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

[Rob Brown]

This is so false lol

 

[Notsince67]

Leafs can't win a series in 20 years now they're going to apparently steam roll a very motivated Florida team in 5 games max.

Not having players like Ceci, Campbell and Hyman anymore should do the trick

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I love the hubris being displayed by Leafs fans here. If there is a sport where you don't want to face a low seed that has been on a late-season tear and playing for its life for at least a month it is hockey. This is also not a traditional low seed, but a team with a core that recently won a President's trophy and struggled to adapt to a new coach for a bit before it found its legs. This Panthers team feels more like an LA-Kings-ish low seed than a team like the Kraken or the 2019 Blue Jackets.

Sounds good to me

Leafs are the underdogs, y'all. Cheering for the upset!

 

[Jumptheshark]

Panthers in 6

 

[Notsince67]

Doesn't seem very welcoming. Good thing a lot of Canadians have residency there

 

[ashs]

should be a fun series, congrats to Florida for pulling through. The refs seemed against them in the last game but they showed resilience.

go leafs go

 

[CaptainScrewy]

Thank you Bruins for choking and gifting us the Panthers

Saved.

 

[Leaf Fans]

I love the hubris being displayed by Leafs fans here. If there is a sport where you don't want to face a low seed that has been on a late-season tear and playing for its life for at least a month it is hockey. This is also not a traditional low seed, but a team with a core that recently won a President's trophy and struggled to adapt to a new coach for a bit before it found its legs. This Panthers team feels more like an LA-Kings-ish low seed than a team like the Kraken or the 2019 Blue Jackets.

What hubris?

 

[SensFactor]

I got Florida in 6. Boston was a much tougher out than Tampa who looks bad all season.

The way Florida played the last 3 games against Boston will give the Leafs fits. They outworked Boston, not easy to do.

Should be a great series none the less.

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

Will be a helluva match. Leafs in 6 but it will be close. Tkachuk faces his former mates in Brodie and Giordano. Leafs are going to the cup final this year.

Also Mitch, they won the cup together on London Knights.

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

Gonna be a close one, a lot closer than people think. Should be 6 or 7 games. Florida plays with a lot of energy, and has one of the deepest forward cores in the league. Florida has a whole lot of momentum after that one.

Leafs can't take them lightly, and need to put out a consistent effort.

The difference between Florida and Tampa is just that they play with energy and speed vs slow it down and grind it out.

We are the better team at energy, speed and skill. It's going to be an exciting series now that the slow them down tactic is gone.

 

[SensFactor]

Goaltending wise sure, but Boston dominated the play much more. I think the Panthers are going to crash hard after that emotional triumph.

You could say the same thing about the Leafs. Leafs were outplayed many of the games in the series and found a way to win. Florida out worked Boston in the last 3 games to come back and win their series. Both teams have momentum going into this series....I don't expect it to be a short one.

 

[MrSnrub]

Because Leafs finished higher in the standings, are a better team on ice and on paper ? Not that hard to figure out. Panthers are a solid squad, they demonstrated that but not sure what you're confused about here

So were the Bruins for all those things. But go ahead thinking the Panthers are going to suddenly turn into a cupcake and that they're no real threat despite beating one of the best teams ever.

 

[LeafsandSharksfan]

I think Florida scraps until the very end but Leafs ultimately pull it out, Leafs in 7.

 

[Cotton]

Panthers in 3.

 

[Peasy]

Anything can happen in the playoffs.

With the leafs finally getting the monkey off their back, who knows how they are going to look in round 2.

But honestly speaking, I don't think the leafs were their best selves in the Tampa series. Had a lot of bad line up decisions that cost them some games. Holl was literally on for over 70% of Tampa's goal and they heavily abused him. Hopefully Keefe has learned from that. They also played dumb and stacked the top 2 lines the first game instead of having 3 line depth. Again, hopefully Keefe has learned. Also, bunting was essentially out the entire series, so hes probably got a bone to pick in the 2nd round. Samsonov looked brutal his first couple games, but appeared to get more comfortable as the playoffs went off. Hopefully there isnt a rocky start for him in this series.

If I had to pick a winner i'd probably say Leafs in 6/7, but I know anything can happen and this will be a close series and wouldnt be surprised if Florida pulled it off.

 

[IceManCat]

He must not even be aware of players like Schenn, Acciari, McCabe and O'Reilly.

Well aware of them and who else? Not to mention your style of play isnt a playoff style. You beat a tired and over the hill Lightning team. Panthers are going to frustrate the Leafs. I dont think the Leafs superior scoring will make up for it.

 

[AvroArrow]

So were the Bruins for all those things. But go ahead thinking the Panthers are going to suddenly turn into a cupcake and that they're no real threat despite beating one of the best teams ever.

Who said they were gonna turn into a cupcake and not be a threat ? lol Literally just saying, dude asked why the Leafs are heavy favorites so I gave an answer

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

Go Leafs

 

[Peasy]

Well aware of them and who else? Not to mention your style of play isnt a playoff style. You beat a tired and over the hill Lightning team. Panthers are going to frustrate the Leafs. I dont think the Leafs superior scoring will make up for it.

And you beat a tired and over the hill Boston team that with their 1C injured.

See how ridiculous this sounds when saying it out loud

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

So Panthere are only selling tickets to US citizens. It will be interesting watching Games 3 and 4 with 3 fans in attendance.

 

[Clint Eastwood]

Thank you Bruins for choking and gifting us the Panthers

I remember when I said "Woo we didn't get the Isles. Thank god we only got the Panthers."

Aged like milk. Be careful what you wish for.

 

[MrSnrub]

Who said they were gonna turn into a cupcake and not be a threat ? lol Literally just saying, dude asked why the Leafs are heavy favorites so I gave an answer

Yeah, you think the Leafs are heavy favorites because of regular season stuff that we just saw means nothing at this stage. "Well they're the higher seed so..."

 

[IceManCat]

And you beat a tired and over the hill Boston team.

See how ridiculous this sounds when saying it out loud

You are referring to the team that just set the record for most wins in a season? You mean that tired and over the hilll team. Imagine if they didnt set the record what would you call them? This is hilarious no way you just made this argument?

 

[Kranix]

Saying Maurice is smarter than Keefe isn't saying much for Maurice. A crocodile is smarter than Keefe. So I'll say Maurice is way, way, way smarter than Keefe. So there's the coaching advantage.