PANTHERS NEVER QUIT !

Over a three-week period of “Statement” games, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had to prove their worth against the tough Eastern Conference teams like Carolina, Boston, Tampa Bay and tonight’s opponent the Florida Panthers.  They stood up pretty well.

Florida would likely prove to be the toughest, especially at home, especially with the Atlantic Division in their sights and especially having rested since Sunday’s huge comeback win against the Devils.  They have the most goals for in the entire league, a great goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky (33-6-3 .914 %) and the leader in assists (73) third in overall scoring, winger Jonathan Huberdeau.  Heck, they’ve only lost 3 games since March 1.  Aaron Ekblad did not dress tonight.

The Leafs are 7 points back of the division lead with 13 games and are 5-2 since March 27.  All world forwards Auston Mathews (20 points in his last 11) and Mitchell Marner (19 pts in his last 8) continue to tear the league up, but it’s been secondary scoring from the likes of Ilya Mikaev, Pierre Engvall and Alex Kerfoot that have supported all that star prowess.

Man ‘O man – do you love playoff hockey ?  Well reserve your spot because this Atlantic Division is going to be a rocker no matter who is seeded where.  Witness hits, chances, great goaltending – every element you need to make this a go.  The Leafs had 4 bell ringer chances in the first 4 minutes.  Sam Reinhart converted his 11 PP goal off a fabulous feed from Sasha Barkov to make 1-0.  Florida was far more physical than in their last encounter, finishing checks all over the ice.  It wasn’t until the returning William Nylander pounded in a PP of his own with 4:30 left that the Leafs solidified their status.  Morgan Reilly assisted on that goal, his 10^th point in his last 6 games.

I guess we shouldn’t all be surprised that the top 2 goal scoring teams in the league would score 7 goals in one period.  The Leafs came out for the second trying to kill off the rest of a PP.  An absolute all-star goal by Marner (another shorty) put Leafs ahead and then less than :37 seconds later, he scored his 31^st on the PP with a bit of a softy on the short side.  This one got the “Go Leafs Go” chant started.  Colin Blackwell scored off the rush to make it 4-1 and that was the end for Bobrovsky.  Newly re-instated Jake Muzzin snuck down the half boards to net his welcome home goal to make it 5-1.  As Leafs Nation fans started to plan the Stanley Cup parade, Gudas floated in a shorty that made it 5-3 and then Giroux got his first as a Panther to end the period at 5-4.  Note to self – cancel parade planning.

This Huberdeau feller isn’t challenging for the Art Ross Trophy on a whim.  Dude got 5 more points tonight including the OT winner and his 100^th point !  FLA 7 Leafs 6.

HOPPER NOTES:  Hard to believe it’s been 40 years since Rick Vaive scored his record 54^th goal – man, I have children older than that…still can’t decide who I’d rather see the Leafs play in the first round…is it just me or did Muzzin take some of Giordano’s ice time tonight…and how is Liljgren dressed, have the rosters expanded ?

Cheers – comments welcome