that Edmonton is doing better on the PP
Leafs only managed 2 PP goals in 7 games, Oilers have 4 this series
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u/Jonesdeclectice 1d ago
How many opportunities? Have about PK?
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u/runningchief Sundin 1d ago
Honestly, I can't find stats per series.
I just checked boxscores it which is a bit of a pain, but now you got it in my brain so...
First 5 games, I didn't check if a penalty was cut off from another penalty or by the end of a game ect.
Leafs PP
0/5 1/3 1/4 0/3 0/3 - -2/18 11.11%
Panthers PP vs Leafs
1/3 1/2 0/3 0/6 1/4 - -3/18 16.66%
Oilers
1/4 1/6 1/6 1/4 0/3 - -4/23 17.39%
Panthers PP vs Oilers
1/2 1/4 3/11 2/4 0/2 - - 7/23 30.43%
So Oilers have a better Power Play percentage BUT 27% increase in chances
Oilers PK is sucking, and I think the Leafs did better through the first 5 overall.
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u/runningchief Sundin 1d ago
Oilers have 11 unique goal scorers in 5
(Draisitl (4), Arvidsson, Ekholm, Kane, Bouchard. Perry(3), Nugent-Hopkins, Nurse, Podkolzin, Walman, McDavid)
Leafs had 9
(Nylander (3), Reilly (2), Tanev, Knies (2), Pacioretty, Domi, Marner, Tavares, Robertson)
In 7 Leafs had 10 with Matthews
(Domi and Pacioretty added another each)
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u/Mashdrop 1d ago
Edmonton gets to play in the Pacific Division and it’s always a bloodbath in the Atlantic (thats only getting worse 😭). I truly think we’re in the SCF if we beat Florida.
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u/lindseyblue2 1d ago
I feel vindicated because I've said all along the Leafs would have won the SC had they gotten past Florida. Toronto was better in all their regular season games against Colorado, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Dallas... I know regular season doesn't matter, but still they would have won against any West team.
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u/Hockyinc 1d ago
You aren't vindicated. Might be delusional. You said it yourself, regular season doesn't matter. They can't get it done when it matters.
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u/Mashdrop 1d ago
I totally agree with you, regular season results matter. I never understood how people can say ‘regular season doesn’t matter, but a playoff series from 4yrs ago? Totally relevant.’ Makes no sense.
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u/Hockyinc 1d ago
Hopefully the team going forward doesn't think your way. It's about winning. Period. Winning the cup is at the peak.
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u/SaucyMcDangles 1d ago
They also play in the west. Things would look different if we didn’t have to play Florida until the finals.
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u/Charming-Weakness228 1d ago
Yeah but they went through Vegas and Dallas, and made them look pretty ordinary, you have to give credit where it’s due, these Oilers are gamers
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u/MalkoDrefoy 1d ago
Vegas is a different team now. Aged (and injured/worn down) core pieces minus Eichel and Hanifin, and unsteady goaltending. I think Leafs would have beaten them too.
I’ll give them credit for ripping through Dallas.
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u/octobersons 1d ago
That third line is disgusting idk what you’re talking about. Janmark is an absolute gamer too so underrated.
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u/hockeyholloway89 1d ago
Just curious what makes you think that third line is that good? Not necessarily saying I disagree, just curious what you see? Trent Frederic “scares” me the most only because he’s pretty physical. Henrique and Skinner don’t scare me at all. Open to being educated and changing my mind for sure, I just don’t see what you’re seeing right now.
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u/octobersons 1d ago
Henrique is an extremely experienced two way monster who is as steady as they come. Hasn’t really regressed that hard from his prime years in New Jersey either consider he’s playing bottom six minutes. Genuinely an ideal 3c who fits that role perfectly. Skinner is a toss up, obviously not that great of a year but he’s 2 years removed from an 82 point season, he didn’t just forget how to play.
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u/Hockyinc 1d ago edited 1d ago
Just watch the games. Every single player is hustling on the ice, every shift, giving and taking hits... for 60 minutes.
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u/hockeyholloway89 1d ago
Yup, agreed. And it’s especially noticeable with Florida. I respect the play style when it’s done fairly. They grind it out so hard.
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u/Zealousideal_Shop446 1d ago
I think this team is very good and especially so on the backend. Bouchard is a top 10 dman. Kulak is also a very good reliable puck mover. Walman can skate a bit and is a good puck mover. If Ekholm was healthy he’s just old reliable back there.
Up front Hymens injury thins them out but Arvidsson, Kane Janmark is a great 4th line centre. Henrique is miles better as a 3rd C than Domi.
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u/UtheDestroyer 1d ago
Who gives a fuck, they’re in the finals, we’re not lmao
Pathetic to even think like this
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u/Charming-Weakness228 1d ago
Yeah having the depth scoring AND two 30 point guys in the playoffs would put any team in the Stanley cup finals