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

[Notsince67]

I predict Leafs will get outshot. Will be a low scoring game and d will matter

 

[pb1300]

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.

The one big difference between last years Panthers team, and this years team, aside from the personnel on the ice, is the coaching staff. They are more experienced, and Maurice is better at making adjustments than Brunnette was. AB was a deer in headlights against the Caps and Bolts.

Barkov will probably be matched up at times with the AM34 line, but I would not be surprised to see Lindell against him as well. He has really improved towards the end of the season, and the last few games against the Bruins.

 

[Drytoast]

Well the media is convinced the Oilers are playing the Leafs in the finals so I don't even know why they're bothering to play this series to be honest.

The media wants a Toronto vs Edmonton finals because not having a Canadian champion since 93...people want something different. Nobody needs another damn Florida -no state tax- Championship. We've been there, done that.

Doesn't mean that's not what we are going to get though. I think Florida wins this.

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

Leafs just need to get out to an early 3-1 series lead like BOS, then go from there

We don't want to end up with bounties on our heads when we beat them in FLA again. It would be a massive crime to keep beating Floridan teams at their home over and over. Florida people have a life.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Should be a good one tonight. We're down to the best 8 teams in the league. This one could go either way. Panthers slight favourites in my opinion for beating the Bruins.

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

I did. And just because TML lucked through the Tampa series doesn't mean they're going to luck through a superior Panthers series.

Ok sir, point noted.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

What does that have to do with anything? They are in a transition year, with a new coach, and new bodies. Some temporary, some not. They are better coached than last years team, and play a more structed 200 foot game. Nobody is saying they are favorites in this series, just that they will not be an easy out, which they proved against the Bruins.

Maurice is more or less a proven failure as a coach though.

 

[General Disarray]

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.

Yes. This is the 2022 Avalanche. Years of playoff disappointment then they break through and go all the way.

 

[Peasy]

Gl tonight Panthers as the series starts. I think it will be a close one all the way through. Both teams have a potent offence so we could be in for some entertaining and crazy games.

 

[Leaf Fans]

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.

Why do you think the Leafs are going to "steam roll a very motivated Florida team in 5 games max."?

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Here's how the Leaf skaters stack up (82 game paces)

			Playoffs
Player	G	P	P/GP	Goals/82	P/82
Mitchell Marner	2​	11​	1.83​	27​	150​
Auston Matthews	5​	9​	1.5​	68​	123​
Morgan Rielly	3​	8​	1.33​	41​	109​
Ryan O'Reilly	2​	7​	1.17​	27​	96​
John Tavares	4​	7​	1.17​	55​	96​
William Nylander	2​	7​	1.17​	27​	96​
Matthew Knies	0​	3​	0.6​	0​	49​
Mark Giordano	0​	2​	0.33​	0​	27​
TJ Brodie	0​	2​	0.33​	0​	27​
Calle Jarnkrok	1​	2​	0.33​	14​	27​
Noel Acciari	2​	2​	0.33​	27​	27​
Justin Holl	0​	1​	0.2​	0​	16​
Sam Lafferty	0​	1​	0.2​	0​	16​
Zach Aston-Reese	1​	1​	0.2​	16​	16​
Alexander Kerfoot	1​	1​	0.17​	14​	14​
David Kampf	0​	1​	0.17​	0​	14​
Erik Gustafsson	0​	0​	0​	0​	0​
Timothy Liljegren	0​	0​	0​	0​	0​
Michael Bunting	0​	0​	0​	0​	0​
Luke Schenn	0​	0​	0​	0​	0​
Jake McCabe	0​	0​	0​	0​	0​

 

[wintersej]

Leafs have the path now. Boston couldn’t handle the mental pressure of expectations. Will be interesting to see if the Leafs can with expectations now raised.

 

[TheRumble]

The primary difference between Toronto's offense and Boston's offense is Toronto can play at multiple speeds. They've shown the ability to outscore their issues if need be and they are an excellent transition team. They prefer to play low event hockey but if you push them, they can play high event hockey as well. Boston really never adjusted to Florida's pace and ended up letting them dictate the flow of the game.

Toronto was able to torch Tampa in Game 2 playing their preferred style of play. They overcame a 4-1 deficit in Game 4 using their transition play. They turtled up in Game 6 and edged Tampa 2-1.

Another thing about Boston? David Pastrnak was an absolute bum in the series. People give Marner shit for his playoff series with Montreal, they should be doing the same for Pastrnak now that he's being paid $11.25 million. He put up 5 goals, only 2 at even strength, had no assists. Boston was outscored when he was on the ice at 5v5.

He's Boston best offensive threat and was outscored by Tyler Bertuzzi.

 

[The Management]

Should be a fun series. Really looking forward to tonight.

 

[AvroArrow]

Are they giving out free jerseys and hot dogs and parking with game tickets again ?

 

[HockeyVirus]

Good morning Panthers fans. Are we ready for some chirping today?

Really hoping the Leafs blow you guys out otherwise will be a long 48 hours the amount of smack I have talked. If we win the smack talk goes up to 15 tho

 

[AvroArrow]

I miss Muzzin

 

[theaub]

How is there no full schedule for this series yet

 

[Eat The Rich]

I miss Muzzin

Hopefully new Jake M can carry the torch here.

 

[The Management]

Good morning Panthers fans. Are we ready for some chirping today?

Really hoping the Leafs blow you guys out otherwise will be a long 48 hours the amount of smack I have talked. If we win the smack talk goes up to 15 tho

I was sort of low key looking forward to some chirps between you and TkachucksPestControl, but I haven't seen him around here yet.

 

[Strangle]

Florida has an advantage in that if Bob craps the bed, they have Alex Lyon to go to. But if Samsonov craps the bed, the Leafs have to go with rookie Woll. Matt Murray has spent more time on the IR than dressed in uniform. This signing could backfire for the Leafs. Hope Samsonov can hold the fort.

Bob vs Samsonov. Neither are great goalies so we will see a good share of terribly weak goals scored this series. It will come down to which goalie plays less garbage.

How many games has Lyon played in the NHL? I thought he was a rookie like Woll? I’d never heard of him before this year at least

 

[HockeyVirus]

I was sort of low key looking forward to some chirps between you and TkachucksPestControl, but I haven't seen him around here yet.

I know He promised me some chirps if we both met in round 2 but haven't even seen him posting even during the series win. Hope everything is alright.

 

[Mez]

Good morning Panthers fans. Are we ready for some chirping today?

Really hoping the Leafs blow you guys out otherwise will be a long 48 hours the amount of smack I have talked. If we win the smack talk goes up to 15 tho

 

[Strangle]

The Leafs are favourites certainly. Your Regular season record vs Florida now means nothing, just ask Boston. Tkachuk should know how to best get under Marners skin then, probably has some juicy liners waiting just for him.

Seriously I hate the Leafs so I cheer for anyone they play other than Calgary, then I just wish for an earthquake to hit the arena.

But Tkachuk and Bennett will make you hate them before this is over, win or lose.

Best of luck, should be a good series.

Bunting: “wait until they get a load of me”

 

[Mez]

Looking forward to this series, should be fun hockey. If im the Keefe im telling Bunting to get under Tkachucks skin. Dallas did that last year and Tkachuck essentially removed himself from the series because he just wanted to hit and piss people off. Pretty sure he injured himself doing it too and wasnt very effective against the Oilers in round 2.