Maple Leafs Fans Send Wild Message to Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers
The Toronto Maple Leafs eliminated the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and will now meet the Florida Panthers in the second round. It was a little touch-and-go for Toronto against Ottawa, but the team found a way to close the series out in six games.
Now heading into this series with the defending champions, it seems that the fans of the Maple Leafs are feeling very good about themselves. Many of them spoke with Sportsnet following the team clinching against Ottawa.
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Max Pachioretty (67) celebrates with team his goal scored in game six of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Here are some of the better fan reactions to the Maple Leafs clinching the series against the Senators.
Advertisement
"I'm all jacked up on Mountain Dew, the boys came out tonight. The boys came out to play."
"Florida Panthers, Black Panther, it don't matter"
"We've taken one Tkachuk brother, we can take another"
"Leafs in four...WOO"
The Toronto fans seem to be very excited about the chance to face off against the Panthers, even if many see Florida as the favorite. The Maple Leafs have a very talented team that could take down the Panthers, but the franchise has fallen short of expectations in recent years.
Maple Leafs coach Craig Berbe weighed in on the challenge ahead of his team.
"They're obviously the Stanley Cup Champs, so they're a very good team," Maple Leafs coach Craig 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."
Advertisement
This series is a rematch from two years ago when the Panthers dispatched the Maple Leafs in five games. These Toronto fans seem to be feeling very confident heading into this series even though the Panthers took three of four games in the regular season.
Related: Oilers Savagely Troll Kings After Fourth Straight Playoff Series Victory
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Goalie change sparks Oilers epic 5-4 OT win in Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final vs. Panthers: takeaways
Leon Draisaitl capped a historic comeback by the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, when he scored a fortuitous goal at 11:18 of overtime to lift the visitors to a thrilling 5-4 victory The Oilers evened the best-of-7 series 2-2 after rallying from an early 3-0 deficit, the first time in Stanley Cup Final history that a team won when trailing by three goals in the first period. Speaking of history, Draisaitl became the first player ever to score four overtime goals in one postseason. It was also his second OT winner of this series, after he also scored in overtime in the Game 1 victory. Advertisement Draisaitl led the NHL with 52 goals this season and now has 11 in the playoffs. He likely didn't score many like this, when he chipped a shot/pass into the low slot off the rush, only to have it hit Florida defenseman Niko Mikkola, who was on the seat of his pants sliding on the ice. The puck deflected off Mikkola and between Sergei Bobrovsky's pads to cap the Oilers epic comeback. Draisaitl (one goal, two assists) finished with three points, as did Florida's Matthew Tkachuk (two goals, one assist) and Sam Reinhart (one goal, two assists). Calvin Pickard came off the Oilers bench to start the second period and stopped 22 of 23 shots in relief of starter Stuart Skinner to backstop the win. Advertisement It was Reinhart's goal with 19.5 seconds remaining in regulation and Bobrovsky on the bench for the sixth attacker that temporarily saved Florida and forced overtime after it had blown a 3-0 lead and allowed Edmonton to score four straight. The fourth of those Edmonton goals came at 13:36 of the third period when defenseman Jake Walman hammered a slap shot inside the right post The teams took turns dominating the first two periods. It was all Panthers in the opening 20 minutes, with the Oilers flipping the script the next 20. The third period was played on more even terms. Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on a pair of power-play goals by Tkachuk at 11:40 and 16:56, his first two scores of any kind in the series. Then Anton Lundell skated right down the middle of the ice to bury a Carter Verhaeghe pass at 19:18 to make it 3-0 and put an exclamation point on a near perfect first period for the Panthers. Advertisement They out-shot the Oilers 17-7, out-attempted them 34-15 and had a 22-5 advantage in scoring chances in all situations, including a whopping 13-2 of the high-danger variety. At 5v5, the Panthers had an expected goals share of 77.78 percent, per Natural Stat Trick. Simply, the Panthers picked up where they left off from their 6-1 win in Game 3 and thoroughly dominated the Oilers in the opening period Thursday. Skinner, who made a