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

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Barkov will definitely get the Matthews matchup. That'll be a battle.

After that you have Bennett, who had a whale of a series against the Bruins, and Lundell.

Panthers will have to count on their young legs and pace being more important than experience and savvy over the course of the series.

That's the thing Barkov may not get the Matthews matchup, the first 2 games are in Toronto which means Keefe controls the matchups allowing him to keep Matthews away from Barkov if he chooses

 

[Notsince67]

Judging by the multiple threads I've read and countless comments, Leaf fans think this will be an easy series.

Hope it doesn't bite them in the ass

I think the percentages between leaf fans and Panther fans are equal. You just can't fill a school bus of panther fans.

 

[StorminSnvechnAho]

A first round victory? More wins than losses vs Florida? A future?

I think a that first one may be in bad taste.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

yup I think it was 1916 when they ditched the Ross and went to the Enfield, Thats awesome that your a WW1 historian.
IMO early WW1 is the epitome of the industrialized world vs old world tactics. Just imagine a calvarly charge against machine gun nests, just insanity

Yes that’s correct. Thanks and it was certainly a time where the world changed.

Cheers!

 

[Notsince67]

Yep. The Leafs themselves are a low-pace team. They prefer to hold the puck in the offensive zone rather than trade rush chances.

They may want to make an adjustment against FLA to open it up more though.

Great advice because the Leafs never played the panthers before.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

I have a feeling Florida will get absolutely destroyed in Game 1. Coming from that high of a feeling, it's gonna be tough two days later.

Then things will settle out, but expect Toronto to win.

 

[IceManCat]

kkkkkk

 

[Zybalto]

That's the thing Barkov may not get the Matthews matchup, the first 2 games are in Toronto which means Keefe controls the matchups allowing him to keep Matthews away from Barkov if he chooses

Matthews vs. Barkov since the start of 2017:

TOI: 113 minutes.
xGF%: 64%-36% Matthews
Goal differential: 11-1 Matthews

I think a key for the Panthers is to try and shelter Barkov away from Matthews no?

 

[Leafsfan74]

This is the series that would have been great to watch last year. No team is easy come playoffs, teams who win a round are even more hungry so it wlll be a good series in my.opinion.

Objectively, the Leafs have the edge due to their depth, defensive focus and special teams. Also, if Sansonov remains stoic he will be a difference maker.

Consider, we have guys like Kerfoot and Bunting who have played 1st and 2nd line duty this year and/or last, they are now in the bottom six. Leafs have 9 NHL calibre D Men.

 

[SPV]

Go Leafs!! As a once long tortured Red Sox fan I feel I can relate to you all best, so I am throwing my support behind you guys. Hope you finally get one!!

 

[DaveMatthew]

That's the thing Barkov may not get the Matthews matchup, the first 2 games are in Toronto which means Keefe controls the matchups allowing him to keep Matthews away from Barkov if he chooses

Maybe. Not sure why he would though. Matthews is their top dog. Let him go up against Barkov. Tavares/O'Reilly both need the easier matchup to be effective. Matthews doesn't.

 

[JKG33]

This is a really interesting one. Toronto should win in 5 or 6. Bob is inconsistent, Florida's D looks not great.

But at the same time, Florida has some really physical players in Tkachuk, Bennett and Gudas that also play big minutes. Bob also has the potential to be the most influential player in the series, for better or worse

 

[Cats2TheCup]

People judging teams based on regular season performance have not learned the lesson.

 

[DueDiligence]

The Leafs took down a team that had gone to 3 straight finals and won 2 of them, and had gone to 4 finals since 2015.

True but most objective hockey people would agree that this year's Tampa team was certainly not as good as 2 and 3 years ago and even not as good as last year's team.

 

[nilan30]

Is there a full schedule known for this? Hoping to go to a Jays game May 15thbin Toronto which could be right around a potential game 7. Wondering how much of a gong show I may have to deal with.

 

[theaub]

Is there a full schedule known for this? Hoping to go to a Jays game May 15thbin Toronto which could be right around a potential game 7. Wondering how much of a gong show I may have to deal with.

Blink182 concert at Scotia that night so you should be fine

 

[TorMapleJays]

This series isnt going 7 games anyways.

 

[A1LeafNation]

 

[nilan30]

Blink182 concert at Scotia that night so you should be fine

Gross haha

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Maybe. Not sure why he would though. Matthews is their top dog. Let him go up against Barkov. Tavares/O'Reilly both need the easier matchup to be effective. Matthews doesn't.

The other side of that is keeping Matthews away from Barkov allows him a significant matchup advantage if he chooses

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

Matthews vs. Barkov since the start of 2017:

TOI: 113 minutes.
xGF%: 64%-36% Matthews
Goal differential: 11-1 Matthews

I think a key for the Panthers is to try and shelter Barkov away from Matthews no?

Barkov will be dogged by ROR and Acciri. He can bark all he wants until he can't Barkov anymore.

 

[vildurson]

Not the second round pairing I was expecting, but hey, this is at least a new one! I just want high speed and skill hockey for once instead of the usual physical hockey we have usually in playoffs.

 

[leafsfan5]

The Leafs shut down the 2 best playoff performers in the NHL 5v5. It'll be interesting to see how they handle Tkachuk

To add to this, Brodie when on the ice versus Kucherov:
59.03 xGF%
59.09 HDCF
3-2 in goals for

So the numbers are even better when you isolate the time on ice against one another. TJ Brodie is one of the best shutdown defenseman in the league this year. Elite metrics all season long and he just led the shutdown of one of the best playoff players in this generation. Whoever ends up being matched up against him will have their hands full

 

[Vergil]

Florida in 6. Pure domination otherwise.

Pound them into oblivion, Flobros.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Judging by the multiple threads I've read and countless comments, Leaf fans think this will be an easy series.

Hope it doesn't bite them in the ass

I have never made that claim. in fact, I think it will be a tough series.