Series Talk: Round 2 discussion || North vs South || Leafs vs Panthers

[PromisedLand]

Stolie is horny LMAO

 

[Torontonian]

This is going to be a grind feast and a very boring series. Both teams play same style, FLA probably better at it though. Dump and chase and forecheck. Both teams very good defensively. The big boys are going to have to show up and score, & Toronto is going to need more from the bottom end of the lineup, A goal or two from McMann, Domi, Laughton, Jarnkrok etc will go a long way in the series.

Ottawa was a pretty close series, anything but easy IMO.


I had plenty of hope 2 years ago. We added a TON of talent at the TDL, Florida took out Boston for us and we were substantial favorites against Florida with the best roster on paper we've had in over 50 years.

In 2023, forwards wise, yes we were better. Defensively + goaltending it's not even close.. It's night and day compared to then.

 

[GoonieFace]

Basically that Ekblad intentionally tried to give him a concussion.

Like Hagel tried to decapitate Barkov? Last guy who should be whining about anything

 

[binop7]

This is gonna be a tough series. You just know Marchand is going to score a double OT goal of some flavour to kill us.

 

[Gallagbi]

Surprised there isn't a single Panthers in 7 vote. That seems like the default assumption.

In 2023, forwards wise, yes we were better. Defensively + goaltending it's not even close.. It's night and day compared to then.

D is way better, but so we're our forwards back then.

Goaltending is interesting Sammy was coming off a great regular season and a good first round. Stolarz had a better regular season and a weaker first round

 

[The Podium]

For a team praised for their depth, they only have 2 more forwards with 30+ points and the top end talent isn’t quite as offensively gifted as what Toronto is brining

*Brad Marchand is missing from this list

Yes obviously the intangibles and experience more than make up for the gap offensively. But as much as our 3rd line is outmatched, we’re coming in with significantly better talent on the 2nd line.

 

[al secord]

Stolie is horny LMAO

Ah, to be young again.

 

[glue]

I think we will see the Leafs style of play frustrate Florida. It will be a series of close games, but I think the Leafs will win the first two games in Toronto, win an OT game in Florida, and then end the series in game 5. I think Florida will produce very little offense in this series. It won't be like playing Tampa.

I do hope you’re right, but that sounds more like your feelings or wishful thinking, take a look at this guys breakdown , I find that much more realistic -

Were gonna need much more from the core 4 than just points to beat panthers. They have to actually win the head to head line matchups as panthers depth is much better than Ottawa

 

[thusk]

Like Hagel tried to decapitate Barkov? Last guy who should be whining about anything

Hagel hit on barkov wasn't in top 3 of dirty hit in that series

1-Mikkola on girgensons
2-ekblad on hagel
3-Tkachuk on guentzel similar on hagel vs barkov but the play and game was over
4- hagel on barkov

 

[Torontonian]

I do hope you’re right, but that sounds more like your feelings or wishful thinking, take a look at this guys breakdown , I find that much more realistic -

Were gonna need much more from the core 4 thank just points to beat panthers. They have to actually win the head to head line matchups as panthers depth is much better than Ottawa

I was saying this after the game 5 loss in Ottawa, that our depth from the bottom 6 forwards has to be way better and needs to contribute to the puck going into the net... and got completely shit on saying it was all the core4 fault..

In this series, Toronto cannot afford to have their bottom 6 go even or negative every night in the head to head matchup. Against a weaker Ottawa team, they were able to get by, against FLA that's not going to fly. They need to provide some offence for the team, if they don't they wont win the series.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

So... Stollie the Goalie...

I love me some Stollie..
Bbbbbuuuuuuuut........

Where is everybody on the "he used to play for Florida" train??

Is it an advantage, cuz he knows their tendencies and some of their old systems??

Is it a disadvantage, cuz they know HIS tendencies and some of his weaknesses??

Or is it irrelevant, as a wash of both or neither of those things to you...??

Just thinking about this angle more as Stollie was good, but less than godlike in the 1st Rd - and this might make for a quicker or easier door to Woll if things go funky early.

 

[Ports]

Matthews and Marner need to be much better if they have any aspirations of getting by Florida.

Can we really expect that to happen though ? They are who they are and Florida is going to target them and take away their time and space. History would tell us they won’t push back and will get pushed out of the series offensively. But that’s okay. The way the Leafs can beat Florida is to play lock down defense and get opportunistic scoring throughout the lineup. The biggest goals in the Ottawa series came from Domi, Benoit and Patches. That should give them confidence not to just rely on and overplay their top six. Roll four lines. Play hard physical hockey especially in their own end, win the special teams battle and get great goaltending. Do this and they can beat a great Panthers team.

 

[Gary Nylund]

It really wasn’t all that close.

Games 1 and 6 the Leafs dominated, 2-4 were close but ultimately the Leafs controlled play more. Game 5 was a shit show giving the illusion of a close series. Physically and emotionally it wasn’t the most taxing either.

Game 6 was IMHO a very evenly fought, tight battle. You think we dominated, I couldn't disagree more.

They were 1 post away from a sweep and the series never really felt in danger despite the media and fan meltdown after game 5.

We were also a few minutes away from OT in game 6 and therefore came close to facing a game 7. Maybe you never felt any danger but many people did, and with good reason.

In 2023, forwards wise, yes we were better. Defensively + goaltending it's not even close.. It's night and day compared to then.

