This weekend we witnessed some monumental moments in the 2023 Playoffs. We witnessed the “Best team ever” and the defending Stanley cup champions be eliminated in their respective game 7’s. In the Boston series the Bruin’s fumbled a 3-1 series lead against the Panthers in the overtime of game 7 to put Florida through to the 2nd round. The Avalanche then dropped their contest in regulation 2-1 to the post season debutant Seattle Kraken. All that wildness aside, the most shocking part of this weekend’s game was the Toronto Maple Leafs slaying their first-round demons by defeating the perennial league powerhouse, the Tampa Bag Lighting. A lot of non-Leafs across the league were quick to point out that Tampa was the better team and Toronto is lucky to get past them. As a die-hard Leaf fan myself, I am not too proud to admit that in games 1, 3 and 4 Tampa Bay was the better team for a majority of those games. With that being said, being the better team doesn’t mean a damn thing if you lose. The Maple Leafs were arguably the better team for most of the series last year against the Lightning, the prior year against the Montreal Canadians and in the 2019 clash against the Bruins. But in all those years where you could argue the Leafs were better than their opposition, they failed to capitalize on weaker rosters, show up in big moments and close out a series. Tampa pulled a maneuver Leaf fans are all too familiar with. Get a lead because you’re playing better than your opponents, then attempt to coast off that until the game ends. This showing of complacency bit the Leafs in 2013 (Blowing a 4-1 lead in game 7 with 10 minutes remaining against Boston) and in 2021 (Fumbling a 3-1 series lead against Montreal). Toronto flipped the script in 2023 and decided no matter what the flow of the game was up until that point, they would be battling to win until the very end which inherently stole them games 3 and 4. This year’s team felt different, an old cliche that many Leaf fans repeated every year, but this time it was true. The Leafs had their core of Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares & Rielly put up 42 combined points in 6 games. Rielly and JT both scored an OT winner in Amalie Arena along with Kerfoot. Accari and O’Reilly were the depth contributors this team has lacked in the past in big moments. McCabe and Schenn added an element of physicality that has been nonexistent in the Matthews era and Ilya Samsonov was the goalie we needed to show up in the big moments. With the weight of the world off Toronto’s shoulders, they are in a prime position to ride this momentum past a formidable Panthers team and into the Eastern Conference Final.
In my last article (https://takeitorleafit67.blogspot.com/2023/04/mo-tivation-to-close-out-round-1.html) I chose to show some love to the longest tenured Leaf Morgan Rielly, as he was arguably the MVP overall in the first round against the Lightning. For today’s player highlight I don’t think anyone is more deserving of praise than our Captain John Tavares. As a whole Johnny Toronto’s playoffs were good, but not great. That was until overtime of game 6 in Tampa where JT put an end to the 19-year slump that has plagued his hockey club (John also ended his former club the New York Islanders 23-year playoff slump). It’s only fitting that the hometown kid who joined the Leafs amidst a whirlwind of controversy during his free agent period is the one to end the playoff failure streak. John joined the Leafs in 2018 and was part of 4 first round exits in that time. JT had his playoffs cut short against the Montreal Canadians in 2021 where a fluke collision that led to a Corey Perry knee to the face. Tavares suffered a head injury that ended his series just 10 minutes and 29 seconds into that year’s playoffs. The following year John didn’t quite look like his normal self, many members of the fanbase and media questioned if John was “washed” or “if his foot speed would be a hindrance to the Leafs”. After a full and healthy off-season Tavares came out this year in a return to form in preparation to lead his team over the hump of the 1st round. All the hard work John and the boys put in has paid off this year and Toronto is preparing for a 2nd round clash against the Panthers tonight.
Toronto vs Florida Playoff Preview
The Panthers don’t strike the same level of fear in Leafs nation the way Lightning and the Bruins have, but the Panthers should not be underestimated by any means! Knocking off the best team in the NHL is no small feat and the Leafs should be prepared for a war in the sunshine state for the second straight series. Below are a few players who I think will be potential x-factors that the Leafs should be focused on.
