Series Talk: ECSF: (A1)Toronto Maple Leafs vs (A3)Florida Panthers - (Series tied 3-3) Part 2

[Deep Blue Metallic]

A superb display of defensive hockey from both teams. A couple of lapses from the Panthers and less than stellar plays from Bob made the difference.

 

[The Podium]

I thought going into the playoffs a Florida/Edmonton final was likely with the Oilers winning this time.

But today I'm not sure either the Panthers or the Leafs would get by Carolina. The Canes have been amazingly solid so far, though against pretty lame competition (Capitals would be the biggest chokers in playoff history except for that one time they managed to beat the odds: 15/16 years with Ovi they haven't made it past the 2nd round).

Panthers are overrated and the Leafs make things way too difficult for themselves and have a history of choking themselves, so either one can be beaten by a strong team.

Any case, we'll revisit this discussion after Sunday night regardless how the game turns out.

I don’t think Carolina’s offense is all that sustainable. Defensively obviously they are solid but they are going to have a very hard time scoring against either Toronto or Florida.

 

[syz]

I don’t think Carolina’s offense is all that sustainable. Defensively obviously they are solid but they are going to have a very hard time scoring against either Toronto or Florida.

View attachment 1037684

Depends on the goaltending. The Hurricanes are 2nd in the playoffs in high danger chances, but 2nd last in the playoffs in high danger goals with an abysmal SH%. They're getting opportunities from the slot, they just aren't cashing. Which is the perennial problem with the team I suppose; though historically it's been because of high end goalie performances.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Glad they won last night. They played well and deserved it, but anything other than a win on Sunday and Game 5 will be the defining moment of this era of Leafs hockey. They can play the game of their lives on Sunday, but if they don't win, it won't, and shouldn't, matter to anyone.

Why is game 6 more significant than the game 1 drubbing ?

 

[MessierII]

Why is game 6 more significant than the game 1 drubbing ?

Game 1 is game 1. It’s the least important game.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Each team had a back and forth win.
Each team had a lopsided win
Each team had a grind it out shutout win.

Throw everything out now...it's game 7 baby.

 

[CupsOverCash]

It's at a toss up game 7 now. Both teams missed a great opportunity at home to take a stranglehold on the series. When both teams won their first home games. So now it will probably switch back to a team playing well at home. Wow the leafs vs Carolina for the east finals?

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Game 1 is game 1. It’s the least important game.

Winning the 1 st game isn’t important? I don’t know the statistics for this but I’d guess that’s wrong .

 

[MessierII]

Winning the 1 st game isn’t important? I don’t know the statistics for this but I’d guess that’s wrong .

It’s not that it isn’t important but best you case you go up a game with 6 more in front of you. Worst case your down a game with 6 more in front of you. The next game is always bigger than the last in a playoff series.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Depends on the goaltending. The Hurricanes are 2nd in the playoffs in high danger chances, but 2nd last in the playoffs in high danger goals with an abysmal SH%. They're getting opportunities from the slot, they just aren't cashing. Which is the perennial problem with the team I suppose; though historically it's been because of high end goalie performances.

View attachment 1037687

^^^^
That's only round 1 or is that 5v5 stats?

 

[HockeyVirus]

Too much talk about Carolina in here. This series isn't over for either team. This is the biggest game of the playoffs in general to this point. Going to be something special to watch and I hope the Leafs end up on the right side of it

 

[Divine]

View attachment 1037665

Marchand does the same exact move every time. I’m surprised he doesn’t get laid out more. Even his first goal was scored with that exact same move.

 

[syz]

^^^^
That's only round 1 or is that 5v5 stats?

5 on 5. At all strengths they go from 4 goals to 8, which is still bottom of the playoffs for active teams and only above Tampa, Montreal, and NJ for eliminated teams.

 

[Breakers]

Ekblad 5on5 corsi 30 for, 12 against but ok

Wasn't the game winning goal his turnover?
But Ok

 

[Thomas Tatar]

I’m an Edmonton fan and for many years was happy with no real Leaf success. But this year I want to see them have success, despite the constant media bias and that some fans are really difficult to interact with, I genuinely feel for the majority of that market and the crap both they and their players have been through.

