GDT: ECSF: (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs (A3) Florida Panthers - GAME 2 - 7 PM EST IN TORONTO

[Stephen]

Should be a fairly tame game tonight. No doubt the league has instructed the officials to make it so. Keep pounding their D like they did on Monday. I noticed last game they were less enthusiastic about holding onto the puck as the game went on. That helps slow down their transition game as well as helping us maintain o-zone possession.
Oh and protect Woll!

Think a tame game works in Toronto’s advantage if Florida feels like they need to chill out due to being on notice under the microscope.

 

[Stephen]

Part of me feels Matty will have a monster game tonight. Don't know why, just this feeling I have... big energy from the main boards just now....

He’s overdue.

 

[Cleetus]

Aaron Ekblad also returning to night from his suspension

 

[Fogelhund]

We are one classic moment away from Matt Murray playing in an NHL playoff game.

In the year 2025.

Nerves just spiked to 400

Still probably the best #3 in the league at this point.

0.934 save percentage, 1.72 GA on a pretty mediocre Marlies team isn't terrible to have as your Number 3.

Hopefully Woll does his best, to steal the net.. He's done it before... the longer the better, it gives Stolarz all the time in the world to heal.

If anyone so much as touches Woll tonight, I hope they are made to pay severely.

 

[1specter]

Aaron Ekblad also returning to night from his suspension

Better watch out for the roid rage

 

[HarryLime]

Would love to see McCabe destroy Tkachuk

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Better watch out for the roid rage

I can't believe there is a team where Marchand is the 3rd or 4th dirtiest player on the roster.

 

[Stephen]

Aaron Ekblad also returning to night from his suspension

Probably back for a cup of coffee before the next suspension.

 

[Stephen]

I can't believe there is a team where Marchand is the 3rd or 4th dirtiest player on the roster.

It’s incredible to me that Corey Perry isn’t also a Florida Panther.

 

[thewave]

It’s incredible to me that Corey Perry isn’t also a Florida Panther.

Edmonton is scheduled to win so McDavid can become a Leaf after and then we win and Canada gets annexed by the US. Yes that means McDavid wins back to back on 2 different teams.

That's what my fortune teller said. Lol

You can't make this stuff up!

 

[TMLeafer]

We'll see if the leafs are allowed to dictate physicality. Usually they get penalized if they initiate the rough stufd, and you know any hit on Bennett will be an automatic penalty.

Destroy these punks

 

[Fogelhund]

It’s incredible to me that Corey Perry isn’t also a Florida Panther.

Don't give them ideas.

 

[ZEBROA]

Matthews need to hit net, think he is 2nd worse at missed shots.
Woll need to be protected. Nylander shoot more.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Glad to see Murray called up as the backup. Tough to put a young guy onto the frying pan if needed, especially in this high pressure, die-hard market.

Murray has done well and might even provide some further comfort to the team since he's reached the top of the mountain a couple of times.

 

[mix1home]

I have confidence in Woll if he can stay healthy. Not as much as Stolie but still high confidence in him to step up.

Murray as the back up though scares the living shit out of me.

Murray has that extra-mode superhero ability in po. You cannot teach that stuff. You either have that second breath and x-ray vision or you don’t.
Granted, Murray had health issues, but since he is healthy now I would not try to run Wall if I would be panther. They might actually unleash the beast.

 

[Stephen]

We'll see if the leafs are allowed to dictate physicality. Usually they get penalized if they initiate the rough stufd, and you know any hit on Bennett will be an automatic penalty.

Destroy these punks

I think a repeat of the first 2 periods of Game 1 would be the gold standard. But I’m also wondering what the energy level will be like in a tightly officiated and scrutinized game. Do the Leafs want to just turn this game into a spirited regular season matchup with emotions on chill and take Florida out of their emotional energy?

I don’t think we can match their chaos, as much as I’d love to see a bunch of Panthers buried behind the play, brouhaha’s all over.

 

[rojac]

Same old nonsense every games. The Leafs need to do this or the Leafs need to do that. Such BS. What the Leafs really need to do is outscore the Panthers. How they do that will depend on what actually happens in the game. None of us know that do it seems silly to try to claim that you know what the Leafs needs to win. I'm sure Berube has a game plan and will adjust it as necessary based on what actually happens.

