NHL
Commercial
dwell
Up to date 6m in the past
The Toronto Maple Leafs are tied 2-2 with the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers because the collection shifts again to Toronto for Recreation 5.
Comply with the newest updates, insights and evaluation from The Athletic's staff of NHL consultants under.
GO FURTHER
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers has become a battle of each our bodies and minds
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner staying collectively for the Leafs in Recreation 5.
Projected ahead combos:
Knies — Matthews — Marner
Pacioretty — Tavares — Nylander
McMann — Domi — Robertson
Laughton — Kämpf — Lorentz
Commercial
David Kämpf might be enjoying for the primary time since April 2.
Kämpf missed the final seven video games of the common season with an damage and was a wholesome scratch within the first 10 video games of the playoffs.
He’s identified, for no matter it’s price, for being one of many fitter Leafs.
Of word with Nick Robertson drawing again into the Leafs lineup for Recreation 5: He scored in three totally different video games instantly after being scratched in the course of the common season.
A McMann-Domi-Robertson line outscored opponents 10-7 at evens.
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice supplied his tackle playoff momentum after his staff handily gained Recreation 4 on Sunday night time, shutting down the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0 in suffocating trend.
His view? It merely doesn’t exist — and he doesn’t anticipate it to have an effect on what would be the Panthers’ fifty fifth playoff recreation within the final three years in Recreation 5 on Wednesday in Toronto.
“We’re conscious that it’s one recreation,” Maurice mentioned. “I don’t imagine in momentum and developments. The puck will drop within the subsequent recreation, and we should combat arduous to get again to what was a fairly well-played recreation by our staff.”
The Panthers have just about seen and overcome all of it in going to 2 consecutive Finals. The Leafs, in the meantime, have largely skilled postseason distress, together with the truth that the franchise hasn’t gained a collection that was tied 2-2 since Auston Matthews was 6 years outdated.
If you would like positives, historical past remains to be on the Leafs’ aspect right here. A staff that began a best-of-seven collection at house and gained the primary two video games and misplaced the following two has gained the collection 63 p.c of the time within the NHL. They’ve additionally gained Recreation 5, at house, 72 p.c of the time.
Toronto was the higher staff in Recreation 1, too, and Recreation 2 and three had been mainly coin flips. On stability, this collection has been very shut. The most important purpose there are those that doubt the Leafs can pull this off is that they merely haven’t been capable of do one thing like this in current reminiscence.
Even when, like Maurice, you imagine momentum doesn’t matter and, like many, the historic file doesn’t matter, it’s a more durable promote to imagine the perpetual failings of the Leafs’ greatest gamers aren’t going to be an element right here.
We all know by now that the core group on this roster entered this postseason needing to ship greater than they ever have earlier than. Attending to 2-2 in Spherical 2 isn’t it. What comes subsequent in what’s now a best-of-three will decide whether or not all of these proclamations that “This staff is totally different!” are literally remembered as something greater than narrative constructing.
To be totally different, they need to do one thing totally different. They need to win two of the following three video games.
GO FURTHER
The Maple Leafs must deliver their greatest in Recreation 5 to fend off skeptics
Nick Robertson and David Kampf are in for the Maple Leafs tonight. Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok are out.
Under are the percentages for Recreation 5 of the Leafs-Panthers collection tonight, courtesy of BetMGM.
Commercial
Amongst our The Athletic writers, the Maple Leafs are the favored alternative in Recreation 5. Six favor Toronto in Recreation 5 whereas two just like the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Learn extra under.
GO FURTHER
NHL playoff picks, odds, tips on how to watch data for Panthers at Maple Leafs, Oilers at Golden Knights
With out dependable third-line manufacturing, there’s extra stress on the Maple Leafs’ prime six. William Nylander, John Tavares, Knies and Marner have all chipped in on scoring. However one participant identified for precisely that has zero targets on the scoresheet.
It isn’t to say Auston Matthews hasn’t been efficient on this collection. His all-around play helped Toronto take a 2-0 lead on this collection, in a power-versus-power matchup towards Barkov on house ice. And in Video games 3 and 4, the highest line nonetheless generated possibilities with a 71 p.c anticipated aim charge whereas breaking even 2-2 in scoring.
However on this collection particularly, the Maple Leafs want Matthews to hit the following gear. Two-way play is pivotal, however he isn’t the one Selke-caliber ahead on this collection. What separates him from Barkov, Sam Reinhart and Marner is his taking pictures potential.
