TORONTO — On Monday night, the Maple Leafs will begin their efforts to do something they have not done since 2002: Win two playoff rounds.
Their rewards for winning the Atlantic Division this season ended quickly, as after getting past the first round against the Ottawa Senators, the Leafs are now faced up against one of the more bruising and deep teams in the NHL. Oh, and they’re the reigning Stanley Cup champions to boot: the Florida Panthers.
Advertisement
The memories of the Panthers’ quick five-game second-round series win over the Leafs in 2023 will undoubtedly remain for some Leafs. Two years ago, the tight score lines throughout the series flattered the Leafs. They were just no match for the Panthers’ brand of playoff-ready hockey. And that style remains front of mind for the Leafs heading into Game 1.
“(The Panthers) forecheck hard and they are physical. They’re in your face the whole game. I don’t necessarily think it is mean. That’s just their game,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said after Sunday’s practice. “We are a physical team, too. We have to go out and be physical ourselves. We have to initiate as much as possible.”
Game 1 could set the tone for the series. The Panthers have had an extra day of rest compared to the Leafs after polishing off the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. They could be primed to bring that nastiness early on.
The Leafs will begin the series as underdogs. How the Leafs match the Panthers experience with an upgraded blue line and higher-end scoring talent — who found their stride in Game 6 against the Senators — could dictate how this series goes, at least early on.
The likely lines
Knies — Matthews — Marner
Pacioretty — Tavares — Nylander
McMann — Domi — Holmberg
Lorentz — Laughton — Järnkrok
McCabe — Tanev
Rielly — Carlo
Benoit — Ekman-Larsson
Berube is keeping together the lineup that won Game 6 for the Leafs, including Max Pacioretty on the second line. Though the Panthers’ first and second units are obviously a big-time threat to the Leafs, Berube seems concerned about Florida’s well-rounded third line. The Leafs coach has brought up the unit, which includes Brad Marchand, unprompted a number of times already.
Anton Lundell, the rising two-way force in the middle of that line, is of particular concern. The Panthers outscored the Lightning 4-0 when that trio was on the ice in the first round. Berube figures to lean on the threesome of Scott Laughton, Steven Lorentz, and Calle Järnkrok to try to keep that group off the scoreboard in Game 1. It remains to be how much the Leafs coach will use the line of Bobby McMann, Max Domi, and Pontus Holmberg in Game 1. — Siegel
Advertisement
The big questions
Can the power play continue to cook?
Given Florida’s apparent advantage at five on five, the Leafs may not be able to win this series if their power play can’t keep it rolling. It was arguably the deciding factor in round one against Ottawa. Something to be mindful of: The Panthers own a very aggressive penalty kill, including a first forward tandem of Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart that will strike if given the chance. Florida buried 12 shorthanded goals during the regular season, second-most in the league. The Leafs surrendered two shorties to the Sens in the first round. They went 1-9 on the power play against the Panthers during the regular season. — Siegel
Will the extra rest have benefitted Anthony Stolarz?
We’ve brought up the Leafs goalie a lot over the last week or so, but with good reason. After Game 2, Stolarz pitched an .876 save percentage through the Leafs’ final four games of the first round against the Senators. That’s a stark difference from the goalie who put up a .926 save percentage through the regular season — tops in the NHL. Stolarz looked to falter, only slightly, as he dealt with a workload he’d never experienced before. Now he’s going to be matched up both against his former team and Sergei Bobrovsky, a goalie who has a recent history of stopping pucks amid a heavy workload. Was the three days off for Stolarz enough to reset? Game 1 could reveal a lot. And, possibly, whether Joseph Woll will see his first playoff action this year. — Kloke
What will Mitch Marner look like in Game 1?
Congratulations are in order for Marner and his wife Stephanie on the birth of their first child Sunday morning. Marner missed Sunday’s practice but will play Game 1. As any new parent will tell you, those first days as a parent can be a blur. You’re running on adrenaline, little to no sleep and your thoughts are being pulled in different directions. It will be fascinating to see how Marner — a player the Leafs need at his best to have a chance against the Panthers — responds less than 48 hours after such an emotional experience. Could it propel him to have one of the playoff games of his career? The highest of highs and the lowest of lows might be expected in Game 1. That’s parenthood, after all. — Kloke
Pre-game reading
• Who’s favoured in this Round 2 matchup? Our in-depth series preview is here.
• How can the Leafs beat the Panthers? James Mirtle has five keys.
Advertisement
• The Panthers’ post-Cup free-agent selloff became the the Leafs’ gain. How will it play out?
• Matthew Knies and Oliver Ekman-Larsson had big first-round series for the Leafs. Knies is proving he’s playoff-ready. Ekman-Larsson is capping a long climb back from rock bottom.
How to watch
The puck drops in Toronto at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sportsnet, CBC, TVAS and ESPN.
(Photo: Claus Andersen / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Muller antecipa possível time rebaixado no Brasileirão: “Precisa contratar”
Muller é comentarista esportivo - Reprodução/YouTube Passadas sete rodadas do Brasileirão, o Santos tem decepcionado e preocupado seus torcedores com uma pontuação baixa perto da expectativa criada. Para o ex-atacante Muller, o elenco do Peixe apresenta lacunas importantes e entende ser providencial a contratação de jogadores de alto nível. Durante o programa Mesa Redonda, o comentarista se mostrou pessimista com o futuro do time paulista e menciona o Corinthians como exemplo para dar a volta por cima. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Só o Neymar não vai conseguir tirar o Santos dessa situação. Precisa contratar e contratar jogador de peso, esvaziar o elenco com atletas que não estão atuando e trazer jogadores de nível. Da mesma forma como fez o Corinthians no ano passado e acabou se salvando. Apenas com Neymar não basta”, analisou Muller. Com apenas quatro pontos, o Santos ocupa neste […]
Max Duggan’s and Bryce Perkins’ TD passes highlight top UFL plays from Week 6
<!--> Another week of exciting UFL football is in the books. Two of the four games from Week 6 came down to the wire, while there were plenty of exciting plays in the other two.That said, let's take a look at the 10 best plays from Week 6. ADVERTISEMENT -->Late in the first half of Saturday's game against the Roughnecks, Winn made the right read on a run-pass option play. The Showboats QB found a hole in Houston's defense, hitting the edge hard on a keeper for a nine-yard touchdown that gave Memphis the lead at the time.9. Battlehawks get the strip sack to seal the winThe Renegades had a chance to tie or win Friday's game in the final minutes. Facing a first-and-10 from their own 39-yard line with just under two minutes left, Renegades QB Luis Perez immediately felt […]
Vampeta elege dois técnicos no patamar de Ancelotti: “Só eles”
Carlo Ancelotti, o possível próximo treinador da seleção brasileira. Foto: Angel Martinez/Getty Images Carlo Ancelotti está cada vez mais próximo de deixar o Real Madrid e voltou a ser pauta na seleção brasileira. Em análise sobre o italiano, Vampeta apontou que apenas dois técnicos do futebol mundial têm o peso do experiente comandante. “Se vir o Ancelotti mesmo, a gente olhando as seleções mundiais, ele vai ser o nome mais forte. Qual o grande treinador de nome mesmo que tem o impacto de Ancelotti? Acho que ninguém (no cenário de seleções). Só Guardiola ou Klopp bateriam de frente. É um dos maiores treinadores da história do futebol”, cravou Vampeta, no programa “Bate-Pronto”. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Pep Guardiola marcou época em Barcelona e Bayern de Munique antes de se tornar o maior nome da história do Manchester City. O alemão Jurgen Klopp, […]
Caio Ribeiro indica time com “meio caminho” trilhado para ganhar o Brasileirão: “Não oscila”
Caio Ribeiro, em participação no Globo Esporte (Reprodução) Caio Ribeiro, após o Palmeiras assumir a liderança do Brasileirão, enalteceu o status do time alviverde. Eficiente ao longo do trabalho de Abel Ferreira, o clube paulista é avaliado com “meio caminho” percorrido para vencer o campeonato. Isso porque, além do comando extraordinário, o atual elenco ganhou mais peças capazes de manter o patamar elevado nos próximos meses. “O Palmeiras é sempre candidato ao título em qualquer competição, aqui (no Brasil) ou fora. Pelo elenco que tem, pela qualidade dos jogadores e o trabalho consolidado do treinador.”, disse Caio Ribeiro, no Globo Esporte. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “É um time muito competitivo e que não oscila. Para pontos corridos em um campeonato longo, isso é meio caminho para o sucesso.”, acrescentou. Caio Ribeiro destaca Abel Ferreira acima de Felipão Depois do triunfo sobre o […]
College Football Playoff Selection Committee adds Nebraska AD Troy Dannen, Jeff Long returns for second stint
Getty Images The College Football Playoff Management Committee announced Monday that Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen and former coach and administrator Jeff Long will be joining the selection committee ahead of the 2025 season. Dannen will be replacing Damon Evans, who was recently named athletic director at SMU, and Long will be stepping in on a one-year basis for Steve Weiberg. "We are pleased to have Troy and Jeff join the committee," College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark said in a statement. "Troy brings a long commitment to college athletics to our group and previous experience as a member of the FCS Selection Committee, while Jeff, as the first chairman of the CFP selection committee (2014-15) will step in immediately and provide an experienced voice in the room." Long, who served as an assistant coach from 1982-87 and as the […]
2025 Preakness Stakes horses, odds, futures, date, preview: Expert who nailed 10 of 20 winners shares picks
Imagn Images Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is expected to go for a record-extending ninth Preakness Stakes victory in the 2025 Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 17. Rodriguez was scratched from the Kentucky Derby due to a foot bruise, but he continued to train at Churchill Downs and could be in the 2025 Preakness Stakes field. He is the third favorite at 5-1 in the 2025 Preakness Stakes odds, while Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty is the 8-5 favorite. Kentucky Derby favorite and second-place finisher Journalism is next on the horse racing odds board at 5-2.Steve Asmussen is another Hall of Fame trainer who is expected to have a horse in the 2025 Preakness Stakes field at Pimlico Race Course, with Clever Again listed at 10-1. Which 2025 Preakness Stakes horses should you back with your 2025 Preakness Stakes bets? […]
Related
Muller antecipa possível time rebaixado no Brasileirão: “Precisa contratar”
Muller é comentarista esportivo - Reprodução/YouTube Passadas sete rodadas do Brasileirão, o Santos tem decepcionado e preocupado seus torcedores com uma pontuação baixa perto da expectativa criada. Para o ex-atacante Muller, o elenco do Peixe apresenta lacunas importantes e entende ser providencial a contratação de jogadores de alto nível. Durante o programa Mesa Redonda, o comentarista se mostrou pessimista com o futuro do time paulista e menciona o Corinthians como exemplo para dar a volta por cima. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Só o Neymar não vai conseguir tirar o Santos dessa situação. Precisa contratar e contratar jogador de peso, esvaziar o elenco com atletas que não estão atuando e trazer jogadores de nível. Da mesma forma como fez o Corinthians no ano passado e acabou se salvando. Apenas com Neymar não basta”, analisou Muller. Com apenas quatro pontos, o Santos ocupa neste […]
Max Duggan’s and Bryce Perkins’ TD passes highlight top UFL plays from Week 6
<!--> Another week of exciting UFL football is in the books. Two of the four games from Week 6 came down to the wire, while there were plenty of exciting plays in the other two.That said, let's take a look at the 10 best plays from Week 6. ADVERTISEMENT -->Late in the first half of Saturday's game against the Roughnecks, Winn made the right read on a run-pass option play. The Showboats QB found a hole in Houston's defense, hitting the edge hard on a keeper for a nine-yard touchdown that gave Memphis the lead at the time.9. Battlehawks get the strip sack to seal the winThe Renegades had a chance to tie or win Friday's game in the final minutes. Facing a first-and-10 from their own 39-yard line with just under two minutes left, Renegades QB Luis Perez immediately felt […]
