GDT: ECSF: (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs (A3) Florida Panthers - GAME 1 - 8 PM EST IN TORONTO

[tuckerintensity]

I'm certainly far more nervous than I was last round, in which I wasn't at all concerned ever, but that doesn't mean I don't think we can't win. Florida is tough, certainly one of the most proven teams in the league, but we're a really damn good hockey club too. Let's make the other Tkachuk brother cry now.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Going to have to beat two teams tonight but we can do it. GLG

 

[Oscar Peterson]

LFG... can't wait to watch the game tonight

Panthers are a stacked team, it's going to be a tough series no matter what, hoping we give our best efforts tonight, Go Leafs Go

 

[Larcos_Unal]

No nerves, I'm totally fine

 

[Mess]

Their forward group is definitely deeper and will be hard to match, but their defense without Ekblad especially is kinda vulnerable. Mikkola and Kulikov are solid 4/5 types but hardly anything that strikes fear, minus Nikkola trying to injure I guess. Bottom pairing is meh, Schmidt can score but also can be taken advantage of defensively. While Forsling is the best D on either team, I like our 1-6 collective group better, even with Ekblad in the line-up.

The Panthers have won more playoff games 39 since 2021 than they did in their first 26 seasons (19). Their 39 wins and 66 games played in the postseason since 2021 lead the NHL.

Leafs have won 28 games in 63 games played since 2016-17 over 9 seasons.

Florida's postseason goal-scoring leaderboard features current players through the top four spots: Carter Verhaeghe (28), Sam Reinhart (23), Aleksander Barkov (20), Matthew Tkachuk (20).

Leafs postseason goal-scoring leaderboard features current players through the top 4 spots: Auston Matthews (25), William Nylander (23), John Tavares (15 as Leaf), Marner (12).

 

[Nineteen67]

Leafs can win this series if they relax and play strong defensive game and score when they get the opportunities.
They’re underdogs, playing with house money and every win from here on is a bonus.

 

[1specter]

I'm certainly far more nervous than I was last round, in which I wasn't at all concerned ever, but that doesn't mean I don't think we can't win. Florida is tough, certainly one of the most proven teams in the league, but we're a really damn good hockey club too. Let's make the other Tkachuk brother cry now.

Interesting, I might be in the minority but I am completely calm about this round. Personally, I feel like the Leafs aren't really in a pressure situation, because nobody really expects them to win this and they're the heavy underdog despite winning the division and having home ice - the Panthers are back-to-back Eastern champs, defending Stanley Cup champs and also made quick work of Toronto two years ago while also owning us in the regular season for a number of years now. People also gave up on this core in general a long time ago so any series wins at this point is kinda like gravy really. In my mind, the Leafs are kinda playing with house money here.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Interesting, I might be in the minority but I am completely calm about this round. Personally, I feel like the Leafs aren't really in a pressure situation, because nobody really expects them to win this and they're the heavy underdog despite winning the division and having home ice - the Panthers are back-to-back Eastern champs, defending Stanley Cup champs and also made quick work of Toronto two years ago while also owning us in the regular season for a number of years now. People also gave up on this core in general a long time ago so any series wins at this point is kinda like gravy really. In my mind, the Leafs are kinda playing with house money here.

I would dispute that. Winning one round against Ottawa doesn't make this a successful season to me. So I don't think any series wins from now on are just gravy.

 

[Dayjobdave]

Start fast, no nerves, finish checks.

keep the bottom 3 inches of your stick outside your top hand for those late hits boys

 

[1specter]

I would dispute that. Winning one round against Ottawa doesn't make this a successful season to me. So I don't think any series wins from now on are just gravy.

Never said that it would make a successful season. I am just saying that I am calm because nobody is really taking Toronto seriously after all the choke jobs and also not really giving them a chance against the defending champs. With how Florida just dispatched Tampa everyone has been treating it like a foregone conclusion that they're going to roll through the East. 15/16 analysts picked Florida to win this matchup as well I believe.

 

[Revolt]

This is our year. Cmon boys take Game 1. Put the pressure on the Panthers.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

You're not in trouble until you lose at home. So we can be in trouble at 11PM today

 

[TheGreatOne11]

I'm feeling good. I'm feeling great. It's time for our Leafs, to DOMINATE!!!!!