But, as usual, I could be wrong.

 

[yubbers]

I got a suspicion McMann is gonna crash the net hard tonight and it will get him going.

 

[LeafSteel]

We need to focus on beating them on the ice as opposed to beating them in the alley tonight.

Playing our game and not getting caught up in a war of attrition that we can’t win cs the refs.

If the game truly is going to be tightly refereed, that would work in our favour as it reduces the effectiveness of Florida’s shenanigans.

All of that greatly depends on if the refs actually do that though.

If any team could feel comfortable with their 3rd string goalie, it has to be the Leafs with Murray. He’s been there and done that, and has showed this season he can still play. Much more comfortable than Hildeby.

Paging Auston Matthews……… please do something. Missing that desperately needed empty net when he had time was really not a good look for him. If this is the best he’s got right now, that’s disconcerting.

Power play needs to improve. I can’t see us winning with the power play doing as poorly as it has and PP1 sucks.

No urgency, too much cutesy putesy passing shit, no danger to score from the blue line, too much perimeter play.

Add to it Matthews struggling and not even hitting the net, to keep trotting them out and play the majority of every power play is just nuts to me.

Hoping to paste Florida tonight, stay healthy, and head back to Florida up 2-0.

Go Leafs Go!

 

[VanW27]

Agreed. You certainly don't want your 3rd stringer to be thrust into playoff action. But if I had to put a #3 goalie into a game, I can't think of many options better than Matt Murray.

Yeah, I get the nervousness that would cause but let's be real. 2 Cups, 30 years old, terrific numbers in the AHL this year with a 1.72GAA and .934s% in 21GP.

We all know the injury history, but if you need to go to a #3 I'm not sure what more you could possibly expect.

 

[Aashir]

If we can go to florida up 2-0 we are in an great spot

Need woll to be solid, no leaky point shot goals plz

Need line 1 to step up, they outscored their minutes but they need to contribute more to them. Matthews specifically we can use a goal or two tonight.

Also could use Bobby McMann scoring, he looked better the last two games, here’s hoping he can get one tonight.

 

[likecheese]

Remember rd 2 from last season, Boston smoked Fla. 5-1 in gm 1 and then got hammered 6-1 and 6-2 in the next two games. My sage advice to the Leafs would be... don't let that happen.

 

[Lightsol]

I can't believe there is a team where Marchand is the 3rd or 4th dirtiest player on the roster.

Last year, a few groups ranked the dirties players in the NHL, and Florida was the only team with multiple entries: 3. And now they have 4, thanks to Marchand.

 

[1specter]

My post from Monday morning...

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

May 5, 2025

Crazy to think the Leafs blew three third period leads and won them all.

Stolarz needs to better than he was in the first round. At the very least, he needs to be better than Bob.

Still can't help but feel like we're going to see Woll draw in this series.

• 1specter

• 

Just didn't think it would be like this

 

[fahad203]

We need to focus on beating them on the ice as opposed to beating them in the alley tonight.

Playing our game and not getting caught up in a war of attrition that we can’t win cs the refs.

If the game truly is going to be tightly refereed, that would work in our favour as it reduces the effectiveness of Florida’s shenanigans.

All of that greatly depends on if the refs actually do that though.

If any team could feel comfortable with their 3rd string goalie, it has to be the Leafs with Murray. He’s been there and done that, and has showed this season he can still play. Much more comfortable than Hildeby.

Paging Auston Matthews……… please do something. Missing that desperately needed empty net when he had time was really not a good look for him. If this is the best he’s got right now, that’s disconcerting.

Power play needs to improve. I can’t see us winning with the power play doing as poorly as it has and PP1 sucks.

No urgency, too much cutesy putesy passing shit, no danger to score from the blue line, too much perimeter play.

Add to it Matthews struggling and not even hitting the net, to keep trotting them out and play the majority of every power play is just nuts to me.

Hoping to paste Florida tonight, stay healthy, and head back to Florida up 2-0.

Go Leafs Go!

He has the same amount of goals as Rielly since Tampa series

Bruh