ECSF - Game 1 - Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers - 7pm EST, ESPN

[HogTown06]

Florida felt the same way about Tampa: I don't have a strong belief on who would be more difficult for us, but I wanted to exorcise those demons against them.


Acciari
E. Staal

I'm afraid the window has closed for both Toronto and Florida to exorcise their demons. Both Tampa and Boston will be crap for a while starting next season and beating them won't mean much.

 

[Leafsfan74]

I do not find the "Haven't made it past the 2nd round since 2002!" narrative as exciting. Hopefully they will be able to find some other motivation.

I remember before that playoff began I told a coworker with complete conviction that the Leafs were going to win the Cup. Not as a fan but with firm, logical belief. I had won the season work hockey pool and came second in a large player pool we were part of at a downtown bar so he believed me.

The emotions were high for NY teams to win for the city. That series.was the most vicious and intense series I have witnessed, both teams REALLY wanted it.

i still say that after that series that went seven games the Leafs were spent. It took another seven grueling games to get through Ottawa. They won game 1 against Carolina before the ran out of gas.

Man that team had heart. I always advise people thst if the want to see HEAVY hockey with hits that would have players suspended today, go and watch that series. I am not kidding, it seemed like bedlam every shift.

 

[Just Rude]

Panther's forwards are going to stifle TML's core.

Sure they are.

 

[Lempo]

Panthers will be happy to settle this one on the ice, if you beat us 4 times you will have earned it.

Everyone has magnanimity until the ref blows the first penalty.

 

[Dread Clawz]

So who is opening the scoring this series? Give me your guy from both teams.

Bennett
Nylander

Bennett is a good pick. I say Verhaeghe though.

 

[Sharkbomb]

9-7 Florida or 10-0 Leafs.

For some reason this sounds ridiculous but feels accurate.

 

[BlueBaron]

Chapter 1 in our playoff history begins. In the end it may be decided by goaltending.

 

[Sharkbomb]

You guys are upset Toronto is the favorite in the series? Your own players are even saying as much

If I was a Panthers fan I'd be far more upset if Tkachuk was not calling themselves underdogs.

 

[Dread Clawz]

You guys are upset Toronto is the favorite in the series? Your own players are even saying as much

There's a difference between being an underdog and it being a "warmup" series for the Leafs. I think a lot of people are in for a rude awakening this series, mostly people that didn't watch Boston-Florida.

 

[Just Rude]

Panthers fans, sorry for the inevitable influx of Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa fans, among others.

They're just passing time until the draft lottery.

There's a difference between being an underdog and it being a "warmup" series for the Leafs. I think a lot of people are in for a rude awakening this series, mostly people that didn't watch Boston-Florida.

Not a single Leaf fan I've seen is saying this.

If you think that, you have no idea about the history of this franchise.

 

[Mr Kot]

Only bad things can happen when I post in the thread.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Think 5 4 Leafs in the first game of what I expect to be a long series ( 6 or 7 ) .

 

[Dread Clawz]

Not a single Leaf fan I've seen is saying this.

If you think that, you have no idea about the history of this franchise.

Maybe not Leafs fans, but other neutral fans are.

 

[Enniskillen]

Very good Panthers team, usually Leafs were underdogs (except for 2021) and now we have two teams that are fairly even in everything (D, goalies, forwards).

 

[3headeddragon]

Maybe not Leafs fans, but other neutral fans are.

If they're saying it, they're trolls and lonely. Just looking for a reaction.

 

[Notsince67]

When the Leafs lost to Boston, we lost everything. Until this team was built as it is today and we beat Tampa...a gift from the hockey gods...in that moment we received some semblance of hope...an opportunity of payback and vengeance against the Bruins...and the Panthers took it from us.
STOLE THAT FROM US....KILLED THAT FROM US.
People are asking whether the Leafs are back. But now we are thinking...yeah we're back. So you can either walk away as fans or you can feel the full wrath of Leaf Nation after the Buds kill the Panther playoff dreams.
...your truly
John Wick

 

[Just Rude]

Maybe not Leafs fans, but other neutral fans are.

Psst. I can assure you, a vast majority of them are not "neutral."

You'll see soon enough. Look forward to a great series!

 

[Just Rude]

Just for a little history lesson for Cats fans that don't follow our team. Between 1993 and 2002, when this team was "good", they made it to four conference finals in nine years. Three of them we had home ice advantage (vs. LAK, VAN and BUF). In the fourth, Carolina had home ice, even through the Leafs had more points (the Canes won their division).

The Leafs lost all four series.

Any rational Leaf fans knows not to take anyone lightly.

 

[mydnyte]

I'm afraid the window has closed for both Toronto and Florida to exorcise their demons. Both Tampa and Boston will be crap for a while starting next season and beating them won't mean much.

Tampa still has a great core ...Kutch just put up 113 points, Hedman (when healthy is a norris caliber d-man, and still better than any leafs d-man hurt) Vasy is still arguably the best goalie. Point just had a phenomenal season, Stamkos is still Stamkos...
TB will be right in the mix next season, and the only way the Leafs miss them again, is by winning the division.
They will be 2nd/3rd again.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

It's midnight, Cinderella.

Signed,

Jack...the Bruins Killer

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Maybe not Leafs fans, but other neutral fans are.

90% of “neutral” fans on this site are pretty unabashed Leaf haters.

 

[Advanced stats]

Panthers defense and goaltending will be the wildcard of the series. They allowed 53 more goals against than Toronto this season.

 

[DragoGrizzly]

Good luck to your team Panther fans. Gonna be a fun series I think. I get that it doesn’t have rivalry buzz of a Boston v Toronto or a Florida vs Tampa series, but it’s something new at least. First time facing each other in the playoffs is crazy. I think the style of each team is going to make for some awesome hockey. Cheers.

 

[General Disarray]

5-1 leafs. This will be a blowout. Panthers will be tired. Leafs will outclass them.

 

[CoolioFunk]

Looking forward to this matchup. Go panthers!