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

[Lahey]

The standard for Matthews exists because he's the highest paid player in the league, and has been up there on both his contracts. So sure being just a PPG player is fine on its own, but its not when you carry the cap hit he does and regresses every spring. When his peers are all stepping up, and even players worse than him become better.

Marner and Nylander meanwhile have been atrocious defensively and typically soft. Fly bys, avoiding the dirty areas, leaving the defence out to dry, avoiding contact.

They're ripped because theyre outclassed by their peers every spring. McD, Drai, Mac, Rantanen, Pasta.. yet also by "lesser" players (Hintz, Miller, Guentzel, Wilson, Connor, Strome, Kempe). Its inexcusable at the salaries they have

Ok man you’ve totally got it figured out. How haven’t you landed a GM job yet!?

 

[Sasha Orlov]

You mean the series that ended after the others but started first?

I hear the league is forcing the Leafs players to fast for 48h between the games too, unreal

 

[HockeyVirus]

I hear the league is forcing the Leafs players to fast for 48h between the games too, unreal

- Someone said there is favoritism giving the Leafs - Panthers a 2 day break
- I point out they actually were the first series to play this round despite being the last to finish
- You post whatever this is

 

[Just Rude]

Yes. At least last game he was awful. Zero support on the defence, waiting at the top of the zone instead of helping out

He wasn't great in Florida, made a couple of mental mistakes, but to say he's been atrocious defensively is a bit of a stretch (and yes, I saw Biz's rant).

He does shy away from the heavy physical play, but that's not shocking. He's always been like that. He's a buck eighty soaking wet. It's not his game.

All that said, he needs to up his game. They all do. Enough is enough.

After the shit show in Game 4, they better come to play tomorrow.

 

[sampollock]

 

[Sasha Orlov]

- Someone said there is favoritism giving the Leafs - Panthers a 2 day break
- I point out they actually were the first series to play this round despite being the last to finish
- You post whatever this is

It’ll be ok

 

[sinDer]

I mean, a series win is more crucial for Leafs than it is for the Panthers, but lets not pretend that it has no importance for the Panthers. If they can make the final (or win this year) again, then you could start the argument that this Panthers team could become the next great dynasty in Hockey. A loss to the Leafs would kill any chances at that.

Yeah, sure! I'm not saying that they don't care. They sure do. Making the finals for a third year or better yet, winning a second cup would be huge and something to be very proud of.

 

[Blanka]

Wali, wait, wait just a minute! You said thousands of Panthers fans!! How can this be??
And yes, just as always, the Leafers are always totally innocent, eh?

The leaf veins aren't as pointy compared to the logo. Inedible trash cookies.

 

[JKG33]

He wasn't great in Florida, made a couple of mental mistakes, but to say he's been atrocious defensively is a bit of a stretch (and yes, I saw Biz's rant).

He does shy away from the heavy physical play, but that's not shocking. He's always been like that. He's a buck eighty soaking wet. It's not his game.

All that said, he needs to up his game. They all do. Enough is enough.

After the shit show in Game 4, they better come to play tomorrow.

I dont watch as much of Toronto in the regular season these days, its just so meaningless. But for Marner to go from a guy so many people think should be a Selke candidate to what he's been vs Florida.. yikes. Night and day difference.

I'm not expecting him to play like a power forward, but he looks like Nylander out there (someone who even the biggest Leaf homers will say is a consistent liability defensively).

Gotta stay on a man, and gotta show up to board battles to win them. Or at least be the support player while a bigger guy does the dirty work but he hasn't even managed that

 

[Gizmoskevich]

That last line is disingenuous. Maurice shifted the Barkov line away from the Matthews line at home since it wasn’t working out for Florida.

 

[AvroArrow]

Scores 69 goals and secures 13M as the cap is rising

Took a day off practice to rest his injury

Didn't demand Marner on his wing

Tavares deal expiring and looked really slow last year. Made sense to have the succession of the C

It was Berube line matching Matthews vs Barkov, where Matthews was winning majority of the draws and actually keeping the Barkov line in check defensively

 

[Ratsreign]

Panthers and Leafs have a two day break why? Pretty unfair to other teams remaining who are battling without any favoritism.

