Post-Series Talk: The Florida Panthers defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 (mod warning in OP)

[WetcoastOrca]

The thing with Stolarz is the team always seemed to play more confidently with him in the net compared to Woll or other backups

I still don’t think those blowouts happen.

We will never know. Personally I thought Toronto’s lack of offense and terrible team defense were bigger issues. Plus Florida’s relentless pressure.
When a team gets totally dominated like the Leafs were in those two games I don’t think another goalie would make much of a difference. Stolarz or Woll or even Patrick Roy and the result is the same.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Not likely. Unless Stolarz can score. Woll was not the cause of either of the blowout losses where the Leafs scored one goal.

In Game 3 the 4th Florida goal I forget who by was a hideous floater on a 1-on-1 between the blue line and the top of the circle. I don't see Stolarz letting that in, completely different thing if the Leafs go up 3-0 in the series.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

In Game 3 the 4th Florida goal I forget who by was a hideous floater on a 1-on-1 between the blue line and the top of the circle. I don't see Stolarz letting that in, completely different thing if the Leafs go up 3-0 in the series.

Maybe. Or maybe the Leafs would have still found a way to lose. I thought Woll in round 2 played as well as Stolarz in round 1.
Goaltending was the least of their worries in round 2. You just can’t get blown out 12-2 in the last two critical home games. Had the offense and defense played better in those games I think you could complain about the goaltending. But not when the whole team fails to show up.

 

[HockeyWooot]

It’s injuries!
It’s the goalie!
It’s the D!
It’s the depth!
It’s the refs!
It’s the fans!
It’s the media!

You know what? It’s Marner, Mathew’s, and Nylander being afraid to compete when the games get tough, both mentally and physically. The Leafs lose for one reason only. These three players are soft.

Spot on. They don’t need to try to become Wilson or Bennett overnight, that’s not who they are.

Playoff hockey is a warrior’s game.They cannot play soft and expect playoff success.

Chris Tanev is someone they can take a lesson from. Not a physically imposing guy or a bruiser, but is a warrior out there.

Take a hit to make a play for your team, keep your feet moving to get better positioning rather than a lazy flyby with your stick. Block shots, do whatever it takes.

Compete. Fight.

 

[Killer Orca]

How big of a choke is this for the Leafs?

Up 2-0 in the series and a two goal lead in Game 3..

They should learn to swallow, and maybe they could finish this thing just saying.

 

[Son of Nogatco]

More like facts don't care about your anti leafs bias.

Here's one more for you.

Leafs are 1 of only 3 teams to take Panthers to 7 games in the past few years. One was the greatest regular season team in Bruins history, and the other was inches away from a Cup win.

I was high on Toronto all season. Series might have gone 7 games but it didn’t really feel all that close.

Cats are known for toying with their prey before killing them

 

[Pogotheclown]

Besides game 5 and 6 i think the leafs played great.

They meet the strongest team in the nhl, which has done everything just and unjust to be by far the best team in the league.

If they want to level the playing field.....

Disallow steroids.
Proper penalties for harmful play.
Make the cap work even in the playoffs.
Make the cap calculated on net sallary.

 

[12ozPapa]

No, the issue is obviously Matthews/Marner's inability to show up in games 5-7, but Joe Thornton very likely added to the problem when he offered them his "leadership and experience" and is the biggest choker in NHL history himself.

So you take that one clip as proof that f***in’ Joe Thornton helped this core become losers?

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

 

[Praetorian Caps]

 

[BB79]

So you take that one clip as proof that f***in’ Joe Thornton helped this core become losers?

Joe Thornton is a former Boston Bruin...hmmmm...it's a sabotage!

 

[DarthRevenue]

 

[Son of Nogatco]

Lmao is this real?

 

[sampollock]

Lmao is this real?

for the core 5
that is their moto

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

Lmao is this real?

It sure is.

Maple Leafs talk pressure of playing in Toronto | Globalnews.ca

Craig Berube took a seat behind the microphone.

globalnews.ca

 

[BB79]

It sure is.

Maple Leafs talk pressure of playing in Toronto | Globalnews.ca

Craig Berube took a seat behind the microphone.

globalnews.ca

I assumed it was photoshopped or AI. Holy hell

 

[Laus723]

In Game 3 the 4th Florida goal I forget who by was a hideous floater on a 1-on-1 between the blue line and the top of the circle. I don't see Stolarz letting that in, completely different thing if the Leafs go up 3-0 in the series.

Not sure how you can say that with confidence, Toronto is know to struggle closing out a series and Florida has shown the ability over the last several years to fight their way back. Also, Stolarz was here last year, the goalie coaches know him, but they didn’t go up 3-0, Florida won 3 in a row though and closed them in 7.

Trafalgar Sadge Law said:
No, the issue is obviously Matthews/Marner's inability to show up in games 5-7, but Joe Thornton very likely added to the problem when he offered them his "leadership and experience" and is the biggest choker in NHL history himself

Jumbo Joe played in Florida also.

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

It’s injuries!
It’s the goalie!
It’s the D!
It’s the depth!
It’s the refs!
It’s the fans!
It’s the media!

 

[Felidae]

Besides game 5 and 6 i think the leafs played great.

They meet the strongest team in the nhl, which has done everything just and unjust to be by far the best team in the league.

If they want to level the playing field.....

Disallow steroids.
Proper penalties for harmful play.
Make the cap work even in the playoffs.
Make the cap calculated on net sallary.

Excellent post.

And the only way the series could have been on equal footing after eliminating Stolarz was for the Panthers to play Vanacek in at least 3 of the 7 games.

 

[Laus723]

Excellent post.

And the only way the series could have been on equal footing after eliminating Stolarz was for the Panthers to play Vanacek in at least 3 of the 7 games.

Series are never on equal footing. Your guys were shut down in Games 4,5 & 7 but you want to blame Woll?

I was impressed with Toronto in Games 1, 2, 3, and 6. That's stuff Toronto can build off of. Let Marner walk, use that money elsewhere. Re-sign Patches, Knies, and a few other guys, try to move Rielly. The Panthers were swept after winning the President's Trophy and Zito targeted guys who needed to be moved out and guys to bring in. Sure, there's no Tkachuk to bring in, but the team doesn't have to say the same and there are some bangers on that team. And some passengers

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Excellent post.

And the only way the series could have been on equal footing after eliminating Stolarz was for the Panthers to play Vanacek in at least 3 of the 7 games.

Weird copium.
Injuries are part of the game.
After watching Dallas beat Colorado missing Heiskanen and Robertson for a good chunk of the series you’re not going to get a lot of support blaming the Stolarz injury for the Leafs no shows at home in games 5 and 7. That’s on the core. Not the goalie.

 

[Surfer Dude]

its early but seeing how FL is controlling CAR puts TOR choke in a different context perhaps. FL is Cup caliber. I think you bring back Marner no question and adjust on the margins with Tavares pay cut to bring in depth pieces.

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

its early but seeing how FL is controlling CAR puts TOR choke in a different context perhaps. FL is Cup caliber. I think you bring back Marner no question and adjust on the margins with Tavares pay cut to bring in depth pieces.

They might be second best in the East. Blowing it up seems a little rash.

 

[Surfer Dude]

not a Leafs fan so likely this discussed before but Leafs should throw money at the FA from FL, Ekblad, Bennett, Marchand (grew up Leafs fan) even before Marner/Tavares perhaps. Getting even just one of those guys would hurt FL at least but hard to see them leaving FL. Have to hope Marchand take pity on them and come home.