The shot quantity and scoring chances are high there; he tried 34 unblocked photographs price 3.72 anticipated targets in Spherical 1, which ranked ninth within the league. However somebody along with his ending expertise tends to outscore expectations. He didn’t in Spherical 1, and he has but to take action in Spherical 2. Via 4 second-round video games, his 24 unblocked makes an attempt add as much as 2.83 xG, and he doesn’t have a aim to indicate for these efforts in all conditions. And that’s fairly uncharacteristic for Matthews — in most seasons, at the very least.
The Maple Leafs have posted a 35-36 file in Recreation 5s in franchise best-of-seven collection. At house, the Leafs have a 20-10 file in Recreation 5.
However on this decade, Recreation 5s at house haven't been variety to Toronto. The Maple Leafs are 1-5 of their final six Recreation 5 house video games. They had been shut out 4-0 towards the Ottawa Senators in Recreation 5 within the first spherical. Two years in the past, towards the Panthers, Nick Cousins scored the OT collection winner for Florida at Scotiabank Enviornment.
How huge is tonight's recreation? When a best-of-seven NHL collection is tied 2-2, the winner of Recreation 5 holds an all-time collection file of 237-62 (79.3 p.c).
Eastbound Lakeshore Go Practice announcer, 5:19 p.m. ET: "Pleased William Wednesday to everybody onboard. I name at this time William Wednesday as a result of William Nylander goes to attain tonight, am I proper?"
Recreation 5, lower than two hours away.
Commercial
An odd factor occurred within the aftermath of Florida Panthers ahead Sam Bennett elbowing Toronto Maple Leafs beginning goalie Anthony Stolarz within the head in Recreation 1.
No Leaf apparently noticed the play or wished to take a public stand on it.
“I didn’t see (the elbow) till a lot later after the sport,” Max Pacioretty mentioned, echoing the message most of his teammates delivered. “It occurred. We’re centered on our group in right here and sticking collectively.”
“I didn’t actually have a very good take a look at it, to be sincere with you,” Morgan Rielly mentioned after Recreation 1.
Leafs captain Auston Matthews pursed his lips and shook his head when requested in regards to the incident earlier than strolling a really high-quality line.
“Performs occur fast,” he mentioned. “Clearly, an unlucky bounce for us. We’ve simply received to remain centered on enjoying hockey, going on the market and competing.”
The responses to a polarizing incident look like a part of a broader technique: keep united, keep quiet, concentrate on what’s subsequent, don’t panic and don’t purchase into the drama.
Learn extra under.
GO FURTHER
A brand new Maple Leafs mentality is Craig Berube’s best asset within the playoffs
Staying disciplined whereas not backing down is a fragile juggling act that the Toronto Maple Leafs have largely performed a good job with on this collection towards the Florida Panthers.
The defending Stanley Cup champions are an imposing group; over the course of a collection, they try to put on down the opposition any which manner they’ll.
Frankly, they’re superb at it.
And on a staff that already had Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk, they added Brad Marchand on the commerce deadline to nook the market on gamers you’re keen on as a teammate however despise throughout the opposing fan base.
The Panthers are proper there, each shift, in your face, pushing buttons, looking for each edge they’ll each bodily and mentally over seven video games. As such, it’s mentally and bodily exhausting to cope with in case you’re the opposite staff.
And so when Max Domi hit Aleksander Barkov on the buzzer Sunday night time, it was the form of message-sending second that was the fruits of Toronto’s blood boiling.
Learn extra under.
GO FURTHER
LeBrun: Maple Leafs discovering ‘stability’ between staying disciplined and bodily towards Panthers
Max Domi's late-game hit on Panthers captain Alexander Barkov was an unpleasant finish to a brutal all-around efficiency for the Maple Leafs.
Whereas Domi shouldn’t be anticipated to obtain a suspension for his fight-sparking slam on Barkov, his actions might reverberate by means of the remainder of this matchup. Regardless, it's clear this collection is now a battle of wills, our NHL insider Chris Johnston writes.
Learn his full column beow on the tip of Recreation 4 and what it means going ahead.
GO FURTHER
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers has become a battle of each our bodies and minds
Auston Matthews nonetheless has but to attain a playoff aim towards the Florida Panthers.
The Maple Leafs will very probably want that to vary in the event that they’re to win two of the following three video games and overcome the defending Stanley Cup champions, even when Matthews is doing loads of good issues in any other case.
