LEAFS TAKEAWAYS: Matthews, Marner, Woll step up for shutout of Panthers
Article content
Our takeaways on the victory at Amerant Bank Arena.
IN FROM THE COLD
It was the kind of goal Matthews and Marner score with ease in regular season, but denied to them in so many playoff games when heavy foes such as Florida shut down their ice.
Early in the third period of 0-0 game, an interception by Marner at the Panthers blueline led to a quick pass to former Rocket Richard Trophy-winner Matthews for a five-hole dart on Sergei Bobrovsky, who had a .982 save percentage entering Friday.
'He's a special player and your best players rise to the occasion,' Woll told the media in Sunrise, flipping the criticism that Matthews has endured at this time of year.
Matthews was grateful to not only shift the conversation from his 13 games without a playoff goal against Florida, to everyone closing ranks around Woll and his injured first-line left winger Matthew Knies.
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Winnipeg Free Press
40 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sam Bennett raising his game and wreaking havoc for Florida Panthers
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Ottawa Citizen
an hour ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Edmonton Oilers never expected to dominate here in Stanley Cup Final
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Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Bennett raising game, wreaking havoc for Panthers
SUNRISE – Connor McDavid goes way back with Sam Bennett. The youngsters played together on the same team in the Greater Toronto Area as kids, faced off in the Ontario Hockey League, and have been on opposite sides in the Battle of Alberta. They also went toe-to-toe in last year's Stanley Cup final, which Bennett's Florida Panthers took in seven hard-fought games over McDavid's Edmonton Oilers. The clubs are going back at it again in June 2025. McDavid is still topping the stats sheet. Bennett, meanwhile, has raised his game — and continues to wreak havoc around the opposition crease. The 28-year-old Panthers centre had 13 goals in these playoffs as the Panthers headed into Monday's Game 3 of the NHL's title series, which sat tied 1-1. Story continues below advertisement But it's not just the offence. It's how Bennett is influencing the action. A gritty, physical player known for his on-the-line approach, he took Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz out with an elbow to the head that resulted in a concussion in the second round of the playoffs before making life miserable in the blue paint for the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. The six-foot-one, 193-pound Bennett, who had three goals in this year's final entering Monday, has kept it going in a matchup with Edmonton that has seen him contact Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner a couple of times. Once it led to a goal, while the other sequence resulted in a goaltender interference penalty. 'It certainly can be difficult at times,' Bennett, who played 5 1/2 seasons with the Calgary Flames before getting traded to Florida, said of figuring out where the line is with referees. 'I've definitely been in situations where I've crossed that line. I never try to, but I try to play as close to that line as I can. It takes time and experience to figure out how to be as close to that line as possible without crossing it. Story continues below advertisement 'It's not going to be perfect. Sometimes you're going to go over, but sometimes it's necessary to play as close to that line to help your team win.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad said there are certain players in the league that simply find ways to get in the way at the net. 'Just like (Oilers winger) Corey Perry, he's extremely good at getting there and being between the defenceman and a goalie,' said the blueliner. 'Those guys have a knack for it.' Bennett, who has already set a playoff record this spring with 12 road goals and is poised to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, might be the best of the bunch. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said it's 'almost impossible' to keep opponents away from the crease. 'You just hopefully trust the referees, that they can uphold the standard on what's goaltender interference,' he said. 'What should be allowed and what shouldn't.' And when it comes to Bennett, McDavid has seen it before — from youth hockey to the NHL. 'He's always played with an edge, ever since he was a little guy,' said the Oilers superstar captain. 'He's playing well, scoring goals. Nothing we haven't seen before, so we've got to figure him out. Story continues below advertisement 'He's not going anywhere. We're not going anywhere.' HELPING HAND McDavid wasn't quite sure how to answer the question. Asked to explain the work and process to be able to produce his highlight-reel assist in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final — an otherworldly toe-drag sequence that ended with a feed to Leon Draisaitl — the humble, soft-spoken centre struggled to find the right words for a difficult query. 'A lot goes into that,' McDavid said. 'I don't know how to answer that.' Draisaitl, usually on the receiving end of No. 97's setups, finished off his teammate's reply. 'You can't learn that,' the big German interjected, receiving laughter from reporters. 'I'll answer it for him.' RAT PACK The Panthers' rally towels for Game 3 have a cheeky twist. The red-and-white laundry features a hockey-stick-carrying rat sporting a hockey helmet in honour of the plastic versions of the rodent thrown on the ice by fans after victories. There's are also subtle nods to Florida's three playoff conquests this spring — the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes — blended into the design. Story continues below advertisement This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.