They started first? The other series got their rest before the start? Idk

 

[Ratsreign]

I mean, a series win is more crucial for Leafs than it is for the Panthers, but lets not pretend that it has no importance for the Panthers. If they can make the final (or win this year) again, then you could start the argument that this Panthers team could become the next great dynasty in Hockey. A loss to the Leafs would kill any chances at that.

Yeah, this is very important to the Panthers.

 

[Delete1]

They started first? The other series got their rest before the start? Idk

I think virtually every series ends up with a 3 day break at some point.

 

[authentic]

Matthews line is outscoring the Panthers 9-3, and who do you think he’s been matched up half this series

 

[AvroArrow]

Yeah, this is very important to the Panthers.

Genuine question

Is the mindset now, "Who cares, we already won" Among the fan base ?

Like I get it, I think I maybe might feel the same way if the Leafs won 1 cup. But for the most part you guys seem carefree af, I mean your team did accomplish the ultimate goal already.

But is there still that hunger or desire for a 2nd cup, or is it kinda like meh whatever happens ?

 

[Ratsreign]

This is silly. Did Florida rest the whole season so that they could lose the first two games of this series?

All part of the sinister, dirrrrty Cats more hitting plan.... muuuwaaaahahaha

 

[Ratsreign]

Takeaway..... Lundell is no slouch

 

[Ratsreign]

Genuine question

Is the mindset now, "Who cares, we already won" Among the fan base ?

Like I get it, I think I maybe might feel the same way if the Leafs won 1 cup. But for the most part you guys seem carefree af, I mean your team did accomplish the ultimate goal already.

But is there still that hunger or desire for a 2nd cup, or is it kinda like meh whatever happens ?

There is some of that. And I will say I can see feeling that, too (30 years of mostly shit pretty much all flushed away last summer, it was amazing, to be honest). Idk how much it (not caring this year) is really meant, though. They know they really want two in a row
I mean, while they wouldn’t be upset at the team at all, I think they would still be pretty bummed out over it.

 

[Delete1]

All part of the sinister, dirrrrty Cats more hitting plan.... muuuwaaaahahaha

See, this is what happens when the league is on your side. Personally, I knew the league was fixed when they intentionally dropped the next generational player in that massive North American tv market...Edmonton.

 

[Ratsreign]

See, this is what happens when the league is on your side. Personally, I knew the league was fixed when they intentionally dropped the next generational player in that massive North American tv market...Edmonton.

And then they put the best American player, one that could really spark interest in the US, the kid from AriZona, in Toronto.

 

[sampollock]

Scores 69 goals and secures 13M as the cap is rising

Took a day off practice to rest his injury

Didn't demand Marner on his wing

Tavares deal expiring and looked really slow last year. Made sense to have the succession of the C

It was Berube line matching Matthews vs Barkov, where Matthews was winning majority of the draws and actually keeping the Barkov line in check defensively

overratted

 

[Son of Nogatco]

You can't make this shit up

You can and he did

 

[Beezeral]

There is some of that. And I will say I can see feeling that, too (30 years of mostly shit pretty much all flushed away last summer, it was amazing, to be honest). Idk how much it (not caring this year) is really meant, though. They know they really want two in a row
I mean, while they wouldn’t be upset at the team at all, I think they would still be pretty bummed out over it.

It's a combo of we won it all last year and the knowledge thst two runs to the cup final takes its toll. This team has played more hockey over the last 3 seasons than any other in the NHL. Eventually they run out of gas. Will it happen this round, next round, the cup final for a 3rd year in the row, or not at all? Nobody knows. There's a reason you rarely see a team make 3 straight runs to the finals in the modern era. The lightning did it, but had the benefit of a ton of covid rest to help out.

 

[Ratsreign]

It's a combo of we won it all last year and the knowledge thst two runs to the cup final takes its toll. This team has played more hockey over the last 3 seasons than any other in the NHL. Eventually they run out of gas. Will it happen this round, next round, the cup final for a 3rd year in the row, or not at all? Nobody knows. There's a reason you rarely see a team make 3 straight runs to the finals in the modern era. The lightning did it, but had the benefit of a ton of covid rest to help out.

That all explains perfectly why it would be impossible for any rational fan to be mad if they do run out of gas this season.