Only Gord knows why the hockey gods have given arrogant players like Tkachuk so much success. But Matthews and Marner need some love to.

This is difficult for me to say but good luck Leafs and Leaf fans, I am rooting for you this series.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

A healthy Panthers team smokes Carolina again imo. Bobrovsky has already proven he can shut out Carolina's low percentage flood. Problem is, they ain't healthy, and probably wouldn't have the gas to break through offensively this time because of it. Hurricanes meanwhile are the healthiest team left, and that's like half of what it takes to win a cup a lot of years.

Leafs I'm not sure. They'd probably struggle with the pace but may also benefit from how clean the Canes are. If Stolarz comes back and can stop all the low-medium danger chances they might be able to do it.

The Panthers didn't smoke Carolina last time. The Hurricanes outplayed them in every game.

 

[Contenderorpretender]

Might be too little too late if they can’t do it again Sunday.

Yup. Hot take.

 

[syz]

I’m an Edmonton fan and for many years was happy with no real Leaf success. But this year I want to see them have success, despite the constant media bias and that some fans are really difficult to interact with, I genuinely feel for the majority of that market and the crap both they and their players have been through.

Only Gord knows why the hockey gods have given arrogant players like Tkachuk so much success. But Matthews and Marner need some love to.

This is difficult for me to say but good luck Leafs and Leaf fans, I am rooting for you this series.

I was almost willing to root for them until I once again saw prominent media/social media faces out there tweeting photoshops of McDavid in a Leafs jersey inbetween doom posts about how pathetic their franchise is.

 

[Thomas Tatar]

I was almost willing to root for them until I once again saw prominent media/social media faces out there tweeting photoshops of McDavid in a Leafs jersey inbetween doom posts about how pathetic their franchise is.

Damn. Those are definitely the fans that ruin this change of heart for me. I have to remind myself it’s not the majority. Right? Right!???

 

[MessierII]

Damn. Those are definitely the fans that ruin this change of heart for me. I have to remind myself it’s not the majority. Right? Right!???

I’ve met a lot of great leaf fans and some are my close friends or even family. Problem is the leafs have a huge following of people who aren’t really hockey fans they are just leaf fans. If the leafs didn’t exist I don’t think they would care about hockey. They don’t know much of anything regarding the rest of the league. I think it’s an extension of people in Toronto in general. It’s where the whole center of the universe joke comes from.

 

[Ratsreign]

Game 1 is game 1. It’s the least important game.

But, At the time it was played it was the most important game.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Problem is the leafs have a huge following of people who aren’t really hockey fans they are just leaf fans. If the leafs didn’t exist I don’t think they would care about hockey.

Every single fanbase is majority like this lol. Like a story right now is the lack of ratings in the US and people blaming big markets being out. So literally those fans are not watching the games, they are fans of their team and that is it.

 

[Plural]

I love the Panthers and I have been rooting for them bit more in this series. But man, if the Leafs advance it would be awesome to see Matthews (and Marner too) stepping up and finishing the reining champs.

They have lackluster playoff portfolio so far and this is the best redemption possible. With a great game, they leave the arena as heroes tonight. With a bad game, they leave the arena as villains.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

I’ve met a lot of great leaf fans and some are my close friends or even family. Problem is the leafs have a huge following of people who aren’t really hockey fans they are just leaf fans. If the leafs didn’t exist I don’t think they would care about hockey. They don’t know much of anything regarding the rest of the league. I think it’s an extension of people in Toronto in general. It’s where the whole center of the universe joke comes from.

I think every fan base experiences this to an extent but you’re right the sheer numbers can exacerbate the situation

 

[McClelland]

Expected a game 7 after that poor game 5 by the Leafs, Fla is very beatable this season.

Game 7 is more of a mindgame, Fla has the experience and Leafs homeadvantage can be just more pressure.

Could go either way, have really no idea, other that the goalies will have a big impact of the outcome.