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

[Power Surge]

Florida in 5 for me though I do hope it is an entertaining series and goes 7.

 

[Ryuji Yamazaki]

After playing a good team like Tampa, this is gonna be ez. Panthers are gonna grind the Leafs down to nubs. Panthers in 4

 

[Leaf Fans]

A million of those were Leafs fans trying to convince everyone that Matthews was better than McDavid

You can have a thread about a North Korea versus Mongolia in the World Cup, and somehow Leafs fans will derail it. That delusion with psychological assistance required.

Sure, if you make stuff up, anything is possible. There were a minority that held that opinion for a short time though.

 

[Leaf Fans]

wonder is there player left on the Leafs roster when this is over

Yeah, all of them free agency doesn't start until July first and they likely won't trade a roster player during the playoffs.

 

[oooooooooohCanada]

Should be a good series. Toronto's style this season makes them seem mid vs every team they play. They'll give Florida a run even though I think they lose. Better heavier team and more experience than the last time they played Florida, and Florida has gotten worse since then.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

Florida has gotten worse since then.

 

[HockeyWooot]

I am actually looking forward to Fla dragging the Leafs into the fight. Sens had fake tough guys. I think it will just bring out more energy and passion. I find it funny how many believe this will be an easy series for Fla. if they don’t stand up to them the writing is on the wall for Treliving this summer. Leafs may lose but it will be close

Last year were all 1 goal games … 2 in overtime except for the first game which ended 4-2. Mind you I will concede Fla was the better team in that series no doubt

I think it comes down to your core players matching the intensity of a more physical side.

Not to try and pretend to be tough guys, but you want to see the likes of Matthews, Marner and Nylander battle and throw it back a bit (obviously without taking dumb penalties).

 

[Puckstuff]

I think 1st in the division + final 8 is about as good as it can get for us Leaf fans. Florida has that elite depth with a real 3rd line, lead by Lundell.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Leafs are far better on the back end and they have a goalie who was second in the league in Save % if I remember correctly.

I know this, Florida will be the favourite but each pick up the Leafs made was designed to address this matchup.



Here are the scores for each game two years ago:

View attachment 1027832

4 Of the 5 games were decided by one goal. Two OT wins for Florida. The Leafs played more of a rushing game, whereas this season they played a more defensive, button down game with far better personnel on the backend to play this style. They sacrificed the body more to play low event hockey for many stretches.

For the record, the Senators are probably the fastest team in the conference. Young and fast with no concern in the world. Reminded me of the Leafs putting a scare into the Capitals in the First Round a couple of years before they won the Cup.

I my opinion the greatest asset in hockey is speed, especially if the league decides to call penalties as they have moreso this playoff season than in the past.

Here is the Leafs D in that 2023 series (and their age):

View attachment 1027840

I noticed they focused plenty on Lilly, a young, soft D Man. TJ Brodie is also a skating D Man, not very hard on the body. Schenn is a monster, which is why he was picked up and he was a wall for the team. He and McCabe were the only really "strong" D Men tasked with dealing with a forechecking Florida team.

This is the Leafs D this year that will start Game One against Florida:

View attachment 1027844

Big, reliable Carlo, shot blocking ShutDown pairing of Tanev and McCabe. Simon "Bonecrusher" Benoit who loves to hit. OEL who is far meaner than people give him credit for (and has some offensive bursts), and, Reilly who was the leading scorer for ALL Leafs in that series and generally had a strong series.

The Leafs were having some difficulty with Senators speed, it made it difficult for the Leafs forwards to press forward AND play their system of helping on D. They system is better built to withstand Panthers style hockey in a series. That extra step in a foot race is exceedingly important.

This battle will come down to what I anticipated mid way through this season if the Leafs were to be successful (they did win the division, lost only 3 games all year when leading after the First Period, and Stolarz did have an 11 game win streak to finish the season if I remember correctly): the Leafs defense should be better able to prevent the driving Florida forwards from playing their game.

Low scoring with a more unruly Panthers team that may take a few too many penalties and risk losing the special teams battle. Leafs could win this in seven and I guarantee that they are quietly more confident than anyone gives them credit for.

This team is far better suited for the Panthers at this time of the year than 2023. Whether this results in a different outcome is to be decided. The puck can go either way in OT and there will be some OT games.

As a neutral fan I agree Leafs d group is much better. When Tanev was set to leave the Canucks as UFA I always thought he’d be a great add to the Leafs, getting him and Carlo in the same season is a huge leap forward.

 

[PhysicalGraffiti]

Unashamedly rooting for any American team at this point.

Can't stand the Panthers, but hoping they win.

 

[Greatzsky 99]

im rooting for the Leafs

 

[Shrimper]

Panthers in 5

They're repeating

 

[Strangle]

 

[CatscratchFever]

I think Torontos horses show up and play hard. Stoli steals one. It's not enough. Cats in 5. Handshakes at Scotia

 

[BB88]

The big question for this series is how will/can the Leafs match up Floridas 3rd line

That forward group is a match up nightmare

 

[Johnny Tomala]

(5) Panthers in 6 over (2) Maple Leafs.

 

[ZeHockeyFan]

Marchand vs Leafs, yet again. We know how that has gone.

 

[Mitch nylander]

I'm excited for this one, some of the Panthers fans I've interacted have been fun to chat and banter with. A real test to see if any thing is different under Berube

 

[elmaco]

Florida in 4

 

[93gilmour93]

This will be a tough one but the Panthers have won a lot of playoff series the last few seasons so Florida is due to lose one.

Leafs in 7

 

[Peasy]

Florida in 5. Leafs didnt show me anything in round 1 to make me think theyre any different than years past. Hope they surprise me but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Picking the leafs in 6

 

[1specter]

The big question for this series is how will/can the Leafs match up Floridas 3rd line

That forward group is a match up nightmare

Yeah, this is my biggest concern honestly. Lundell is a stud and probably Florida's future #2C, maybe even 1C if / when Barkov ages out. Then you have Luostarinen and Marchand and it's just not fair really. Leafs biggest weakness is lacking a proper third line, they've essentially been using the Lorentz-Laughton-Jarnkrok as more of a classic matchup third line while sheltering Domi and trying to find some sort of combination that sticks with him, whether it be McMann, Robertson, Pacioretty or Holmberg.

 

[FinlandPanther]

The irony of this Speaking of cults, I have to say the Finnish fans on this board are a bit of an odd bunch, particularly the ones that cheer for Florida...

I live in Florida. Any other weird complaints from the cult? Have a good one!

 

[floridada]

Eventually people will realize how meaningless regular season records are.

Flexing one win is even more meaningless