Defensively I'd say it's close. Rielly/Schenn was a fantastic pairing, Gio and Brodie were still playing very well, we also added McCabe at the TDL, that was the best D group we'd had in over 20 years. Maybe today's group is better but if it is, it's not by much and "night and day compared to then" is a pretty big overstatement. I agree that goaltending is better, and considering how important goaltending is, if we're a better team today then IMHO that's the reason.

 

[Ports]

That is the one series where I would have some doubt. Vegas' defense would be an enormous challenge for the Leafs.

Vegas needs to win the West first. Not a given. One series at a time. That’s an order from Berube.

 

[Gary Nylund]

This series will have a lot of close games, but I think it will be a shorter series than most expect. The Leafs will sneak out 2 or 3 wins that people will complain were lucky, and then end the series on home ice in game 5. To add, I think we will see at least three OT games in this series.

You're funny.

 

[Ports]

I picked Knies. I thought he was noticeable almost every game ... multiple times.

He's the secondary guy we've needed forever but also a power forward who isn't afraid of shit... and only what... 23?

Guy is a beast. I hope he smashes Bennetts head off the ice now.

Let's f***ing go

Playoffs baby

22 until October. Next captain of the team.

 

[ToneDog]

I was saying this after the game 5 loss in Ottawa, that our depth from the bottom 6 forwards has to be way better and needs to contribute to the puck going into the net... and got completely shit on saying it was all the core4 fault..

In this series, Toronto cannot afford to have their bottom 6 go even or negative every night in the head to head matchup. Against a weaker Ottawa team, they were able to get by, against FLA that's not going to fly. They need to provide some offence for the team, if they don't they wont win the series.

Leafs top 6 > Panthers top 6
Leafs bottom 6 < Panthers bottom 6

Wishful thinking. When you pay 1/2 your cap to 4 forwards, it is on them for me.

 

[go_leafs_go02]

While I don't know how this series to go, one thing that hasn't really been noted is that the Panthers have put a fair bit of mileage on over the past 2 seasons, having gone to the finals in back-to-back years. In some ways, this can catch up with them over time. I recall Tampa having a tougher time a few years back against the Leafs and this was one of the factors.

 

[Ports]

I went with Stolarz as the series MVP (although Tanev and Willy could easily be MVP as well). He never folded or let in a stinker at the wrong time, putting the game out of reach. Three goals scored pretty much wins most playoff games and he pretty much kept it to two goals against every game.

His GAG was .221 pretty much the same as in the regular season but his SV % dropped especially in the later series games where he was getting fewer shots against him. He bent a little but didn’t break. Made big saves when he needed to. Look at the other goalies stats in the playoffs. For starters he’s near the top.

 

[ToneDog]

While I don't know how this series to go, one thing that hasn't really been noted is that the Panthers have put a fair bit of mileage on over the past 2 seasons, having gone to the finals in back-to-back years. In some ways, this can catch up with them over time. I recall Tampa having a tougher time a few years back against the Leafs and this was one of the factors.

They coasted into the playoffs and made short work of Tampa. I don't expect any fatigue.

They know how to win. Unless Bob falls off a cliff, I can't see the Panthers losing this series.

 

[Stephen]

Game 6 was IMHO a very evenly fought, tight battle. You think we dominated, I couldn't disagree more.

We were also a few minutes away from OT in game 6 and therefore came close to facing a game 7. Maybe you never felt any danger but many people did, and with good reason.


Defensively I'd say it's close. Rielly/Schenn was a fantastic pairing, Gio and Brodie were still playing very well, we also added McCabe at the TDL, that was the best D group we'd had in over 20 years. Maybe today's group is better but if it is, it's not by much and "night and day compared to then" is a pretty big overstatement. I agree that goaltending is better, and considering how important goaltending is, if we're a better team today then IMHO that's the reason.

I think upsizing Gio and Brodie into Tanev and OEL, turning Schenn into Carlo, Holl into Benoit and not having a soft underbelly like Liljegren will make some difference.

Leafs being ready to play the series will factor into how well they do in the series. In 2023, they were unprepared to start the series and especially fumbled that Game 2 when they came out with the lead, then lost Game 3 in Florida in OT. That series could have been 2-1 Leafs. But that's loser talk, like when the Sens were talking about how they could have been easily up in the Toronto series.

Leafs are in deep. No expectations but let's see how Game 1 goes.

 

[Roo]

Lots of talk about the physicality and relentless forecheck of the Panthers, and it’s all true. BUT, Bob stole the last series. We had no shortage of chances. Need to focus on how we get him off his game and capitalize on our chances. If we can do that, and continue to play good defensive hockey, and play with poise and not get baited by their rats - I like our chances.

 

[GoonieFace]

Hagel hit on barkov wasn't in top 3 of dirty hit in that series

1-Mikkola on girgensons
2-ekblad on hagel
3-Tkachuk on guentzel similar on hagel vs barkov but the play and game was over
4- hagel on barkov

Who cares. Hagel laid a cheap shot on Barkov, he got it back.

 

[NoName]

Going to be a tough series against a defending cup champion and current cup favorite, but if there was a time to finally break through for this team, it would be now. Probably the last year with the current core.

 

[Evilhomer]

Going to be a tough series against a defending cup champion and current cup favorite, but if there was a time to finally break through for this team, it would be now. Probably the last year with the current core.

Why would it be the last year? The leafs will resign both Marner and Tavares. It will be basically the same team back next season.