ECR2: Florida Panthers (A3) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) - PANTHERS WIN 4-3

[activeStick]

It's been a wonderful night! Go Leafs!!

[Itse]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

Still think they lose Game 7. This team for whatever reason can never play hard on Game 7s.

I feel like how you feel when you buy a lottery ticket. You know you are going to lose but you think there is a small chance and if you win it would be pretty neat.

But this team always forces Game 7s and then no shows.

I give them a good chance to break that streak this year. Everyone already counted them out after last game, and everyone is still kind of counting them out. Heck, it wouldn't surprise me if Florida is even feeling overly confident about it all. The Leafs have kind of a perfect setup to prove everyone wrong.

Plus the Panthers could just start to run out of gas.

Definitely could go either way.

[Ped]

Boo.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Series isn't over. They only need to win 2 in a row.

Only need to win one in a row, at home

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

The only battle Matthew's has is between his ears...

I find bald jokes extremely offensive

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I find bald jokes extremely offensive

I find them the absolute weakest joke out there. Hackiest of the hacky

[activeStick]

What a night! Went to the Jays game and when we left, it was 2-0 Leafs in the 3rd, walked out of Rogers in time to watch the finish of the game outside at Maple Leafs Square!

[united]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1923766694960681253

[taxbuster]

Watched pretty much the whole game .. with the sound on. Cuthbert’s OK and not too grating. Game was enjoyable as I don’t care abt either team, LOL. No stress there.

FLA has an interesting PK. They seem to position guys in a somewhat wider box than most do…I think this helps them attack a puck handler on the boards .25-.5 sec faster than others…and disrupts the PP because of that.


Game 7 should be another fun no-stress watch. ��

[dino7c]

Kinda ironic that Marner has 3 more points than any Panther these playoffs

[activeStick]

Knies is good to go tonight!

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Kinda ironic that Marner has 3 more points than any Panther these playoffs

One assist in the last three games when the going got tough.

Also the Panthers are leading the league with eight players with 8+ points, they do it was a committee as always.

[dino7c]

One assist on the winning goal in an elimination game
It wasnt even a shot at the Panthers just the media scrutiny being ridiculous.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by dino7c

One assist on the winning goal in an elimination game
It wasnt even a shot at the Panthers just the media scrutiny being ridiculous.

No but Marner sucks when the games are big. Even that assist came off a terrible goal given up by Bob. Anyone giving this guy +12M is going to regret it.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Saqe

No but Marner sucks when the games are big. Even that assist came off a terrible goal given up by Bob. Anyone giving this guy +12M is going to regret it.

12 would be a bargain

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by dino7c

12 would be a bargain

Lol Rantanen making 12 and he's a big game player.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Lol Rantanen making 12 and he's a big game player.

Yeah because thats how UFAs work

[ForeverFlameFan]

Probably the biggest game of the playoffs. Can certainly change the trajectory of one that has had trouble making to the latter rounds of the playoffs.

If the Leafs lose, you have to think they make some drastic changes with the core. Do they re-sign Tavares? Or do they go after Bennett instead for the middle 6 C spot? Do they let Marner walk and prioritize a long term contract with Knies? Or do they let Treliving do the RFA-bridge special? Use prospects/picks to bolster the lineup more at the draft? Berube can only do so much with the same core. Something's got to give.

As for the Panthers, I posted in the speculation thread, but they've also got some thinking to do if they lose in 7 games. A very successful 3 seasons of playoffs, 2 SCFs and potentially another if they do win tonight and against the Canes in R3. Regardless of the outcome, they've got a very successful core intact and will try to keep as many as they can. They will for sure be losing one of Ekblad or Bennett to UFA, just depends who is willing to take the better discount and values success over money.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Probably the biggest game of the playoffs. Can certainly change the trajectory of one that has had trouble making to the latter rounds of the playoffs.

If the Leafs lose, you have to think they make some drastic changes with the core. Do they re-sign Tavares? Or do they go after Bennett instead for the middle 6 C spot? Do they let Marner walk and prioritize a long term contract with Knies? Or do they let Treliving do the RFA-bridge special? Use prospects/picks to bolster the lineup more at the draft? Berube can only do so much with the same core. Something's got to give.

As for the Panthers, I posted in the speculation thread, but they've also got some thinking to do if they lose in 7 games. A very successful 3 seasons of playoffs, 2 SCFs and potentially another if they do win tonight and against the Canes in R3. Regardless of the outcome, they've got a very successful core intact and will try to keep as many as they can. They will for sure be losing one of Ekblad or Bennett to UFA, just depends who is willing to take the better discount and values success over money.

I think a loss today (likely) and Marner walks. Tre probably doesn't want to lose him, but the price he'll demand is too much. From there I'd guess at the least McMann is traded, along with Cowan. I truly believe Karlsson will be their target. They need puck moving skill back there.


Florida needs to get younger suddenly. They're looking pretty aged in this playoff run. The same core has been going for a few seasons now. Losing their young goaltending, plus getting Marchand has really given them an aging look now. How they do that, who knows, but they really have to get a really good 23 year old to make way for that next generation.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I think a loss today (likely) and Marner walks. Tre probably doesn't want to lose him, but the price he'll demand is too much. From there I'd guess at the least McMann is traded, along with Cowan. I truly believe Karlsson will be their target. They need puck moving skill back there.


Florida needs to get younger suddenly. They're looking pretty aged in this playoff run. The same core has been going for a few seasons now. Losing their young goaltending, plus getting Marchand has really given them an aging look now. How they do that, who knows, but they really have to get a really good 23 year old to make way for that next generation.

I doubt McMann is traded with the value of a 1.35m contract for one more season. I do agree that Cowan is likely traded to bolster the forward group a little more if that is possible, especially with Marner likely walking.

Florida has to run with the same group for another season or two, they already made that decision with the Verhaeghe, Forsling, Lundell, and Luostarinen extensions. Because of those extensions and Bob having one more year at 10m, Bennett or Ekblad are likely gone. If I were a betting man, they are letting go of Ekblad because Jones is there. I don't think they are in the business of trying to obtain a good 23 year old when Lundell seems to be doing just fine there. I also think Samoskevich looks like a steal in the making too.