series of outstanding saves when the Oilers were out-shot 10-1 in the opening 7:38, was pulled for the second straight game, this time after allowing three goals on 17 shots over 20 minutes. Perhaps, inserting Pickard changed their mojo because the Oilers were a different team in the second period. They out-scored their hosts 3-0, out-shot the Panthers 17-10, and had a 16-5 advantage in scoring chances (13-3 in high-danger opportunities). Edmonton's expected goal share in the second period was 72.73 percent. Advertisement Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wired a power-play goal past Bobrovsky at 3:33 to start the Oilers comeback. It was his first goal in the past seven postseason games, and Darnell Nurse followed it up when he beat Bobrovsky over the shoulder short side with a snipe from the bottom of the left circle. Bobrovsky made two huge in the next couple of minutes to keep the score 3-2. He exploded across his crease to deny Draisaitl at 13:57, then robbed Connor McDavid with a sprawling right-pad save after the Oilers captain split the Florida defense and broke in at 14:36. The Oilers tied the game shortly thereafter. Vasily Podkolzin flipped a backhand shot from the slot past a screened Bobrovsky at 15:05 to make it 3-3. Advertisement Edmonton took its first lead thanks to a Florida turnover in its own end late in the third period. Nugent-Hopkins helped force the giveaway, and Kasperi Kapanen fed a wide-open Walman on right wing for the go-ahead goal. But in the final seconds, Verhaeghe won a puck battle along the wall to start the scoring play that tied the game again. The sequence ended with Tkachuk and Reinhart playing pitch and catch before Reinhart was able to score from a bad left-wing angle, with Pickard pulled out of position. Related: NHL Games Today: 2025 Stanley Cup Final Schedule, Dates, Times, and Results 3 takeaways after Oilers rally for 5-4 OT win over Panthers in Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final 1. Turning point easy to 'Pick' It wasn't a coincidence that Game 4 took a decided sharp turn in the other direction after Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch inserted Pickard to start the second period after his team was pretty much run out of Amerant Bank Arena in the opening 20 minutes. It's not even so much that Skinner was bad, as previously pointed out, the Oilers starter made a string of Grade A stops to keep the game scoreless in the opening minutes. But the Oilers needed a fresh start in the second period and putting Pickard in goal did just that. It was the clear turning point in the game. The 33-year-old, who was 6-0 earlier in these playoffs before he was injured, offered the Oilers a calming presence in net, and his teammates certainly played a helluva lot better, too. It was a winning combination again for the Oilers. They scored five of the last six goals in this game, with Pickard beaten only off that last-second scramble in regulation. Advertisement Pickard saved his best for last. He got his glove on Sam Bennett's blast 6:51 into overtime, and deflected the puck off the crossbar. A minute later, Pickard denied Eetu Luostarinen's rising snap shot for another clutch save. A little more than three minutes later, Pickard was being mobbed by his teammates, with Skinner giving him the longest hug. 2. Comeback kings Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Oilers are the comeback kings of these playoffs. They are an incredible 5-5 in 10 games when trailing after two periods, and have eight comeback victories total. They trailed 3-2 in the third period of Game 1 against the Panthers before tying it and then winning in OT. Edmonton is now 5-1 in six overtime games this postseason, the only loss coming in Game 2, a double-OT heartbreaker. Advertisement None of their comebacks match this one, though, considering the Oilers are just the seventh NHL team ever to rally from three goals down at any point and win a Stanley Cup Final game. They're also the first road team to do so since 1919. Also Read:: NHL rumors: Insider sheds light on Sam Bennett's future with Florida Panthers ahead of NHL free agency 3. Deja pew This loss was eerily similar — though worse — than the Panthers' Game 1 defeat, when they blew a 3-1 second-period lead. Uncharacteristic turnovers, like on the Walman goal, and defensive breakdowns pockmarked each of their two losses in this series. The Panthers are 12-2 when leading after two periods in these playoffs; but they're only 2-2 in such a situation against the Oilers in the Final. Advertisement We've seen how the Panthers are able to dust themselves off and get right back to work before — evidenced recently by their wins in Games 2 and 3 after that tough-to-swallow loss in the opener. Let's see how they fare in Game 5, though, when the Panthers will be back in hostile Edmonton on Saturday after flying 2,500 miles on the lone day off between games and having played three overtime games already in the series. Related Headlines
