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

[Dread Clawz]

I don't think Bob will recover in this series, but he doesn't owe Florida anything at this point.

He doesn't need to earn his contract and play well? He makes 10M a year. I mean I'm not worried about Bob at all, he's 36 but he's in freakishly good shape, he's always by far renowned as the hardest worker on the team. Jones even said he was the same in Columbus a decade ago. He'll be fine, if not this playoffs then he will be next season. But he still has to play well.

 

[Dread Clawz]

Think the biggest thing for me is there has been like multiple scenarios so far in the playoffs where the Leafs of years past would have found ways to lose games...where as this team seems to be finding ways to win even if it does get ugly at times. Leafs of the past probably lose game 1 in OT after being up 4-1...this year they actually stick in the game after giving up 2 quick ones in the 3rd and then get the 5th to ice it. The quick responses last night when the Panthers got up. They don't seem as easily rattled by the ups and downs of a game/series I guess. Think a lot of the credit for that goes to Berube.

Berube is definitely the biggest factor. From an outside perspective, it seems he's given a needed veteran firmness but also a calmness and steadiness to the group. Similar to when Maurice came into the fold in '22.

 

[bossram]

It's the same as against the Sens. Sure they had the puck a lot and looked dangerous but they really weren't.

For example they looked to be all over them at the end but Leafs blocking everything dangerous

This really was not like the Sens series, where nothing happened both ways for the majority of the time.

Natural Statrick had the 5v5 high-danger chances at 73%-26% in favour of the Panthers in G2. That is how the game felt to my eye as well.

Leafs had quick strike response goals and Bob was bad. FLA carried the play.

Carrying the play is just a consolation prize down 2-0 at this point though.

 

[The don godfather]

They tried that in game 2. Didn't work out so well. There isn't anything Florida can do to change the outcome of this series.

Please .... if cats win game 3 we have a series. I have seen all this crap before I even remember the kings cameback from 0 to 3 . Twice in my lifetime. Anything can happen.

 

[sampollock]

Please .... if cats win game 3 we have a series. I have seen all this crap before I even remember the kings cameback from 0 to 3 . Twice in my lifetime. Anything can happen.

IF they dont win 3, fla is a dead cat on the road

 

[Ratsreign]

They tried that in game 2. Didn't work out so well. There isn't anything Florida can do to change the outcome of this series.

Scoring more goals. They’re missing chances they should bury. Leafs aren’t

This really was not like the Sens series, where nothing happened both ways for the majority of the time.

Natural Statrick had the 5v5 high-danger chances at 73%-26% in favour of the Panthers in G2. That is how the game felt to my eye as well.

Leafs had quick strike response goals and Bob was bad. FLA carried the play.

Carrying the play is just a consolation prize down 2-0 at this point though.

yeah, victories on deserve to meter are hollow comfort.

 

[The don godfather]

IF they dont win 3, fla is a dead cat on the road

Obviously game 3 is huge but to saying cats are done after 2 games is ridiculous. Lots of hockey left.

 

[RussianBum86]

Shocked. He will get a sticker and the league will say he is not suspended. Some players just needs to send a message to the panthers and dpos

 

[CupsOverCash]

I predict a sweep. The next two games are close but Toronto find ways to win.

 

[bossram]

Scoring more goals. They’re missing chances they should bury. Leafs aren’t

yeah, victories on deserve to meter are hollow comfort.

Agreed. Close only counts in horseshoes.

Just trying to combat this narrative from some that the Leafs have finally "figured out" the playoffs or are somehow dummying the Panthers. They're not. They got roundly outplayed, but it's hockey and sometimes you still win those games.

 

[Summer Rose]

Agreed. Close only counts in horseshoes.

Just trying to combat this narrative from some than the Leafs have finally "figured out" the playoffs or are somehow dummying the Panthers. They're not. They got roundly outplayed, but it's hockey and sometimes you still win those games.

The saying I know is "almost only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades." I like to extend "hand grenades" to "explosives" but that's not how most people know the phrase.

 

[conFABulator]

Agreed. Close only counts in horseshoes.

Just trying to combat this narrative from some that the Leafs have finally "figured out" the playoffs or are somehow dummying the Panthers. They're not. They got roundly outplayed, but it's hockey and sometimes you still win those games.

I don't disagree but will say that the Leafs' gameplan this year has to stay composed and disciplined, stay in a structure that relies on dumping and forechecking, boxing out and blocking on the back end, getting good to very good goaltending, and scoring on the PP and opportunistically at 5 on 5.

They were often outshot and had a winning record in those games, they rarely panicked and were very good at closing out close games.

To me, this is what they have been doing for eight playoff games; sticking to the plan.

 

[Drytoast]

I feel like this series is going 7. Leafs can't do anything easy and this is Florida.

 

[Delete1]

Please .... if cats win game 3 we have a series. I have seen all this crap before I even remember the kings cameback from 0 to 3 . Twice in my lifetime. Anything can happen.

