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

[Peasy]

It's actually comical how some of them think the Panthers, as great a team as they have, are some outlaw badasses that the rest of the league is terrified of.

A month and a half ago, Domi, of all people, steamrolled Verhaeghe four minutes into a game. Schmidt tried to play tough guy and got absolutely fed by a welterweight. Where was Bennett and the big, bad Panthers?

That's right. They didn't do shit. (cue the Bennett scored twice and the Panthers won 3-2 replies)

Theyre really good at only picking fights they know they will win, I'll give em that.

 

[Strangle]

If Marner can figure out what Biz is pointing out here, watch out

 

[GMR]

I think we might see our first sweep of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs in this series.

No way. Florida is too good to get swept by Toronto.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Leafs were one shot from sweeping them also it works both ways.

and 1 shot from going 7

 

[FinlandPanther]

I know. It must be all those "lmao" throwing me off. Such a comprehensive, engaging writing style.

The picture of Knies lying on the ice was a nice "puck battle" touch. Nice try on the deflect, though. You tried.

Clean hit. Sorry he isn’t strong enough.

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

Voted Cats in 5. If it took 6 games for Toronto to beat Ottawa, it'll be over in 5 against the Cats.


I will say if the Leafs somehow win this series they will win the cup.

 

[Leafsfan74]

and 1 shot from going 7

Yes, but neither happened.

So, on balance, the better team won.

 

[Bust]

I guarantee he does.

Knies is twice the man that bennet is

Knies is on his revenge tour in 2025

If Bennett squares up to Knies (as he should), he will proceed to get his eyes pumped shut.

But I assume, just like when Gudas fled the east, Bennett will do everything in his power to avoid the consequences. Knies will dummy Bennett.

 

[Just Rude]

Clean hit. Sorry he isn’t strong enough.

Bet it doesn't happen again.

 

[frederixx]

It might be close on paper, but leafs have been known to be struggling in the playoffs and Panthers are the exact opposite; playoff warriors. So unless something happens to Tkachuk or Barkov, I simply don't see the leafs winning 4 games against the Panthers.

Should be a really good series, but I'm going with the Panthers in 6

 

[FinlandPanther]

Bet it doesn't happen again.

If Bennett feels like it, it will. But we want to win, not engage with your team diving.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

good one

Thanks.

cup win every year

I certainly hope you are correct! GO LEAFS GO!

and then.........

Well if we are winning a cup every year, I will purchase a replica cup each year when the leafs win the trophy and use that to build a Castle in the shape of a Maple Leaf on an island Shaped like the stanley cup.

All made out of replica cups for each win the leafs will have..... Might have to be a family legacy thing though. Gonna take some time to build the island.

 

[FinlandPanther]

If Bennett squares up to Knies (as he should), he will proceed to get his eyes pumped shut.

But I assume, just like when Gudas fled the east, Bennett will do everything in his power to avoid the consequences. Knies will dummy Bennett.

Bennett would kill Knies. Get real lmao.

 

[sampollock]

in all seriousness just don't see how Toronto could possibly hang with Florida in playoff hockey

They have nostril's

 

[KW]

So you're all good if Bennett and Marchand get lit up with dirty hits, since they have a long history of delivering dirty hits to Toronto ? Yeah ?

Bennett and Marchand know to expect it, so go for it, FAFO.

However, your challenging response doesn’t present a logical equivalence. The Hagel hit was 100% inappropriate. The puck was nowhere near. He targeted a star player.

I know you think Knies was a star player two years ago, but he wasn’t. He barely is now. The Bennett hit on Knies is not equivalent to the Hagel hit on Barkov in two ways: not a star level player and where the puck was. But, if one of our guys like Bennett takes out Marner when he doesn’t have the puck and can’t possibly expect a hit, that would be an equivalent situation.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Leafs in 3

 

[TorMapleJays]

Time to pet the kitties.

 

[Bust]

I see this going 7, maybe even 6. Toronto takes this one.

A couple of years back, Jake Muzzin absolutely broke M. Tkchuck by softly flipping a puck at him. Completely son'ed him and unravelled that CGY team.

Tkchuck will continue to show his immaturity, and on the national stage, will get the better of him. Just like in the 4 nations, Tkchuck will demonstrate his lack of self awareness and cost his team the series.

 

[maskingagent]

This year, this particular series is going to be franchise changing for the Leafs. If they win, then most certainly can take it another level and go deeper, maybe cup finals ? This will result in stabilizing the roster over the summer and Treliving can breathe a sigh of relief. However, if they lose to Florida, we all know what happens in the off season and Treliving becomes the most sought after interview. I literally can't wait for game 1 .

 

[AvroArrow]

Bennett and Marchand know to expect it, so go for it, FAFO.

However, your challenging response doesn’t present a logical equivalence. The Hagel hit was 100% inappropriate. The puck was nowhere near. He targeted a star player.

I know you think Knies was a star player two years ago, but he wasn’t. He barely is now. The Bennett hit on Knies is not equivalent to the Hagel hit on Barkov in two ways: not a star level player and where the puck was. But, if one of our guys like Bennett takes out Marner when he doesn’t have the puck and can’t possibly expect a hit, that would be an equivalent situation.

First off Bennett didn't hit Knies. He wrapped him up, grabbed him by the neck/head area and pulled him down and hit his head off the ice, concussing him.

Puck wasn't anywhere near Knies or Bennett when that happened

How does being a star or not have anything to do with how dirty a play is ?

You guys won the series but I think you forgot Knies was manhandling your entire roster along the boards that series, frustration set in and Bennett just went to hurt him.

Again just because a play is made against a non-star player, doesn't magically make it ok or less serious. It's just as bad.

The Hagel hit was an interference, shoulder to chest. The Bennett incident wasn't even a hit, dangerous non-hockey play. Hitting the back of someones head off the ice isn't a hit.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

We should just skip the regular season and go straight to playoffs, 32 team every man for himself battle royale!

Laine is salivating, he's been training his whole career for this.

 

[BallardEra]

This series reminds me exactly of the Caps and Pens years.

Can the Leafs exorcise their demons by finally beating Florida and go all the way like the Caps did?

 

[AvroArrow]

Bennett would kill Knies. Get real lmao.

It's the guys that have never trained a day in their life that think Bennett is some tough guy LOL. Guys skinny-fat (literally the worst kind of build you can have) and can't even do a pull up.

He's dirty, he's not tough and he's definitely not strong. He would get absolutely rag dolled.

 

[Strangle]

If Bennett squares up to Knies (as he should), he will proceed to get his eyes pumped shut.

But I assume, just like when Gudas fled the east, Bennett will do everything in his power to avoid the consequences. Knies will dummy Bennett.

Bennet isn’t enough of a man to face another man eye to eye and throw it down.

He will run, take cheap shots and skate away or he will turtle and beg for an instigator

I hope knies starts his first shift with an instigator penalty snatching bennets soul

 

[Bust]

It's the guys that have never trained a day in their life that think Bennett is some tough guy LOL. Guys skinny-fat (literally the worst kind of build you can have) and can't even do a pull up.

He's dirty, he's not tough and he's definitely not strong. He would get absolutely rag dolled.

Knies is bigger, tougher and stronger than Bennett.

Looking forward to showing some of the casuals what a tough (not dirty, big difference) player actually looks like.