25 minutes ago
Edmonton and Florida meet with series tied 2-2
Florida Panthers (47-31-4, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Edmonton Oilers (48-29-5, in the Pacific Division) Edmonton, Alberta; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Oilers -120, Panthers +100; over/under is 6.5 STANLEY CUP FINAL: Series tied 2-2 BOTTOM LINE: The Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers are in a 2-2 series tie in the Stanley Cup Final. The teams meet Thursday for the seventh time this season. The Oilers won 5-4 in overtime in the last matchup. Edmonton has a 32-14-4 record in home games and a 48-29-5 record overall. The Oilers have gone 25-11-5 when scoring a power-play goal. Florida is 47-31-4 overall and 29-21-3 on the road. The Panthers serve 10.3 penalty minutes per game to lead the league. TOP PERFORMERS: Leon Draisaitl has 52 goals and 54 assists for the Oilers. Corey Perry has four goals and two assists over the past 10 games. Aleksander Barkov Jr. has 20 goals and 51 assists for the Panthers. Sam Bennett has scored eight goals and added four assists over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Oilers: 7-2-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.9 assists, 5.4 penalties and 15.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. Panthers: 7-1-2, averaging 4.5 goals, 7.8 assists, 6.2 penalties and 19.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game. INJURIES: Oilers: None listed. Panthers: None listed. ___
New York Times
33 minutes ago
- New York Times
Rosenthal: After leaving the Blue Jays, Ryan Yarbrough is thriving with the Yankees
Right-hander Jacob Barnes and lefty Richard Lovelady are best described as journeymen. Most baseball fans would not even recognize their names. Yet, those are the two pitchers the Toronto Blue Jays chose over left-hander Ryan Yarbrough for their Opening Day roster, only to designate both for assignment less than a month later. Advertisement Yarbrough, after declining a revised offer from the Jays, opted out of his minor-league contract, became a free agent and signed with the New York Yankees. He started out in the Yankees' bullpen, then joined their injury-depleted rotation in early May and produced a stunning 2.08 ERA in his first five starts before faltering Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. As the Jays await the return of righty Max Scherzer and ponder the regression of righty Bowden Francis, they can only wonder how Yarbrough, a pitcher who was firmly under their control, might have fit. The Jays, winners of 12 of their last 14 games and holding the top wild-card position in the American League, are not exactly suffering. Lefty Eric Lauer, signed to a minor-league deal in December, is proving a reasonable facsimile of Yarbrough. If Scherzer makes a successful return from his right thumb injury by the end of June, the team's decision on Yarbrough at the end of March might prove little more than a footnote. Yarbrough is the kind of pitcher who is easy to overlook. His fastball is among the slowest in the majors, averaging just 87.5 mph. Yet Erik Neander, his former president of baseball operations with the Tampa Bay Rays, describes him as 'absolutely fearless, incredibly savvy and somebody who gets the absolute most out of their abilities.' 'How do you know someone has special makeup?' Neander asked with a chuckle. 'They're getting guys out in the big leagues throwing 86 mph.' The Blue Jays, after acquiring Yarbrough on July 30 from the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Kevin Kiermaier and cash, came to understand what makes the pitcher unique. They re-signed him Feb. 21, and after he triggered his opt-out clause in late March, they had the ability to keep him by adding him to their major-league roster. Advertisement The Jays were willing to do that — with a catch. They asked Yarbrough to sign an advance-consent clause, allowing them to release him within the first 45 days of the regular season and terminate the rest of his $2 million guarantee. The Yankees, Yarbrough said, made him the same offer, but with a different incentive structure. Yarbrough was willing to accept that deal from the Yankees, a team he admired from afar for its ability to get the most out of pitchers. He wasn't willing to accept it from the Jays, for whom he had a 2.01 ERA in 31 1/3 innings after the trade, pitching in a variety of roles out of the bullpen. 'I had been there the last couple of months, showed them everything I bring to the table, especially the versatility,' Yarbrough said. 