Series Talk: ECSFs Discussion - All The Smoke Edition - Panthers Trailing 0-1

[I am not exposed]

Flames fan here, but I'm just wondering about Tkachuk.

How has he looked right now? He had 2 goals in game 1 vs Tampa followed by a suspension

Is he alright? Should 2023 playoff Tkachuk be back in form or somewhat expected?

Thanks

No. He's been very meh this playoffs and even slower than usual. Clearly not recovered. He was a detriment to team USA in the four nations final. And his 'warrior' spirit could **** us over against Toronto.

 

[behemolari]

No. He's been very meh this playoffs and even slower than usual. Clearly not recovered. He was a detriment to team USA in the four nations final. And his 'warrior' spirit could **** us over against Toronto.

eventually he will catch Marner

 

[austropanther]

So hilarious how the Toronto fans are losing their sh*t over the Bennett incident.

Fun game 1 to watch, did not expect it to be that physical. Bob unfortunately the main reason we lost - he has got to stop at least 2 of those 5 goals - and undisciplined play in the 3rd - we were taking it to them so badly, Bennett and Mikkola chose a very bad time to commit infractions.

Even though he did not score I liked Verhaege a lot. He never cheats on his hits, every hit he throws is going through the whole body. He will eventually score again. Also loved Kuli blowing up Holmberg.

On to the next. Can't wait for Ek to be back (maybe this time more than for 2 games?). We are the better team, we should win this series

 

[Mogo]

Leafs fans are delusional. They think we played the best we can last night and they just won us. Im hearing its going to be a sweep

 

[pantherbot]

I'll honestly be shocked if Bennett doesn't get suspended. It's a goalie. The optics look terrible. It's Bennett. And it's the Leafs. I'm guessing he gets two games.

Sucks because I don't think he should be suspended and I hate that we keep having to deal with this shit.

 

[Chaos2k7]

I'll honestly be shocked if Bennett doesn't get suspended. It's a goalie. The optics look terrible. It's Bennett. And it's the Leafs. I'm guessing he gets two games.

Sucks because I don't think he should be suspended and I hate that we keep having to deal with this shit.

Can't be suspending guys just because one team is up in their feelings. Leafs fans just want a pound of flesh.

This is a continuation of bad blood from a couple years ago. They don't care how they get it.

Having said this, Benny does walk the line and the DoPS seemingly has no rhyme or reason to what they do or do not suspend players for so who knows.

 

[CoolioFunk]

Leaf fans acting like Bennett took an axe to stolarz, while laughing like a maniac and twirling his evil mustache. I don’t think there was any intention there, just a net jam attempt where they got in each others way. Besides that, if we play like we did in the third and bob isn’t playing like ass giving up 4 goals on 9 shots, we should be fine.

 

[Dread Clawz]

There's no way he gets more than a game. He gently brushed Stolarz. Whether it was unintentional or intentional, there's no way to prove it .

 

[Ryuji Yamazaki]

He shouldn’t even get a game. Getting a 2 min penalty would be borderline.

Once Bennett realizes he makes contact with him, you can see him pull his arm away from Stolarz.

 

[austropanther]

The TOR Fans are not capable of getting over the Knies incident that was unpunished by league and refs. So Bennett will remain piblic enemy number 1 forever

 

[ShootIt]

Hope Stolarz is ok and leaving the arena was just done as a super safe precaution and not due to something more serious.

Bennett definitely got him in the head, but while he flirts on the line between hard hits and dirty, I consider that one tame. Have to think it was the 1-2 of the shot+right angle hit from the side that caused anything to flare up that bad.

 

[Idiot Stick]

if you told me our scoring from the blueline and 3rd line would be significantly higher than last year id be pretty confident for this run except our top line still mia

Waiting for barkovs one goal a series
Verhaeghe to tear off katies strapon
and reino to do reino things

 

[FinlandPanther]

If Bennett gets a suspension this league is f***ing cooked. There is NOTHING there.

 

[ShootIt]

No. He's been very meh this playoffs and even slower than usual. Clearly not recovered. He was a detriment to team USA in the four nations final. And his 'warrior' spirit could **** us over against Toronto.

While he's been generally on the low side/left side of the net on the powerplay, dare I say just throw him in front of the goalie.
I know they want to setup Reinhart, but Chuk can barely skate. Just let him be a pest in front of the goalie.

IMO, a slow Chuk is still better than dressing Greer, Gadjo, Nosek etc...
Just think they need more scoring talent vs the Leafs, IE play Samo over Greer or Erod or Boqvist.

 

[batting1k]

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

Ekblad looked good. No complaints from me.

 

[FinlandPanther]

She’s an idiot. Low IQ hockey fan that’s trying to earn their 23.35 on Twitter blue

 

[batting1k]

This video makes it even more clear that it was just a bump as Bennett took the only path he had. His elbow/arm is tucked the entire time. There’s a “follow through” at the end where Bennett’s elbow shoots forward but I think he partially loses balance when he steps on Stolarz’s stick.

 

[Ratsreign]

Emotional wrecks

 

[TheImpatientBoomer]

Jenaya? That's a name?

 

[batting1k]

Reddit is having an absolute meltdown, jfc

 

[Gizmoskevich]

Only took half a game for the series discourse to go off the rails. Impressive

 

[ProjectPanthers]

For some reason I feel more confident this morning. That was the most intensity the Leafs have brought all season. They played their best game and we still clawed back and almost tied it.

Bob was terrible last night, that likely won't repeat. The Panthers started to figure them out as the game went on and the pace slowed to their level. I think they're going to win the next 3 games if I'm being honest.

 

[Idiot Stick]

For some reason I feel more confident this morning. That was the most intensity the Leafs have brought all season. They played their best game and we still clawed back and almost tied it.

Bob was terrible last night, that likely won't repeat. The Panthers started to figure them out as the game went on and the pace slowed to their level. I think they're going to win the next 3 games if I'm being honest.

Ekblad back too, for better or worse
Ballinskis has some nice offense and so far has been good defensively outside of last game

 

[ChopCat]

This video makes it even more clear that it was just a bump as Bennett took the only path he had. His elbow/arm is tucked the entire time. There’s a “follow through” at the end where Bennett’s elbow shoots forward but I think he partially loses balance when he steps on Stolarz’s stick.

Anyone who has ever had a concussion, or is familiar with them, knows that the first one makes you much more susceptible to additional concussions. That's why the protocol is there-to keep you from being exposed to something which might cause even more instances.

In a vacuum the contact from Bennett is nothing but given that Stoli was almost surely already concussed from Reino's slap shot it looks like he got a second one in that video. Two in short succession put him over the edge and resulted in the vomiting and having to leave the game.

It's pretty clear that's the chain of events here but 1) Benny's rep, 2) Panthers' rep, 3) hysterics by Leafs' fans is going to make this into a much bigger deal. So be it.