Panthers and Maple Leafs Fire Loaded Messages Before Second-Round Series
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers will meet again in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, now with home-ice advantage flipped and several familiar faces in new jerseys.
Toronto advanced after a 4-2 series win over the Ottawa Senators, while the Panthers eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. Game 1 is set for Monday night in Toronto at 8 p.m. ET.
Advertisement
Leafs head coach Craig Berube acknowledged the challenge ahead as his team prepares to face the defending champions.
'They're obviously the Stanley Cup Champs, so they're a very good team,' Berube said. 'They've got a lot of good pieces, they're hard to play against. You know, I could keep going on and on, but it's not the time right now.'
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) fights with Toronto Maple Leafs center Max Domi (11) during a game at Scotiabank Arena.Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, who once coached the Leafs from 2006 to 2008, praised Toronto's high-end talent during a radio interview on "The Joe Rose Show" on Friday.
'They've got four or five of these world-class guys that [their] hands aren't like anybody else's,' Maurice said. 'So there's a skill level that these guys possess that they're just dangerous all the time.'
Although he praised his rival, Maurice also spoke broadly about the level of competition remaining in the playoffs, making it clear there's no easy opponent left in contention.
Advertisement
'You're going to get down to the top eight teams in the NHL," Maurice said. "I don't think there's a Cinderella story left here. These are all elite teams. They've all got guys that can score, can skate, can battle.
'So it will be a very, very hard-fought, tight series.'
Florida won three of four regular-season meetings between Panthers and Leafs this campaign, and defeated the Leafs in five games during their 2023 second-round matchup.
The Panthers have won five straight playoff series and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in each of the past two years, winning it last season.
Toronto, meanwhile, advanced past the first round for only the second time in 20 years following a trip to the conference semifinals in 2004.
Advertisement
Related: NHL Delivers First Official Update on Maple Leafs-Panthers Series
Related: Matthew Tkachuk's First Message to Brady Tkachuk After Senators-Maple Leafs
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Opinion: The Notion Of Mitch Marner Signing With Ottawa Wouldn't Work For Either Side
It would appear that Mitch Marner's time in Toronto could be nearing its end, and like a lot of breakups, it's probably a mutual thing. General Manager Brad Treliving has openly talked about the team needing new DNA, and Marner has frequently seemed irritated with the intense media spotlight, high expectations, and another early playoff exit. That tension was on full display during the second round, when TV cameras caught Marner barking, 'Wake the f*** up!' at his teammates. He was literally spitting mad in a moment that seemed to sum up how his time with the Leafs has been unfolding. Advertisement With Marner's unrestricted free agency looming, now less than three weeks away, the speculation is ramping up. And among the teams casually linked to him? The Senators. Podcaster Jeff Marek recently mentioned them as a possible dark horse in the Marner bidding, suggesting they might be looking to make a splash this summer. For argument's sake, let's leave aside the not-so-small fact that Ottawa wouldn't be Marner's first choice, and probably not his second or third either. In all likelihood, he'd probably prefer an warm American market where fans and media care less. Can't blame him. The man has basically had five careers worth of media scrutiny. But as we tackle things just from the Ottawa perspective, the idea isn't completely without merit. Marner is still a young man in his prime at 28, four months younger than Thomas Chabot, and has consistently produced at a high level. So age-wise, he'd fit right in with Ottawa's young, talented roster. Dave Poulin is probably a big fan, being part of the group that drafted Marner. And make no mistake, they will need to find another top-end offensive weapon if they're to evolve into true contenders. So the fit, in terms of age and skill, checks some boxes. Advertisement But there are some bigger factors to consider. For starters, the Sens are in the midst of stabilizing things after years of drama and mismanagement under Eugene Melnyk. They've now got an owner committed to being 'best in class,' with a smart front office, a young core, and a clearer identity. It's worth asking whether Marner really fits with what Ottawa is building. Then there's the financial side. Marner's next deal (assuming he leaves Toronto) will definitely be the max seven years and likely north of $13 million per season. That's obviously a