LFR18 - Panthers vs Maple Leafs Recap - Claws For Concern? - Game 77

Steve Dangle recaps and analyzes Game 77 of the Toronto Maple Leafs season against the Florida Panthers. Are you concerned?

[jamesstemmler]

"An NHL team... Their 1 achilles heal" best opening line in recent memory😂

[Peter_Larsen]

"You know who they're playing in the playoffs, right?"

"An NHL team."

"Their one Achilles heel!"


Steve, your reactions are GOLD as always!

[ILoveMisty]

No matter how bad y'all were at least y'all weren't the Stars, blowing a three-goal lead in a minute and losing in OT

[captainyossarian]

I feel for Woll and Stolarz. They've carried this team on their backs for many games, and the team's offense rewards this effort by frequently letting them down. Looking forward to the rant tomorrow night.

[maineventpro]

As bad as the game was tonight, the biggest concern lies in how they respond tomorrow against Tampa in a game that became more important after tonight's loss in my opinion.

[Jarryfb]

Florida was also missing 5 of their regulars in this game. Marner, Matthews and Willy looked invisible all night and honestly looked scared to play this team. What happens when Bennett, Tkachuk, Ekblad, Kulikov and Sturm come back?

[KevinBrevin]

I am a panther fan I havent missed an LFR in 2 years.

[robertdrabble]

Florida when rested and players come back…will be a beast !!!

[Pekoe.]

my biggest cope is that they played like that tonight so they werent exhausted for the tampa game tomorrow

[EvieAndHerEV]

Driving Steve is gonna be on next season's intro reel.

[Astro-fh]

Panthers are playoff tested and they had five starters out. I was at the game and Toronto was completely outplayed. They were physically beaten up. Panthers style of playoff hockey has been very effective. Florida coach said that if it was playoff game, all would have played. So they will be healthy. Panthers will be a tough matchup for any team. Never know what will happen and I think that winning the Stanley Cup, which is a 2 1/2 month ordeal, is the toughest championship in sports. There are a lot of really good hockey teams this season. Luckily, I was at game 7 when they took the Cup last year. Most exciting sporting event I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing live.

[darrenhoeck]

Can we let morgan rest for the last few games? Bring him back for game 1? Let him sit in a press box and reflect, and get mentally prepared for game 1 of the playoffs?

[pererajulian]

C’mon Steve, though I do appreciate you taking the ”high road” on this, you, out of ALL fans, should clearly see the impending doom that approaches.
This team, time and again, has shown you who they are, ESPECIALLY in the big moments.
Tonight was another glimpse into the future.
Florida, just like Boston before them, knows EXACTLY how to play the Leafs. This game tonight was an exact replica of Round 2. If Matthews/Nylander/Marner are held to 1 shot COMBINED, for 60 minutes, that is sweep territory.
Sure, as we have said nearly 9 consecutive times, this team looks like the best iteration they’ve ever had. But, I truly don’t think you’ve put enough emphasis on the fact that FLA has, for the entire season, been able to pick apart the Leafs with significant players missing.
If this depleted FLA team was so easily able to win this game, and frankly make the Leafs look inept, how could it not be a sweep when, Sturm/Ekblad/Tkachuk/Bennett are ALL back, healthy and rested?!
This may be the trauma making me overreact but this fanbase has seen this story before.
I just hope we don’t have a 9th consecutive season of FAILURE, but if we do, I hope it is a CATALYST for MASSIVE CHANGE!
ARE YOU IN?! GO LEAFS GO!

[dolandarkxgrandayy]

Woll was the only guy to show up. Him and Marner at the end becoming the goalie.

[mrzedlyt]

Reilly is horrible: screened Woll on the first goal, set up the Panthers second and casually stood there as the empty net was scored.

[sportsfan_]

Getting outplayed that badly when they don't have Tkachuk, Bennett & Ekblad is pretty damn bad. Lack of urgency was appalling.

[HippieNerd]

This is my first year as a hockey "fan, enjoyer" chose the Leafs so riding this train with all the people here 😂 what a year to join!!

[alex__]

This team gets outplayed way to often for a team in 1st. Elite goaltending & timely scoring has carried them for awhile. Hard to see it sustaining.

[kris_d]

A good amount of Panthers fans understand that this is an outlier year for Verhaeghe, he’s never had a shooting percentage this bad in his career. His puck luck has been unbelievably bad & the lack of goals is not for lack of trying on his end.

[rodhagerman]

That was game one in the first round all I saw was a first round exit in four. Good job way to play hard and lock in home ice.