R2, G1: Panthers @ Maple Leafs - May 2nd, 7:00pm - SN, TSN 1050

[L K]

Much easier to lose when the stakes feel lower.  It doesn't feel like we are facing the implosion of the Matthews/Marner/Dubas era anymore so losing Game 1 doesn't feel as bad.

I'd like to see more focused speed on the blueline.  Gustavsson's offensive abilities I think will be better utilized in this series.  Schenn continues to surprise me with how effective he has been but with the way the Panthers play I'd be very leery of Holl coming back in the lineup.

I felt like the Leafs let the Panthers dictate the style of play too much last night and this seems to be a recurrent problem with Keefe as the head coach.  He spends too much time worrying about line matching.  Marner got nominated for a Selke.  Matthews honestly isn't that far behind in terms of his defensive play.  I don't want Tavares/Nylander going head to head with Tkachuck but the 4th line is out on the ice way too much and it got hemmed in a few too many times for my liking. 

Going back to my Gustavsson comment, I'd like them to go back to 11/7.  Matthews and Marner can handle some extra ice time and ZAR (he was fine I guess) only played 6 minutes.  Giordano doesn't need to be on PP2 and even if Gustavsson only played 8-10 minutes having him for the 2nd PP unit and some back-end offense seems more valuable to the team.

McCabe had a really bad game yesterday but I think he's rebound fine. 

 

[Arn]

Tkachuk is a really annoyingly good player though, isn't he?

It's pretty insane how good he's become. Undeniable the 2nd best player in his draft year. Should probably get a Hart nomination this season but that seems unlikely to happen.

Obviously no way of affording him (maybe until Tavares contract ends and moving out Nylander or something, by which stage he might not be as effective) but I'd love to have his type of in our forward ranks

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Tkachuk is a really annoyingly good player though, isn't he?

It's pretty insane how good he's become. Undeniable the 2nd best player in his draft year. Should probably get a Hart nomination this season but that seems unlikely to happen.

Obviously no way of affording him (maybe until Tavares contract ends and moving out Nylander or something, by which stage he might not be as effective) but I'd love to have his type of in our forward ranks

He stopped the shenanigans in his game and has really become a modern day elite power forward.  Seven more years at $9.5m is real bargain for Florida.  I don't see a way Florida would part with him, and he has NMC after this year. 

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Weird game.  Florida deserved to win, though.

They did and didn't.  Toronto deserved to win just as much IMO.  They had the better scoring chances but they also created their own misfortune on two of the Florida goals

Feels like the kind of game that if you played 20 times you'd get 20 different results. Couple breaks here or there and the Leafs win but the Panthers just as easily could have put it away in the 1st.

The team would have almost been better off getting those back to back power plays about 5 minutes later in the game. Not scoring on them kind of set the tone for the rest of the game.

The team played good enough to win, but also got caught watching and reacting instead of play driving IMO. It's why the puck was always 'just out of reach' when the glorious scoring chances came up.

 

[ZBBM]

Weird game.  Florida deserved to win, though.

They did and didn't.  Toronto deserved to win just as much IMO.  They had the better scoring chances but they also created their own misfortune on two of the Florida goals

Feels like the kind of game that if you played 20 times you'd get 20 different results. Couple breaks here or there and the Leafs win but the Panthers just as easily could have put it away in the 1st.

The team would have almost been better off getting those back to back power plays about 5 minutes later in the game. Not scoring on them kind of set the tone for the rest of the game.

The team played good enough to win, but also got caught watching and reacting instead of play driving IMO. It's why the puck was always 'just out of reach' when the glorious scoring chances came up.

Yes, as others have commented my blood pressure is a lot lower now that they've shown they can win a series.

That said, they have only dominated one game so far in the playoffs.  Played from behind way too much.  That can't continue.

 

[4EVRLEAFAN]

The Panthers are on a mission, they were number one last year and got knocked out, then this year almost missed the playoffs, they are hungry and peaking at the right time, we can beat them but we need our A game every game, no mistakes and Samsonov must be 100% all game or we are toast.

 

[rdowdall]

I think what has been lost on everyone is that the Leafs lost another game 7 last night.

 

[IJustLurkHere]

More concerning for me is Willy. We need him to get going.

So far Nylander has 7 points in 7 playoff games and is a +10. He was also getting plenty of chances through game 1. If Florida continues to give him that much room he's going to have a big series.

 

[Guilt Trip]

More concerning for me is Willy. We need him to get going.

So far Nylander has 7 points in 7 playoff games and is a +10. He was also getting plenty of chances through game 1. If Florida continues to give him that much room he's going to have a big series.

Willy is a -3 so far. He doesn't have a point in the last 3 games and last night he had a few bad moments. He needs to be better then he has. I don't think he's been bad, just not Willy like and he needs to be.

 

[IJustLurkHere]

More concerning for me is Willy. We need him to get going.

So far Nylander has 7 points in 7 playoff games and is a +10. He was also getting plenty of chances through game 1. If Florida continues to give him that much room he's going to have a big series.

Willy is a -3 so far. He doesn't have a point in the last 3 games and last night he had a few bad moments. He needs to be better then he has. I don't think he's been bad, just not Willy like and he needs to be.

My bad, was looking at his regular season +/-... regardless, as long as he's getting points and chances, I'm probably okay with Nylander. Fix the zone exits and when the puck gets to him he'll outscore his defensive shortcomings.