significant investment in one player, not just in cap space or who you'd need to move to make it work, but in team dynamics. That would be at least $5 million more than any current Senator, which could shift the tone and balance in the room. And this is a group that has emphasized balance. Advertisement Right now the Senators balancing act includes a need for more hard skill up front, not the soft skill that Marner brings. Bringing in Marner at this point would be like bringing in another offensive defenceman last summer instead of the shut down man they actually needed in Nick Jensen. While Marner's regular season production is elite, his playoff results haven't quite matched. The Leafs have made it past the first round just twice during his time there, despite having some of the league's top-paid players around him. Fair or not, that history follows him. And it's fair to ask if those big offensive numbers will continue in a new situation, without one of the game's greatest scorers so often at his side. None of this is to say Marner isn't a top-tier player. But for a team like Ottawa, it's just not a fit, not for either side. Steve Warne The Hockey News More Sens Headlines: Jake Sanderson Finishes Top 10 In Norris Trophy Voting First Look At Senators New Red And Gold Jerseys Drake Batherson Doesn't Belong Anywhere Near Ottawa's Trade Bait Board Senators Shed Light on Nick Jensen's Injury Senators Sign Tyler Kleven To New Contract Ben Kindel: Will The Sens Use Their First-Round Pick On Another Calgary Hitman? Potential First-Round Draft Targets For The Senators: Defenceman Blake Fiddler
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
3-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer works his way back to rotation with Triple-A rehab start
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer topped out at 94 mph and threw 56 pitches on Friday night in his first Triple-A rehab outing since the Toronto right-hander suffered inflammation in his right thumb. Scherzer, 40, signed a one-year, $15.5 million deal with the Blue Jays in February. Scherzer left his debut start with the team against Baltimore on March 29 after three innings because of soreness in his right lat muscle. The next day, Toronto put Scherzer on the injured list because of inflammation in his thumb. Scherzer gave up two runs, struck out four and walked none over 4 1/3 innings in an anticipated start for Triple-A Buffalo against the Columbus Clippers. He waved in appreciation to a crowd that gave him a big ovation as he walked off the field. 'It'll be the most watched Triple-A game for a while,' Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. 'Or most uploaded Triple-A game.' Scherzer did allow a 425-foot home run to one of the top 100 prospects in minor league baseball, Columbus left fielder C.J. Kayfus. Schneider said ahead of Toronto's game Friday night in Philadelphia that the box score didn't matter to him. He wanted to make sure Scherzer came out of the game healthy. 'I want to see how Max feels tomorrow,' Schneider said. 'I could care less about the line score. I want to see 60-65 pitches. I want to see the fastball velo is good and he's coming out healthy.' Scherzer has had two cortisone injections this season to relieve inflammation in his thumb. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list last month, but became eligible to return May 29. Scherzer won World Series titles with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. He won his first Cy Young Award after going 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 32 starts for Detroit in 2013. The eight-time All-Star earned consecutive NL Cy Young Awards with Washington in 2016 and 2017. Schneider said Scherzer would likely need one more rehab start before he can join the Blue Jays' rotation. The Blue Jays are in second place behind the Yankees in the AL East. 'The plan right now is to meet us here and probably throw a bullpen and then go back and do another one,' Schneider said. ___ AP MLB:
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
A's pitcher Gunnar Hoglund to miss rest of season after hip surgery
Athletics right-hander Gunnar Hoglund had season-ending hip surgery on Friday after he made his big league debut last month. Hoglund, 25, experienced a setback while he was on the 15-day injured list with a left hip impingement. The operation was performed by Dr. Marc Phillipon in Colorado, and the A's said the pitcher is expected to recover in time for spring training. Hoglund was selected by Toronto with the No. 19 pick in the 2021 amateur draft. He was projected as a potential top-10 pick before having Tommy John surgery leading up to the draft. He was shipped off to the A's when the Blue Jays acquired All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman in March 2022. Hoglund made his major league debut when he pitched six sparkling innings in a 6-1 win at Miami on May 2. He went 1-3 with a 6.40 ERA in six starts with the A's this year. ___
