ECSF: Toronto Maple Leafs (A2) vs. Florida Panthers (WC2) ( Florida Leads 3-1 )

[Frosty415]

I say Leafs in 6 but it would be wild to see the Panthers take out the Bruins and the Leafs

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

If we could handle Kucherov/Sergachev/Maroon/Perry I think we'll be able to keep our cool with them.

Those 4 are like drinking lite beer to the 90 proof moonshine that is Bennett and Tkachuk.

 

[AvroArrow]

Those 4 are like drinking lite beer to the 90 proof moonshine that is Bennett and Tkachuk.

Also forgot to add the unstoppable Jeannot in that list

Should be a fun series

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

oh boy, if you think this is the same soft Leafs you are in for a rude awakening.

Grandpa Gio ain’t gonna save ya.

Also forgot to add the unstoppable Jeannot in that list

Should be a fun series

You mean the injured Jeannot that barely played? That one?

 

[Deadly Dogma]

Those 4 are like drinking lite beer to the 90 proof moonshine that is Bennett and Tkachuk.

its ok we have Schenn, ORielly, MCCabe, Accairi, ZAR who all can lay massive hits

 

[NyQuil]

It's a good match-up.

Both teams came up big at key moments.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

its ok we have Schenn, ORielly, MCCabe, Accairir, ZAR who all can lay massive hits

Lol. You’ve never played Bennett and Tkachuk in an elimination series before.

Have fun with them. They will drive your pretty boys and goalie nuts.

 

[Boxscore]

Leafs in 7. This is going to be a battle.

 

[Deadly Dogma]

Lol. You’ve never played Bennett and Tkachuk in an elimination series before.

Have fun with them. They will drive your pretty boys and goalie nuts.

if they become a problem we will just hit them out of the series, Cernak, Cirelli, Hedman, Point, Jeanot all were victims to some extent

 

[kevsh]

Grandpa Gio ain’t gonna save ya.

3 of the top 10 leaders in hits these playoffs (including #1 and #2) are on the Leafs, and none of them respond to the name "Gio".

I was trying to compare to hits by Florida players but I got tired scrolling down the list looking for any.

 

[MPGA]

I'm going to be honest, if the Boston series is any indication I'm not worried about that matchup

My concern is Sam Bennett, he's going to be a pain in the ass

Matthews / Tavares is probs the toughest center matchup in the whole tourney.

 

[Leaf Fans]

I don’t think the Leafs have an answer for Matthew Tkachuk. Panthers continue to roll, win in 5

Matthew Tkachuk is a great player. He will have an impact. So will the Leafs players.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

3 of the top 10 leaders in hits these playoffs (including #1 and #2) are on the Leafs, and none of them respond to the name "Gio".

I was trying to compare to hits by Florida players but I got tired scrolling down the list looking for any.

I’m not talking at all about hits.

You’ll find out.

Matthews / Tavares is probs the toughest center matchup in the whole tourney.

McDavid / Draisaitl - the top 2 scorers in the league by a country mile - say hi.

if they become a problem we will just hit them out of the series, Cernak, Cirelli, Hedman, Point, Jeanot all were victims to some extent

Haha. You’ll see.

 

[notbias]

Lol. You’ve never played Bennett and Tkachuk in an elimination series before.

Have fun with them. They will drive your pretty boys and goalie nuts.

Yep, look at all the success they had in Calgary together.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Yep, look at all the success they had in Calgary together.

They ain’t in Calgary anymore. They now have an actual team with some balls to match their talent for once.

Enjoy playing them. They will drive you nuts.

 

[notbias]

They ain’t in Calgary anymore. They now have an actual team with some balls to match their talent for once.

Enjoy playing them. They will drive you nuts.

If you keep saying it, it doesn't make it magically true.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

If you keep saying it, it doesn't make it magically true.

If you keep denying it, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

 

[StoveTopStauffer]

Both mid-tier teams of the ones left, likely going to FLA in 6 though. I think FLA beating Boston will ignite them.

 

[Leaf Fans]

One more season of tanking for the Habs and one more season with Matthews and Nylander for the Leafs....good luck with that.

There is a possibility for more on both accounts.

Panthers in 4, the cup hangover will be too much for the Leafs.

You could tell from their interviews they were all talking as if they won the cup, they weren’t saying this is just 1 round and we have a long way to go, they were saying how proud they are of themselves for winning and how big of a deal this is. Losers to the core.

They were saying the opposite actually.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

How many people called this one? Wow

Should be a good series. Panthers won’t be an easy out

I mean some of us were on here thinking Boston might not have enough left for Florida after expending all that energy to set record, kind of like Tampa in 2019 VS Columbus, they expended all that energy to tie the record and had nothing left for Columbus.

I think something similar happened to Boston VS Florida

it just took 3 games longer.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

How are people counting the panthers out of this already… they just beat Boston. Looking forward to a solid series Florida fans!

I don't think anybody is doing that, but I don't think It's unfair to say Toronto is favorite.

 

[SwissLeaf]

This will be a close series. Leafs in 6.

 

[seanlinden]

I suspect that if Maurice has his way, Auston Matthews will see a ton of Alexander Barkov, and Bennett/Tkachuk will try to attack John Tavares.

On the flip side, if Keefe gets his way, I suspect he'll look to turn Bennett/Tkachuk into a distraction by giving them a healthy dose of ROR, Acciari, and maybe Bunting.... while he looks to get Matthews out against Lundell.


Will be interesting to see if Keefe continues 11/7, or goes back to 12/6. I'd imagine that at home, Marner will probably play with Tavares & Knies against Barkov. On the road, you'd probably want Marner/Matthews against Barkov, but probably don't want Nylander & Tavares against Bennett & Tkachuk.

Personally, I think the smartest thing the Leafs could do on the road is isolate Matthews. Give him Bunting & Jarnkrok and take Barkov out of the game shutting down Matthews.

Give that Tavares line the best possible chance of coming out on top of Bennett/Tkachuk with Marner & Knies.... and make your 3rd line a real scoring threat with Acciari, ROR, and Nylander against the Lundell group.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Grandpa Gio ain’t gonna save ya.



You mean the injured Jeannot that barely played? That one?

Gio will be solid. Yes Jeannot injured his hand when Schenn beat him up.

 

[BayStBullies]

Yall beat the lightning, we beat the bruins. f*** both of them, rooting for the winner of this series to take it all


By game 3 we’ll hate each others stinking guts.

Good to see Leafs and Panthers fans enjoying this, while obsessed Edmonton fans live in this thread for some reason.