Well – Well – Well, Leafs Nation – you’ve been up all night wondering how this could have possibly gone so wrong !?! Core Four – Core Snore ! Too much on attack hockey and not enough on substance. Are you as sick as I regarding warn out cliches, “Backs against the wall”, “One game at a time”, “No tomorrow” and on and on ?
If you think you’re stressed, how about the 100 point + Toronto Maple Leafs ? After Monday’s horrific showing, do any of the “ankle broken” fans even care that Coach Keefe has stuck with the 11-7 format, or that Jarnkrok moved back up with Mathews/Marner. Effort and results will rule the day.
After a rather pedestrian first period in which neither team had a serious chance, the Florida crowd seemed to settle. Both clubs went a total of 11:12 between SOG throughout the middle of the period. The Panthers came on a bit at the end thanks to a Holl penalty, but Woll stood Toll. (see what I did there ?)
William (c4) Nylander scored his 3rd playoff goal on a power play set up by Bunting and (c4) Marner at 3:25 to get things rolling for a suddenly rejuvenated TML squad. Joseph Woll continued his solid play with saves that seemed to just “stick” to him. Overall chances were 39-31 Florida, but the Leafs heir apparent held tough. The Leafs then got a PP opportunity and after 6 quality SOG, BOB held his squad in there. The Panthers remained tenacious and were awarded a somewhat controversial power play of their own, after TJ Brodie held a stick and yet Radim Gudas took a flying charge at Kampf (no call). Leafs Nation had to be encouraged, but the lead was only one.
The third started with trepidation. Mitchell Marner scored on a long, point shot after tremendous pressure from his mates, a sweet pass from McCabe and a great screen by O’Reilly. Just to piss Leafs Nation off, the Panthers converted a PPG from Reinhart to break Woll’s shutout at 8:44. This got the FLA crowd back in the game and the ensuing 10 minutes were WILD.
Not to worry see y’all for game 5 in TRANNA !
HOPPER NOTES: as you all know, I try to remain impartial in reporting these games… I’ll always remember my Dad carrying me into bed after the Leaf’s CUP wins (62, 63, 64) to the closing theme of HNIC (always the favorite part of that Masterpiece) and that shit just stays with you…I generally dislike the trend in sports reporting where the line (sponsored by Fanduel, Joe’s Garage, whomever) takes over the true meaning of who is the better team in any given situation…is TJ Brodie OK ?…did Mathew Tkachuk play tonight, except for his cowardly grab from behind of Marner in the final scrum…you think Leafs Nation doesn’t care ? WRONG – CHEERS !