With 6:49 left in the third period Tuesday, Connor McDavid accepted the puck on the half boards. ...

With 6:49 left in the third period Tuesday, Connor McDavid accepted the puck on the half boards. The Oilers superstar, desperate to generate something, was immediately swarmed by the stick and body positioning of Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling, who forced a McDavid dump-in.Forsling's partner, Aaron Ekblad, won a battle in the corner and sent the puck back up the strong-side wall. Winger Carter Verhaeghe made a breakout pass, and a few seconds later, center Aleksander Barkov found Sam Reinhart across the neutral zone. The Florida Man of the night deposited the puck into an open Edmonton net to make it 4-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.Amerant Bank Arena erupted. Hats and plastic rats rained down for Reinhart's third tally. McDavid slumped on the Oilers' bench. The Panthers knew then that the final six-plus minutes were a formality. The 2025 Cup was theirs - a second consecutive championship, fully and completely earned.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/cropped_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/w220xh124_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/w320xh180_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/w640xh360_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/w768xh432_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790962/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2220030482.jpg?ts=1750249996 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>"Just as good as the first one," Reinhart, who finished with four goals on four shots in the 5-1 clincher, said as his teammates hoisted the Cup around him.Like that surgically executed empty-net goal, the Panthers put on a master class in team-first hockey throughout their 23-game playoff run. In defeating Tampa Bay in five games, Toronto in seven, Carolina in five, and Edmonton in six, they became only the 10th team to repeat as champions.It was the club's third straight Cup Final appearance, putting it in dynasty territory. It's notable that both Cups came against a generational player, and that Florida demoralized teams, going 23-2 when leading after one period and 33-1 when leading after two in the playoffs since 2023. Florida also dominated on the road on this third run, winning 10 of 13 games. In the final specifically, the Panthers held the lead for a record 255:49 to the Oilers' 33:51.The 2024-25 Panthers were, in a word, inevitable."This is way harder than I thought it would be. To win twice, we put so much work into this. I'm so proud of this group," