ECSF: Toronto Maple Leafs [ATL2] vs Florida Panthers [WC2] - Florida Wins 4-1

[Moneyhands23]

#### BT and his need to keep frolik

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Winning solves all but honestly, it’s the sports entertainment business and the grind it out game doesn’t being mating in fans. I have a slight problem with bringing in Conroy for a variety of reasons but one thing is to continue this philosophical style. In recent years you have to have speed and let your best players score. Leafs are just not playing with heart after the first round win. O’Reilly is past his prime but he could do more physically. Bunting too, while not big, has to get in there and create some chaos.

Conroy is the one who got Gaudreau to sign, someone he really wanted and was worried about losing. I think he values speed and skill more than you might think.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I had to watch this one on delay tonight.

Team. Of. Destiny.

Panthers have rattled off 6 straight wins in the playoffs, against two great teams no less. I kinda feel bad for the Leaf fans because they just ran into this team playing their absolute best hockey at the right time.

Tonight was a clinic in defensive structure for the Panthers. Bob rarely faced a dangerous chance, and most of them came in the first 10 minutes of the 3rd. The Panthers were extremely opportunistic and made good chances on minimal offensive time. What it tells is me is that the Panthers believe a lot in every chance they get and aren't upset if it doesn't go their way.

That Bennett attempt in the 3rd...hooooeeeeey! Tkachuk and he are brothers if ever there were a pair.

Up 3-0 and next game on home ice. An early goal for the Panthers could probably take the series easily next game. The Leaf players seem too tense to play well, and the pressure will be too much unless they start to get some bounces and breaks. That could change the series, but I doubt it will happen.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Leafs radio has turned on their core.

That may be a good way to figure out how we can acquire Nylander. Wouldn’t mind him on the Flames.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

The OT winner is gonna be scored by a former Flame

Close...the son of a Flame alumnus.

[JohnnyB]

Well, the Leafs were pretty unimpressive that game. Their stars aren't creating much or finishing when they have chances, and the Panthers are killing them on turnovers. The Leafs just looked nervous and like they've lost confidence. Florida is chasing them all over the ice and look ready to put them away.

I thought this was the least entertaining of the games so far. There were a lot of broken plays and not as much excitement as the last two games.

If next game looks like this one, it's done in four.

[Vedder]

Originally Posted by TheSquatch

I think you're going to be surprised.

Tre walked into a huge mess, a bunch of bad contracts, and had a decent core to work with but no superstars.

Bennett wanting out is less Treliving's fault than the coaching, and who knows what was going on in Tkachuk's mind at any given time, he may never have stayed here. Maybe Calgary has a bad reputation as a destination, I don't know. But I don't put all this on Treliving alone.


.

1. It wasn’t really a huge mess when he got here, it was a blank-ish slate with a rebuild under way.
2. Treliving should really have a conversation with whoever hired those coaches that ruined Bennett….

Tre will get another job, but his absolute incompetence with respect to head coaches is arguably the biggest reason the last core failed, and the domino effect that ends with Sutter is likely a big reason why 19 land 13 left.

And I like the guy, I just don’t think he can claim victim status with respect to the outcomes during his tenure.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think Treliving will be the frontrunner for the TO job if they decide not renew Dubas. Almost too convienient of a hire.

good. he can give away their core like he did ours.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Florida has zero defensive structure

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Tonight was a clinic in defensive structure for the Panthers.

Something's got to give.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Something's got to give.

I only have confidence in one of these posters knowing what defensive structure is

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Something's got to give.

I didn't watch the entire game but when I tuned in it was odd man chances and guys skating in wide open.

Could have been better when I wasn't watching.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Hockey is so funny.

We have been told being physical in the playoffs no longer matters, need speed and finesse.

Now according to the media, Toronto is being owned physically by Florida, Sam, Chucky etc and cannot come close to matching them physically.

Could be Dallas v Florida, big physical teams.

Maybe Darryl knows something after all

Darryl's knowledge has never been in question. He's an elite hockey mind.

His people skills ####ing suck, despite how much he wants to think he's a good guy asking about their families and personal lives.

If he could marry his knowledge with Gulutzan's people skills, you'd have an unbeatable coach.

[JohnnyB]

The ominous feeling I have now is that the Panthers are going on this year's Cinderella run, and that they'll turn back into a pumpkin in the finals against the Oilers. It would not shock me.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Ahhh #### it

Cali has suffered enough

Go Panthers

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I had to watch this one on delay tonight.

Team. Of. Destiny.

Panthers have rattled off 6 straight wins in the playoffs, against two great teams no less. I kinda feel bad for the Leaf fans because they just ran into this team playing their absolute best hockey at the right time.

Tonight was a clinic in defensive structure for the Panthers. Bob rarely faced a dangerous chance, and most of them came in the first 10 minutes of the 3rd. The Panthers were extremely opportunistic and made good chances on minimal offensive time. What it tells is me is that the Panthers believe a lot in every chance they get and aren't upset if it doesn't go their way.

That Bennett attempt in the 3rd...hooooeeeeey! Tkachuk and he are brothers if ever there were a pair.

Up 3-0 and next game on home ice. An early goal for the Panthers could probably take the series easily next game. The Leaf players seem too tense to play well, and the pressure will be too much unless they start to get some bounces and breaks. That could change the series, but I doubt it will happen.

Man, I’m a complete convert at this point. The Boston series was incredible and I had to laugh at people writing off the Panthers after that (talking about regular season, oddsmakers, things that just don’t matter if you actually watched them play that series). I’m laughing again at the people still after last game and this game discounting guys like Bennett or the team as a whole.

Boston didn’t lose the last series and Toronto isn’t losing this one, the Panthers won/are winning it. They’re chasing this top teams and making them look ridiculous and I don’t know how they’re doing it considering the season they had with the ups and downs, but they’re doing it regardless.

Maybe the magic runs out but I don’t see how anyone can’t love this team right now and have full faith in the way they’re playing. Especially Flames’ fans. The Flames’ helped build the best part of this team. Super fun to watch.

[Manhattanboy]

Off topic, I made a silly joke in poor taste earlier today in another thread and rightly got a wrist slap.

Apologies to anyone who was offended.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I have eyes and I didn’t see much out of him ever, and I thought he was a limited player and that his playoff success was overrated given how he scored his goals. I’m still not that sold on Bennett - he certainly isn’t a great 4OA as far as history goes. Sort of middling draft pick at that position at best.

I respect you and all, but....ooof. He's maybe not an elite player in terms of skill, but he's crucial to this team and is an elite playoff performer. So much of their success has ridden on his line. He's a keystone player for this team. Without him I doubt they do much in the playoffs.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Not fair, you only get one pick per team!

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Darryl's knowledge has never been in question. He's an elite hockey mind.

His people skills ####ing suck, despite how much he wants to think he's a good guy asking about their families and personal lives.

If he could marry his knowledge with Gulutzan's people skills, you'd have an unbeatable coach.

Darryl also needs to give up his love of grinding vets and accept that successful teams have:

A. Kids playing on the lineup to bring energy.
B. Sometimes you need to abandon the system and let your offensively gifted players play their game.

.... And the personality stuff.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I respect you and all, but....ooof. He's maybe not an elite player in terms of skill, but he's crucial to this team and is an elite playoff performer. So much of their success has ridden on his line. He's a keystone player for this team. Without him I doubt they do much in the playoffs.

I was talking about what he did in Calgary, not now, in the context of what Treliving was dealing with at the time. Apparently if people doubted his ability to be more, they didn’t have eyes.

And yeah, he’s doing fine now, playing with an elite player. But I still think he’s a hammer, not a scalpel.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Chef's kiss on the series thus far.

You couldn't script it any better after Toronto finally escaped the clutches of the first round.

Can we get a similar rug pull in Toronto-west, please?