Leafs and Panthers: NHL playoff series has plenty of story lines, and hatred
It took the Toronto Maple Leafs six games to get past the Ottawa Senators in round one of the NHL Playoffs but things will get much tougher on Monday night when they play host to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.
The Maple Leafs will try to defeat a Florida club that has won five straight playoff series and eight of nine en route to consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances.
Toronto hasn't made it to the NHL Conference finals since 1993 – a span of 32 years.
What follows is a brief primer to get NHL fans ready for this Atlantic Division showdown, which promises to be a physical affair.
How they got here
Toronto, which finished first in the Atlantic Division with 108 points, needed six games to dispatch the Senators in the latest installment of the Battle of Ontario. Leafs' fans were relieved to finish off Ottawa after the series started 3-0 before the Senators took a pair of games, pushing the series to six games.
Story continues below advertisement
Florida, which finished third in the Atlantic Division with 98 points and is coached by former Maple Leafs' bench boss Paul Maurice, squared off with their in-state rivals as well, finishing off the higher-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning in just five games. It was a physical showdown and the repercussions of that will see Tampa without defenceman Aaron Ekblad for the series opener after being suspended for two contests for a dirty hit.
Head-to-head
The two clubs met four times during the 2024-25 season with the squad from the Sunshine State winning three of those matchups including a 3-1 victory during the final meeting of the sides on April 8.
The Panthers have been in existence since 1993 but these two teams have only met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs once over that 32-year span.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
The initial meeting finally took place in 2023 with the Floridians dismissing the Ontarians in just five games.
Northern migration
After last spring's Stanley Cup victory, a trio of Panthers headed north, as defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, forward Steven Lorentz and goaltender Anthony Stolarz all signed on with the Boys in Blue in free agency over the summer.
Stolarz has taken over as the top 'tender in Toronto, while Ekman-Larsson also had a pair of goals during the opening round series between the Maple Leafs and Sens.
Story continues below advertisement
'I'm extremely proud of the way that our team handled business,' Stolarz said of Toronto's victory over Ottawa.
Stolarz, who was a key cog in the team's first place finish in the Atlantic Division, ended his first season in Toronto as the NHL leader in save percentage (.926) and goals-against average (2.14.)
Public Enemy No. 1
Florida is chock full of players who are hated by fans in other markets, including Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. But public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of Torontonians will be 37-year-old Brad Marchand.
The long-time Bruin is a feisty forward who is generally booed every time his stick touches the puck at Scotiabank Centre, but he is not bothered by the anti-accolades.
'To be honest, I never really cared,' Marchand told the Associated Press. 'Fans get a very small insight of who we are as people. They watch the games and they build opinions on players off who they are on the ice. Fans that I meet and interact with, I think they have a different perception.'
Marchand has had the last laugh as he faced Toronto four times in the playoffs while with the Bruins, and came out on top four times, with each series having extended to four games.
Power Surge
One of the Leafs' major strengths this season has been a power play unit featuring Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Matthew Knies and John Tavares which finished ninth overall in the NHL at 24.8 per cent.
Story continues below advertisement
That crew lit up the Sens as they combined for six power play goals over the six-game series in Ottawa but they will need to be at their best of the Leafs have any hopes of knocking off Florida.
The feisty Floridians went to the box 18 times against the Lightning in Round 1, and Tampa Bay was only able to record two power-play goals over the five-game series.
The Betting Line
While the Leafs finished well ahead of the Panthers in the standings, the betting lines are favouring the bunch from South Florida in the series opener and overall.
The lines is set for Monday night's game with Florida favoured by -1.5 although the payout is +198 on Fanduel.
For the series, the Panthers are also a hefty -184 favourite so oddsmakers do not hold much belief in the Buds.
*With files from Wire Services
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Argos players, coaches and staff receive their '24 Grey Cup rings
Article content Toronto Argonauts personnel will have two ways to commemorate the franchise's 2024 Grey Cup championship. Article content Players, coaches and team staff received their custom-made championship rings Sunday. The Argos captured a CFL-record 19th title in November with a 41-24 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at B.C. Place Stadium. Article content Article content A unique element of the item, crafted by Baron Championship Rings, is the detachment feature of its top, allowing the wearer to transform the piece into a pendant by attaching it to a chain. Upon detachment, the top reveals an engraving of the quote 'an underdog is a hungry dog ready to eat,' referencing receiver DaVaris Daniels' speech from the '24 championship rally. Article content Opposite of the engraving, the interior features a detailed tribute to the stadium where the Argos earned their victory. Article content 'Last season, the team rose to a new level of dedication, perseverance and teamwork in their pursuit of adding another Grey Cup to the Argonauts' rich championship history,' said Argos GM Michael (Pinball) Clemons. 'A championship ring is a permanent reminder of a special season and a special achievement, and it will bring the team together again this season as we look forward to building on that success.' Article content The ring itself features several unique elements, including the face showcasing the Grey Cup trophy in addition to the Argos' logo being encrusted with diamonds. The left shoulder includes detailing of Toronto landmarks, including the CN Tower, City Hall and BMO Field, the club's home stadium. Article content The right shoulder is personalized for each of the players with their name and number sitting atop of a jersey motif and boat oars that symbolize the franchise's origins as the Argonaut Rowing Club. Article content At the bridge of the ring is the player's signature, along with the final score and date of the game. The outside bottom shank captures another one of the team's mottoes 'Start 2 Finish.' On the upper side, the design includes numeral detailing of '111,' in reference to the 111th Grey Cup game. Article content On the bottom is the number '24' for the year, with a sapphire bejewelled wave set above it. Nineteen radiant stones wrap around the ring, symbolizing every title in Argos' history. Article content 'Creating the 2024 Grey Cup champions ring was an incredible opportunity to celebrate the team's legacy and the pride of their fans,' said Baron president Drina Baron-Zinyk and CEO Peter Kanis in a joint statement. 'Every detail of the 2024 ring was designed to embody the grit, determination, and unforgettable moments that define this team's journey.'