'Everyone from the team and staff seemed to love me. So I feel like there wasn't necessarily a reason to (accept an advance-consent clause), just from what I've already shown them. Whereas with a new organization, I have no problem with getting them to know me, seeing what I bring to a team.' Yarbrough, who has been traded three times, was hardly unfamiliar with how the game works. But knowing how well he fit with the Jays, he viewed their decision as the business of baseball to an extreme. He was curious how the Yankees viewed him, excited to hear their ideas, eager to learn and improve. The Yankees had always liked Yarbrough, who in 57 1/3 career innings against them held them to a .558 OPS and posted a 2.04 ERA. Like the Jays, they pursued Yarbrough as a non-roster invite to spring training. But entering the spring, their pitching staff was healthy and deep, the opportunity for non-roster pitchers limited. All of that changed as the Yankees' injuries mounted during Grapefruit League play — Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt in the rotation, Jake Cousins, Scott Effross, JT Brubaker and Clayton Beeter in the bullpen, as well as Jonathan Loaisiga coming off surgery. Advertisement When Yarbrough became a free agent March 23, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman immediately contacted the pitcher's agent, Victor Menocal of Excel. The next day, Yarbrough was a Yankee. 'We knew he was a strike thrower, knew he wasn't afraid and he could give us protection and length,' Cashman said. 'Obviously, what he has turned into is a helluva lot more than that.' Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins noted that at the time the Jays had a healthy five-man rotation. Yarbrough, though, had a better spring than Barnes and Lovelady, neither of whom currently is pitching in the majors. The Jays could have used Yarbrough the same way they did last season, as an all-purpose reliever. Their pitching depth has been an issue all season. May 5, they signed right-handers Jose Urena and Spencer Turnbull to major-league contracts. Urena was designated for assignment May 31. Turnbull made his first appearance Wednesday. 'In fairness to them, this is one of those where you run into something, and you get a lot more than you expected,' Cashman said. 'The proof is in the pudding. I did a major-league deal and demanded a 45-day consent. 'At times, you've got to be good. At times, you've got to be lucky. This would fall more into that lucky category. He's just been exceptional.' The Yankees had the same 'luck' with another relatively unheralded pitcher, righty Luke Weaver, whom they claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners in September 2023. Weaver made three impressive starts for them at the end of that season, then emerged as one of the game's top relievers in 2024. Initially after acquiring Weaver, the Yankees eliminated his slider, reduced his curveball usage and increased his cutter usage. The biggest change they helped him with was a change in his fastball grip. With Yarbrough, the adjustments were less dramatic. Advertisement 'We've seen him a lot over the years with Tampa Bay. We've always just felt befuddled by him. How is this guy getting us out?' Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said. 'You see just the level of execution he has, the funky angles, the good understanding of what he's doing out there. That's what we've seen as well.' Blake said the Yankees spoke with Yarbrough about his game plan, offering ideas on how to use and locate his cutter and sweeper. Yarbrough's most frequently used pitch last season was his sinker at 29.6 percent. He threw only 9.9 percent cutters. This season he is employing a more balanced repertoire, throwing 25.3 percent cutters, 22 percent sinkers, 21.3 percent sweepers, 20.4 percent changeups and 10.9 percent four-seamers. 'We've kind of fine-tuned some pitches, stuff like that. Nothing crazy like grip changes,' Yarbrough said. 'Just understanding how to make (the pitches) better, more consistent. 'Then it was just a matter of game planning, how we can use the whole arsenal, especially for me where I can fill the zone up with different pitches. So I don't get too — not predictable — but just so they can't sit on one certain pitch. There are multiple options.' Yarbrough allowed eight runs in four innings against the Red Sox on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium and faces them again Friday night at Fenway Park. His challenge will be significant. His career ERA in 77 2/3 innings against the Red Sox is 7.65. But in his eighth major-league season, Yarbrough remains undaunted, pitching with his usual moxie. He proved his point to the Blue Jays. He survived his 45-day trial with the Yankees. He made the right call going from one AL East club to another. 'I feel like I've continued to grow as a player and pitcher,' Yarbrough said. 'I'm happy how it all worked out.'