Matthews didn’t rating in 5 video games within the second spherical of the 2023 playoffs towards the Panthers, and he’s been held off the board in every of the primary 4 video games of this collection.
Nevertheless it’s not simply the Panthers. In his final 20 playoff video games, he has unusually rotten taking pictures luck at 3.7 p.c. That’s three targets on 81 photographs, with two of these targets coming within the first spherical towards the Ottawa Senators.
“A little bit bit,” Matthews mentioned, when requested if he was feeling snakebitten after an unpleasant 2-0 loss in Recreation 4. “I imply, the possibilities have been there. I believe I’ve simply received to do a greater job bearing down on a few of them.”
Learn extra on Matthews' aim drought under.
Toronto faces a must-win Recreation 5 on house ice. Who does Craig Berube decide to begin?
Learn under our writers' lineup questions and potential game-time choices that loom earlier than Recreation 5.
Commercial
After 25 whole targets had been scored over the primary three video games of the collection, Recreation 4 featured the primary goaltending duel of the second-round collection.
Joseph Woll had one in all his greatest video games of the season for the Maple Leafs, however Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky additionally re-discovered his type of the 2024 playoffs and got here out on the suitable aspect of the goaltending battle.
Bobrovsky stopped all 22 photographs the Leafs threw at him in a 2-0 shutout win. The collection is now degree at two wins apiece.
For a lot of the first two intervals, the Leafs put forth their worst effort of the postseason. They had been second to pucks, didn’t win sufficient battles and, worst of all, barely generated any vital offensive possibilities. That Craig Berube juggled his strains at instances advised he was pissed off with what he noticed in entrance of him. And with good purpose.
This was one of many worst playoff performances from the Leafs in current reminiscence.
GO FURTHER
Maple Leafs fall flat as Panthers even collection with Recreation 4 win: Takeaways
The Toronto Maple Leafs got here flying out of the gates in Recreation 3, however the Florida Panthers stay the reigning Stanley Cup champions for a purpose.
After permitting two fast targets and the Leafs to construct a 3-1 lead, the Panthers stormed again with three unanswered targets within the second interval to construct a 4-3 lead. It was a lead they gave up within the third interval, however Brad Marchand did what he does greatest and sank the Leafs with an extra time aim.
After Marchand’s aim and a second interval that felt like one of many Panthers’ greatest within the playoffs, they now look alive and properly within the collection. They’re nonetheless down 2-1 however, crucially, seem to have discovered tips on how to beat Leafs goalie Joseph Woll time and time once more.
On the different finish of the ice, Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky hasn’t precisely appeared like a world-beater both. However now that he’s getting sufficient run help, his struggles will be swept below the rug for one recreation.
The Leafs have proven a capability all through the playoffs to push again towards adversity, each towards the Panthers and the Ottawa Senators. However Recreation 3 felt like a backbreaker. And as excessive as Leafs followers undoubtedly received after their spectacular Recreation 2 win, Recreation 3 was a reminder of how lengthy this collection may final.
GO FURTHER
Maple Leafs drop Recreation 3 in OT as Panthers minimize Toronto’s collection result in 2-1: Takeaways
After getting into the second spherical of the playoffs as betting underdogs, the Toronto Maple Leafs now have the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on the ropes.
With a spirited and full 4-3 win in Recreation 2, the Leafs personal a commanding 2-0 collection lead.
Recreation 2 supplied leisure worth and back-and-forth hockey that’s not at all times anticipated in playoff video games. Whereas the Panthers owned nearly all of five-on-five possession and anticipated targets, the Leafs confirmed a high quality they’ve usually lacked: unmitigated pushback.
The Leafs received again within the recreation after being down within the first and second intervals. Max Domi’s aim on a two-on-one gave the Leafs a second-period lead and despatched a tense Scotiabank Enviornment crowd right into a frenzy. And simply 17 seconds after the Panthers tied the sport within the third interval, Mitch Marner’s wild shot from distance discovered its well beyond Sergei Bobrovsky. Add in targets from William Nylander and Max Pacioretty, and the Leafs actually received the bounces in Recreation 2.
The underlying numbers might recommend a special consequence, certain. But when we’re judging on effort alone, you’ll be able to’t argue with the consequence the Leafs received in Recreation 2.
GO FURTHER
Maple Leafs defeat Panthers in Recreation 2, take 2-0 collection lead: Takeaways