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Jonathan David's artistry whetting the appetite of Canadian soccer fans a year out from 2026 World Cup
Top strikers are architects. They are builders and engineers. They see an empty space, and they imagine the most beautiful way to fill it. They see possibility, and they turn it into something true. Jonathan David is the greatest striker in the history of the Canadian men's program. He's 25 years old, and he's scored more goals than anyone who has come before him. In Saturday's emphatic win over Ukraine in Toronto, he scored two more, the 33rd and 34th of his national-team career. The first was workmanlike, an object of his desire and efficiency: right place, right time. The second was a masterpiece, a product of his artistry. On Sunday, David, at the start of the most critical year of his professional life, sat down for an exclusive interview with CBC at the team's downtown hotel. He isn't a towering physical specimen, a monster masquerading as a man. He's quiet and contained. When so many of the world's best strikers are characters, the flamboyant giants of the game, he's almost remarkably unremarkable. "I'm a calm guy," he said. "I don't really go out that much. I prefer to stay in my room, just relaxing." WATCH | Jonathan David scores twice, Canada downs Ukraine at Canadian Shield: Jonathan David scores twice, Canada downs Ukraine at Canadian Shield 2 days ago Duration 2:32 That was before he was asked about his gorgeous goal, and he talked about what it takes to make something beautiful. David's vision is his gift, the reason he will join a top European side this summer after five years at Lille of France's Ligue 1. Saturday's demonstration will only improve his prospects. The thought of it made him shine. "This one was…" He didn't finish his sentence. He stopped to smile, and then he went back to the beginning, with Tajon Buchanan outside the 18-yard box, looking to curl in a cross. "I don't know exactly where Tajon is going to get the ball," he said in the present tense, the way so many athletes do when they remember their finest moments. "I'm just running into an area where maybe he's going to land it." David knows that every monument has its foundation, which in his case means cutting in front of his defender. He did that, too. He used his experience and discipline to set himself up for a chance, ten yards in front of the Ukrainian goal. He also took note of the goalkeeper's position, shading a little to David's right. David's decision to aim left was less a thought than an instantaneous calculation. "It's almost instinct," he said. " This is where I have to put it." The hardest part of the process came next. He knew what he wanted to do. Now he had to do it. The same is true for his ascendant Canadian side, for everyone involved in making next summer's World Cup something glorious, something singular. For the first time, Canada, along with the U.S. and Mexico, will co-host the biggest sporting event on Earth. It's a massive undertaking, with every kind of potential, and every possible outcome. BMO Field, the stage for David's latest heroics, is a construction site, with a construction site's rough assembly of ambition and nerves. Exactly a year before Canada's men kick off their World Cup campaign on the same field, two of four new videoboards are up. Gates are under renovation. The space for 17,000 additional seats has been cleared but none of them are in place. The dream is half-built. It will, in soccer and in life, come down to the finish. David ducked under Buchanan's perfect delivery, and the ball glanced off the top of his head. In different circumstances, that touch might have been a mistake — a soft effort, an imperfect collision. But David meant to do what he did. "The intention was to put it on that side," he said. The ball floated toward the top corner, inches inside the post. He turned to watch its flight. The goalkeeper, rooted to his spot, watched it with him. David hadn't needed to do anything dramatic. It was enough that he did the unexpected. The goal that, a half-second before, had been something only he could see, now belonged to every Canadian soccer fan, as if a promise he'd made to himself had become a prophecy for the rest of us. Jonathan David returned to his first thought and finished his sentence.
Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
Where will Mitch Marner sign? Here's where the Maple Leafs star could end up, and how he'd fit in
Maybe the Maple Leafs will decide to move on from Mitch Marner. Maybe Marner will decide life will be better elsewhere. No matter what happens July 1, the hockey prodigy from Thornhill will be the most coveted free agent on the market since John Tavares seven years ago. Tavares, a former Islanders centre from Oakville, came home to play with Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander, forming the Leafs' Core Four. Now Marner could break up the gang, looking for riches or success elsewhere. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Marner will be rich, to the tune of $13 million (U.S.) or more a year. Most teams have the salary cap space for him or can find a way to create it. The question is: Where will he land? He would make any team in the league better, but which one is going to win his services? Here are a handful of possibilities: Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman followed the Leafs through the playoffs, and could believe his team is a Marner away from making the post-season. He's probably right. The Red Wings haven't made the playoffs in nine years but have come painfully close the last two seasons. Despite picking no higher than fourth in the draft (Lucas Raymond, 2020) in their nine wayward seasons, Yzerman has an array of young talent (Moritz Seider, Marco Kasper) that needs outside help to go further. Leafs Leafs prospect Easton Cowan isn't about to replace Mitch Marner, but he has the DNA the team is looking for It's not a sure thing that the Memorial Cup MVP will start next season in the NHL, but there should be opportunity. Leafs Leafs prospect Easton Cowan isn't about to replace Mitch Marner, but he has the DNA the team is looking for It's not a sure thing that the Memorial Cup MVP will start next season in the NHL, but there should be opportunity. Marner on the right side of centre Dylan Larkin could push the Wings captain to new heights, beyond his usual 30-plus goals a year. Detroit is a historic franchise with good ownership used to winning. It's also close to home for Marner. But even with a 100-point right winger, the Wings wouldn't be a serious Stanley Cup contender. Vegas Golden Knights From Jack Eichel to Alex Pietrangelo to Mark Stone to Noah Hanifin, Golden Knights owner Bill Foley is used to making a big splash and getting the shiniest bauble available. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW A quick look at their cap situation suggests the Knights don't have enough space, but it's never stopped them before. GM Kelly McCrimmon can be cutthroat, moving on from players quickly. Just ask Max Pacioretty, Marc-André Fleury or the recently repatriated Reilly Smith. Winning matters more than loyalty. It's part of Vegas's DNA, to always find a way to contend. Just imagine the magic that could develop between Marner and Eichel. Marner would be part of a Cup contender with an underrated fan base, but not one that will blame him for every loss. Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has a long-standing relationship with Marner, having drafted him in Toronto and giving him this six-year, $65.4-million deal that is expiring. And the lure of playing with Sidney Crosby — Marner's childhood hero — could prove too much to resist. Crosby made it clear in the 4 Nations Face-Off that he admires Marner's talent. Marner was giddy scoring an overtime winner on a pass from Crosby. The Penguins aren't exactly Stanley Cup contenders, now with a rookie coach in Dan Muse. But Marner would make the team younger and could get them back into the playoffs. And not that the 37-year-old Crosby needs a new lease on life — he had 91 points last season — but Marner might give him one anyway. Leafs Mitch Marner, Raptors, TFC, Blue Jays. What's the next move for MLSE after Maple Leafs' change at the top? Kevin McGran New York Rangers Owner James Dolan has no patience for losing, and with the team failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021, he'll be on board with paying to make the team better. Marner would also be insurance with Artemi Panarin heading into his free agency year in 2025-26. The Rangers are deep at forward, so Marner wouldn't have to carry the load. But he could help get more out of Alexis Lafrenière or help revive Mika Zibanejad after an off-year. Utah Mammoth The renamed Utah Hockey Club is looking to make a big splash to reward fans for their support and to build loyalty by making the playoffs. The team built on the backs of the defunct Arizona Coyotes has some rising talent in Clayton Keller, Lawson Crouse and Dylan Guenther. Marner would be 'the man' on the Mammoth. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW New York Islanders Wouldn't that be a delicious turn of events for an Islanders fan base that saw their prized captain Tavares leave for Toronto seven years back? New GM Mathieu Darche, the former right-hand man of Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois, has plenty of cap space. The Islanders are a good but not great team that missed the playoffs this year. Marner, 28, fits in age-wise with players like Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. Los Angeles Kings The Kings have lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round in each of the last four seasons and might see Marner as a means to finally find a way to go deeper. New GM Ken Holland can set a new direction by adding Marner to a lineup rife with high-skilled veterans (Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe) and burgeoning young talent (Quinton Byfield, Alex Laferriere). Leafs Opinion Damien Cox: The Maple Leafs have given themselves no choice but to try and re-sign Mitch Marner There is much less of a choice here with Marner than it once seemed, and Brad Treliving is the one who let it get to this point, writes Damien Cox. Leafs Opinion Damien Cox: The Maple Leafs have given themselves no choice but to try and re-sign Mitch Marner There is much less of a choice here with Marner than it once seemed, and Brad Treliving is the one who let it get to this point, writes Damien Cox. Tampa Bay Lightning Lightning coach Jon Cooper loves Marner. He has coached him a couple of times at international events and will again next year at the Winter Olympics. Marner probably has a closer relationship with Cooper than he would with most opposition coaches. Who wouldn't want to play for a coach who appreciates your talent? It would take some cap magic, and maybe a trade or two, for Marner to land in Tampa, but BriseBois has found his way around the cap before. Marner, though, might have to take a back seat to Nikita Kucherov, the first-line right winger. And if Marner harbours any ill will toward the Leafs, going to Tampa could be some Machiavellian revenge.
