GDT: Leafs at Florida Panthers, Tuesday April 8th, 2025, 7pm TSN4

[AvroArrow]

What do we take it to mean if these healthy players are all back in the lineup Tuesday?

My guess is they probably have minor nagging injuries and decided to rest them for an "easy" game. I think they realize the division lead is a tall order at this point in the season and made the decision to just give their guys a break.

I fully expect them all back and am fully expecting Bennett to try and injure Marner or Nylander, we are a possible playoff opponent. Kucherov pulled that shit a couple years ago where he boarded the crap out of Marner at the end of the period, like 1-2 games before playoffs.

 

[ULF_55]

I really thought Washington would sit Ovechkin yesterday so he could score at home. Imagine if that had happened.

Won't the next goal he scores at home be a record?

 

[Suntouchable13]

The game the night after is the bigger one. Just take it easy, don’t play the stars too much, and keep everyone fresh for Wednesday.

 

[Obo]

What team do the leaf fans want to play in the playoffs? If you guys beat Florida then it makes it more likely you will play them in the first round. If you want the sens you need to lose tomorrow night.

Don't really care about the matchup. Just finish first to get home ice and let the rest of the teams end up where they may.

Now as a hockey fan I'd like to see the Florida teams 2-3 because that series would likely be the pick of the first round.

 

[kevsh]

Florida teams B2B. Nice.

If the Leafs can get 4 points in the swamp, regardless whether the games go to OT or not, that probably wraps up the division.

I'm not assuming they'll win either though. Florida was a test last week even with all their injuries and being on the road. TB has slipped the past couple of games but they'll be up for this one.

Let's hope the focused, disciplined and motivated Leafs show up for both.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

I’d be fine with facing a Florida team in the 1st round. In fact I’d prefer it. Knock off a contender right off the bat.
We won’t win anything worthwhile without taking out some big dogs so get them out of the way asap.

 

[ULF_55]

Florida teams B2B. Nice.

If the Leafs can get 4 points in the swamp, regardless whether the games go to OT or not, that probably wraps up the division.

I'm not assuming they'll win either though. Florida was a test last week even with all their injuries and being on the road. TB has slipped the past couple of games but they'll be up for this one.

Let's hope the focused, disciplined and motivated Leafs show up for both.

We should all want to see these 2 games.

Regardless of line-ups, we know both Florida teams will want to win.

I don't think anyone should discount those 2 teams based on recent games.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Stolarz Tuesday and Woll Wednesday or the opposite?

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Just gotta keep winning. f*** everything else.

 

[Leafsfan74]

The team is in the heat of a race, why would anyone expect them to sit healthy players?

Based on that logic, why would Florida? It may be a conspiracy but the logic doesn't compute unless they dont care about home ice.

Leafs just need to keep winning obviously, play one game at a time. If they lock it up and have a game or two to burn at the end I give the stars an option, If they do play, I keep their minutes lower 5 on 5.

 

[Evilhomer]

Based on that logic, why would Florida? It may be a conspiracy but the logic doesn't compute unless they dont care about home ice.

Leafs just need to keep winning obviously, play one game at a time. If they lock it up and have a game or two to burn at the end I give the stars an option, If they do play, I keep their minutes lower 5 on 5.

I'm not worried about resting guys like Matthews, Marner or Nylander. None of those guys need rest. But tanev and Tavares? I'd start scaling back their time or sitting them (subject to cap issues).

 

[Roo]

I wouldn’t be resting anyone at this point. We have 6 games left. Unless you are giving them ‘maintenance days’. You can consider resting players in game 81 and 82.

 

[Mugzy97]

Win them both decisively and put some fear into them!

 

[Leaf Fans]

What team do the leaf fans want to play in the playoffs? If you guys beat Florida then it makes it more likely you will play them in the first round. If you want the sens you need to lose tomorrow night.

I want the team to win. I don't really care who they play. I want them to win against Florida, Tampa Bay, Ottawa and so on.

 

[hockeyes]

I agree that it doesn't really matter who you play since you gotta beat the best anyway but it is hilariously Leafy to possibly win a division only to have the defending cup champs drop at the last second and be your first round match up. It almost feels inevitable at this point.

 

[Confucius]

Win the next 2 and just cruise the rest of the way.

 

[HockeyVirus]

If they wanna tank, fine smack the shit out of them let them know it isn't going to be easy. If we lose, oh well I want Ottawa anyways. Panthers can wait

 

[MK78]

Tampa wins, 2 points behind Leafs.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Tampa wins, 2 points behind Leafs.

What a year for the rags. I sure didn’t see it coming.

 

[The Shadow]

What a shuffling of the deck possibly playing out in the Atlantic.

If Tampa passes Toronto and ottawa slides into 3rd you’d have Tampa and Florida anyway but in a way we really did not expect

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

I’m probably in the minority from what I read on here but I personally don’t care. Gotta go through the best regardless.

Sure, but it would be nice to see Tampa and Florida in the first round so one of them is eliminated.

 

[DarkKnight]

Woll Florida, Stolarz TB

 

[Stephen]

Win the division and pursue greatness. Run over an unhealthy Florida team or whomever we play and go deep in the playoffs. Stay on the right side of the hockey gods and let Florida do their sneaky shit.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

I hope they lose every game to end the season. It's not that easy to just turn it on and win after a streak of losing and more importantly we have their second round pick and the more they lose the better that pick is

 

[Stephen]

I hope they lose every game to end the season. It's not that easy to just turn it on and win after a streak of losing and more importantly we have their second round pick and the more they lose the better that pick is

I’d focus on putting a fresh beating on them tomorrow and see if they come out even less healthy. Start the attrition war early.