Matthew Tkachuk - If you picked the Hart Memorial Trophy based off the 1st round, Matthew would be a slam dunk. Tkachuk was the catalyst that sparked the comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against the Bruins. Matthew found his way to the Panthers via trade last offseason that saw Jonathon Huberdeau & Mackenzie Weegar sent the other way. Many questioned who won the trade in the moment but looking back the Panthers made out like Bandits. This is undoubtedly the league’s elite pest in the top tier right beside Brad Marchand. This player gets under your skin, finishes his checks, fights, has an insanely underrated playmaking ability and is a prolific goal scorer. This player is the heart and soul of this Panther’s club and shutting him down will be the biggest obstacle between Toronto and the Eastern Conference Finals.
Aleksander Barkov - Barkov is a premier two-way center in the NHL. Sasha Barkov is often voted as the league’s “Most Underrated Player” because he doesn’t play in a traditionally big hockey market where he can be properly spot lighted. The lack of hype around many fan bases for this player is unwarranted, Barkov is a yearly candidate for the Selke Trophy and plays a similar shutdown game to previous opponent Anthony Cirelli despite having a much higher ceiling on offence. The Panthers Captain will be tasked with preventing the Leafs core 5 from scoring at the same rate as round 1.
Sam Bennett - Long past the days of a top prospect who was unable to do a pull up and being run out of Calgary, Bennet has found his home in Sunrise as an extremely effective middle 6 pest. Bennett has essentially become “Matthew Tkachuk Lite” he can do all the things Matthew does, just at a slightly lower level. This player will be a thorn in the side of the Leafs, it’s Toronto’s job to not take the bait and feed into this trap.
Sam Reinhart - Another player whose value was diminished by a poor run with his former club (Buffalo Sabres) before a career rejuvenation down south. Reinhart was another highly touted prospect who struggled to live up to the initial expectations and was the byproduct Buffalo mismanagement. After finding his footing in Florida Sam is beginning to show why he was selected 2nd overall. This is another player who if left unchecked by Toronto can sink their season.
Carter Verhaeghe - Oh the irony that a former Maple Leaf draft pick has the potential to deliver a dagger to his former club is the Leafiest thing I can imagine. Verhaeghe was shipped out to the Islanders by Lou Lamoriello in a 5 for 1 swap the brought Grabner to Toronto which was mainly to clear out NHL contracts (Of the 5 players shipped out, Carter is the only one to continue a fruitful NHL career). Verhaeghe never really got a shot in Long Island and was traded to the Lightning. He started out in Tampa with a very pedestrian output of 13 points in 52 games. Carter joined the Panthers the following year and hit his stride with the Panthers with 36 points in 43 games. Verhaeghe exploded offensively in 2022-23 scoring 42 goals with 31 assists in 81 games. Verhaeghe was the Panthers who delivered the final dagger that sent the Bruins packing in round 1, Toronto should be very mindful that he could do it to them as well.
Aaron Ekblad - Ekblad was a 1st overall selection who has managed to live up to that tag when he’s been healthy. Aaron has had some tough luck in his career with the injury bug setting him back, but when healthy he’s a monster for the Panthers. Ekblad has the potential to stifle the Maple Leafs in a similar way to victor Hedman, but with some form a lingering injury suffered during the Bruins series, only time will tell if Ekblad can be a major X-factor.
Radko Gudas - Let’s keep this short and sweet, Radko SHOULD NOT be a factor offensively, and honestly isn’t that special defensively. This player is going to take liberties and finish every check he can on the Leafs. Gudas’ primary focus will be wearing down the Leafs stars through the series. He will most likely be the “Pat Maroon type” player in this series.
Brandon Montour - After the departure of Mackenzie Weegar, Florida was left wondering who would be picking up the offence in the absence of one of their top scoring defensemen. Montour has had a breakout 2022-23 season putting up 73 points in 80 games. Montour put up a pair of goals in game 7 to push the Bruins to overtime, and this is a player who must be contained if the Leafs have aspirations of extending this playoff run.
I have full confidence that the Toronto Maple Leafs can get past the Panthers (and any other club remaining in this year’s playoffs for that matter), but they will have to battle every step of the way to get past the Cats. Toronto has gotten “the monkey off their back” to quote Auston Matthews and are essentially playing with house money. With the weight of the playoff slump off their shoulders, Toronto is in a prime position to ride this momentum into the next round. Panthers-Leafs game 1 is tonight at 7pm, and I for one am eager to finally watch the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a horse still in the race.
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