Vampeta elege dois técnicos no patamar de Ancelotti: “Só eles”
Carlo Ancelotti, o possível próximo treinador da seleção brasileira. Foto: Angel Martinez/Getty Images Carlo Ancelotti está cada vez mais próximo de deixar o Real Madrid e voltou a ser pauta na seleção brasileira. Em análise sobre o italiano, Vampeta apontou que apenas dois técnicos do futebol mundial têm o peso do experiente comandante. “Se vir o Ancelotti mesmo, a gente olhando as seleções mundiais, ele vai ser o nome mais forte. Qual o grande treinador de nome mesmo que tem o impacto de Ancelotti? Acho que ninguém (no cenário de seleções). Só Guardiola ou Klopp bateriam de frente. É um dos maiores treinadores da história do futebol”, cravou Vampeta, no programa “Bate-Pronto”. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Pep Guardiola marcou época em Barcelona e Bayern de Munique antes de se tornar o maior nome da história do Manchester City. O alemão Jurgen Klopp, […]
Caio Ribeiro indica time com “meio caminho” trilhado para ganhar o Brasileirão: “Não oscila”
Caio Ribeiro, em participação no Globo Esporte (Reprodução) Caio Ribeiro, após o Palmeiras assumir a liderança do Brasileirão, enalteceu o status do time alviverde. Eficiente ao longo do trabalho de Abel Ferreira, o clube paulista é avaliado com “meio caminho” percorrido para vencer o campeonato. Isso porque, além do comando extraordinário, o atual elenco ganhou mais peças capazes de manter o patamar elevado nos próximos meses. “O Palmeiras é sempre candidato ao título em qualquer competição, aqui (no Brasil) ou fora. Pelo elenco que tem, pela qualidade dos jogadores e o trabalho consolidado do treinador.”, disse Caio Ribeiro, no Globo Esporte. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “É um time muito competitivo e que não oscila. Para pontos corridos em um campeonato longo, isso é meio caminho para o sucesso.”, acrescentou. Caio Ribeiro destaca Abel Ferreira acima de Felipão Depois do triunfo sobre o […]
College Football Playoff Selection Committee adds Nebraska AD Troy Dannen, Jeff Long returns for second stint
Getty Images The College Football Playoff Management Committee announced Monday that Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen and former coach and administrator Jeff Long will be joining the selection committee ahead of the 2025 season. Dannen will be replacing Damon Evans, who was recently named athletic director at SMU, and Long will be stepping in on a one-year basis for Steve Weiberg. "We are pleased to have Troy and Jeff join the committee," College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark said in a statement. "Troy brings a long commitment to college athletics to our group and previous experience as a member of the FCS Selection Committee, while Jeff, as the first chairman of the CFP selection committee (2014-15) will step in immediately and provide an experienced voice in the room." Long, who served as an assistant coach from 1982-87 and as the […]
2025 Preakness Stakes horses, odds, futures, date, preview: Expert who nailed 10 of 20 winners shares picks
Imagn Images Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is expected to go for a record-extending ninth Preakness Stakes victory in the 2025 Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 17. Rodriguez was scratched from the Kentucky Derby due to a foot bruise, but he continued to train at Churchill Downs and could be in the 2025 Preakness Stakes field. He is the third favorite at 5-1 in the 2025 Preakness Stakes odds, while Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty is the 8-5 favorite. Kentucky Derby favorite and second-place finisher Journalism is next on the horse racing odds board at 5-2.Steve Asmussen is another Hall of Fame trainer who is expected to have a horse in the 2025 Preakness Stakes field at Pimlico Race Course, with Clever Again listed at 10-1. Which 2025 Preakness Stakes horses should you back with your 2025 Preakness Stakes bets? […]
Be the first to leave a comment