Does Maurice move Marchand back to the port side on one of the top 2 lines to give the Leafs a different look and give the Panthers an offensive boost? The Panthers can insert Rodriques back into the lineup to fill that 3rd line RW spot.JR1 wrote: ↑18 May 2025 08:56 amYou make some very good observations. I think it’s going to be a physical game 7 tonight. That said, Vamos Gatos.TheHighHat wrote: ↑17 May 2025 12:39 pm It's been a strange series to me. Most of the big name players have underachieved.
All of the angst given to Matthews and Marner has shielded scrutiny from Florida's big guns:
Barkov only has 3 points.
Tkachuk has zero goals and doesn't look completely healed.
Reinhart has only 1 goal.
Nylander carried the Leafs early in the series but has goose eggs in the last 3 games.
Tavares also has been blanked in the last 3 games.
Goal Oriented:
The Panthers d-men have 5 goals in this series. They also had 5 vs. Tampa.
Those 10 goals from their blue line equal the amount that the Panthers top 3 wingers (Tkachuk, Reinhart, & Verhaeghe) have combined for in the playoffs.
The offense provided by the Panthers d-men and 3rd line has been their saving grace.
Assisted Living:
Florida has made it to game 7 despite their top 2 centers only having 2 assists combined.
Toronto's top 2 centers have combined for only 3 assists (all Matthews).
Taveras having zero assists means that the top 2 centers from each team have combined for only 5 assists after 6 games. Find me another series that has happened.
Those 4 centers have combined for 8 goals.
The Puck Stops Here:
Bobrovsky stood on his head for 3 rounds two years ago.
Last year he was very good when he had to be.
This year his save % is under .900
Frank Underwood may have hit the nail on the head regarding Bob's play deciding game 7.
What player is the hero in game 7?
Many expected Marchand to play some with Benny & Chucky to form one of the all time great shift disturber lines that can score. Hasn't happened.
The one thing you don't hear brought up much regarding the Leafs is their team weight.
Surprisingly they're the heaviest team in the league. The Panthers come in at 24th.
The Leafs top 9 forwards are quite a bit heavier than the Panthers top 9.
Marner is their only top 9 guy under 200 lbs.
Conversely, Florida only has 2 of their top 9 over 2 spins.
Maybe the Leafs have a thumb on the scale.
Obviously the nastiness and competitiveness of Bennett, Tkachuk, and Marchand put most of the Leafs top 9 forwards to shame but having that extra weight to absorb the bodychecks can't be underestimated.
Thru 6 games in this series the Panthers have averaged 50 hits per game.
Two years ago when the Panthers quickly disposed of the Leafs they averaged only 37 hits per game yet most considered the Panthers physical play as one of the main reasons why the Leafs succumbed quickly.