It's about damn time. The boyz are now men. The defensive system this team plays with is at the peak of the last 10 years. We have a goalie that actually steals some games. And we have a chip on our shoulders years in the making.

Time to take down the former Stanley cup champs and let the League know the cup ain't moving from home for a while boys and girls.

 

[crump]

Top 3 Panthers lines are pretty damned solid. Defense is big and daunting. Marchand is setting up goals like he has Pasternak on his wing still. This is going to be tough. I’ll have fun watching though. I’d like the Leafs to change the conversation to how hard they are to play against, and how consistent they are. How Stolarz is a brick wall.

 

[Advanced stats]

This team was literally built with the goal of beating Florida.
Every addition in the offseason and at the tdl was carefully selected knowing that the road to the cup goes through Florida.

Huge test for Brad and the boys, hopefully the role players are up for it, because I expect Barkov to shutdown the top line.

Also got to keep emotions in check. 1 or 2 dumb penalties will kill us.

Glg!

 

[Tak7]

Feels like every decision they've made has been with the goal of competing, and beating, Florida.

I'm not convinced they truly are "different" - but boy, do they have the perfect opportunity to really make a statement in this series.

Really need a strong start tonight. Bob can be made to look and feel vulnerable.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Never said that it would make a successful season. I am just saying that I am calm because nobody is really taking Toronto seriously after all the choke jobs and also not really giving them a chance against the defending champs. With how Florida just dispatched Tampa everyone has been treating it like a foregone conclusion that they're going to roll through the East. 15/16 analysts picked Florida to win this matchup as well I believe.

Yes, that's fine. I agree with you in that case.

 

[rojac]

I honestly see no reason to be concerned until the Panthers win three games and the Leafs are facing elimination. Until then, anything can happen.

That's not to say I won't be excited and cheering for the Leafs to win but I also don't see any need to get overly worried if if they lose in a game where it doesn't mean they'll be eliminated.

They is interesting the note that only eight players remain from the team that played the Panthers two years ago.

 

[Maple Leaf]

No nerves, I'm totally fine

View attachment 1029985

 

[Mess]

Leafs can win this series if they relax and play strong defensive game and score when they get the opportunities.
They’re underdogs, playing with house money and every win from here on is a bonus.

Generally the team that wins the division with the most points is usually considered the favourites when they have home ice advantage and last change.

One of the exceptions might be playing the defending Stanley Cup champs.

Florida seemed to have less problems disposing of TB than the Leafs did the Sens.

Leafs seem to better suited as underdogs with lower expectations than favourites with pressure of expected to win.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Our defense vs Florida 2 years ago
Brodie
Rielly
Giordano
Holl (played 8 games)
Gustavsson (played 2 games)
Liljegren (played 5 games)
McCabe
Schenn

Everyone else played all 11 games

 

[MCR74]

I hope the boys have the courtesy to wave to Brady if they see him in the stands.

 

[Roo]

We're going to need our goalie to steal us at least 1 game in this one, I think. PP needs to stay strong, and we need to stay out of the box. Panthers work hard for their calls, we need to be disciplined. Stay patient, keep the game close, then let the skill come through when we get our chance.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Our defense vs Florida 2 years ago
Brodie
Rielly
Giordano
Holl (played 8 games)
Gustavsson (played 2 games)
Liljegren (played 5 games)
McCabe
Schenn

Everyone else played all 11 games

Pretty massive improvment.

Tanev >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brodie
OEL >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Gio
Benoit >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Liljegren
Carlo >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Holl

Can't really overstate the improvments

 

[1specter]

Our defense vs Florida 2 years ago
Brodie
Rielly
Giordano
Holl (played 8 games)
Gustavsson (played 2 games)
Liljegren (played 5 games)
McCabe
Schenn

Everyone else played all 11 games

There are still some folks here who try to argue this was a better group lol. You could MAYBE make an argument for 2022, because Gio / Brodie were still good and hadn't fallen off by that point, Muzzin was still playing as well. But even then, Holl was still a regular on the team...

I remember the Lightning series in 2023, I believe Justin Holl had been on for every goal against in the first 5 games or some insanity like that.