Exceptions can happen, but that's why they are exceptions. They don't happen often.

 

[atlanticobserver]

Which of these scenarios do you see as the most accurate descriptor of what's going on?

A: Panthers played great in the first series, but are playing poorly in this series despite being better than Leafs
B: Panthers are not as good as previously thought after round 1, Bolts were just trash/too injured/outcoached
C: Leafs are actually great/the better team in this matchup
D: Panthers are very good, but just lost a tough game 2 due to a lackluster performance from Bob
E: Something else?

 

[Oilslick941611]

Shocked. He will get a sticker and the league will say he is not suspended. Some players just needs to send a message to the panthers and dpos

Such a dirty team. Everything is an "accident". Accidents follow the panthers around like flies on shit. Maurice is such a smug asshole with his comments, he knows exactly what hes doing, what hes coaching and his players are doing. They need to be held accountable. Playing Toronto is great, the visibility on there shit tactics will be seen by more people now.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

This is after an "accidental" forearm to the head of their netminder in game 1?

WTF. The whole "protect goalies" thing is total nonsense, what a joke of a league.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Which of these scenarios do you see as the most accurate descriptor of what's going on?

A: Panthers played great in the first series, but are playing poorly in this series despite being better than Leafs
B: Panthers are not as good as previously thought after round 1, Bolts were just trash/too injured/outcoached
C: Leafs are actually great/the better team in this matchup
D: Panthers are very good, but just lost a tough game 2 due to a lackluster performance from Bob
E: Something else?

Its B

Tampa has been on the decline for years now and bleeding depth each offseason and Florida isn't as good as last year.

 

[Summer Rose]

Which of these scenarios do you see as the most accurate descriptor of what's going on?

A: Panthers played great in the first series, but are playing poorly in this series despite being better than Leafs
B: Panthers are not as good as previously thought after round 1, Bolts were just trash/too injured/outcoached
C: Leafs are actually great/the better team in this matchup
D: Panthers are very good, but just lost a tough game 2 due to a lackluster performance from Bob
E: Something else?

Its B

Tampa has been decling for years now and Florida isn't as good as last year.

It's a combination of B, C, and D all at once for me. Watching the series against the Bolts, who went out with a whimper in 5 games, I would say it's definitely not A, but the other three options are all in play.

 

[Just Rude]

There isn't anything Florida can do to change the outcome of this series.

Hockey gods, be kind to us. Have mercy. He knows not what he does.

 

[atlanticobserver]

It's a combination of B, C, and D all at once for me. Watching the series against the Bolts, who went out with a whimper in 5 games, I would say it's definitely not A, but the other three options are all in play.

As a Lightning fan watching Toronto basically break the Panthers down just by shooting the puck was a painful but predictable experience. Take some notes, Jeff Halpern.

 

[HockeyVirus]

This really was not like the Sens series, where nothing happened both ways for the majority of the time.

Natural Statrick had the 5v5 high-danger chances at 73%-26% in favour of the Panthers in G2. That is how the game felt to my eye as well.

Leafs had quick strike response goals and Bob was bad. FLA carried the play.

Carrying the play is just a consolation prize down 2-0 at this point though.

I mean, the Leafs are putting traffic in front of Bob and shooting from the point and ready for the rebounds they are just going in.

Panthers are shooting from the point, Woll is stopping it and leaving a rebound, and then there are battles for the loose puck that the Leafs are clearing.

I'll take them going in over winning on a spreadsheet.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Obviously game 3 is huge but to saying cats are done after 2 games is ridiculous. Lots of hockey left.

if Tkachuk is playing like he has, they are toast. Injury or not. Leon and Connor where hurt last year and still willed the team.

 

[bossram]

I don't disagree but will say that the Leafs' gameplan this year has to stay composed and disciplined, stay in a structure that relies on dumping and forechecking, boxing out and blocking on the back end, getting good to very good goaltending, and scoring on the PP and opportunistically at 5 on 5.

They were often outshot and had a winning record in those games, they rarely panicked and were very good at closing out close games.

To me, this is what they have been doing for eight playoff games; sticking to the plan.

It wasn't just getting outshot against Florida, it's that they were significantly outchanced. I don't really look at shot totals as particularly significant.

The Leafs plan for most of the season has been to absorb pressure and rely on their almost always better goaltending and finishing talent. Against a team like Ottawa that worked pretty well. Against a Florida team with Bob playing like dookie, it also works pretty well. But that isn't really the profile of modern Cup winners (Caps being the similar-styled exception).

 

[mix1home]

The panthers are gassed, they went to the finals two years in a row and a hard series against Tampa, that's a lot of hockey, I'm not saying their done not by a long shot but the Leafs are playing their best playoff hockey in years, if, yes if...lol If the Leafs keep playing at this level the Panthers don't have a chance.

This team is playing this way for 82 + 8 games now. There is hardly any doubt that they would continue the same style going forward. Games were tight and any game can end 1 goal up or down. It’s good though to be on the right side of that equation in two games playing champs.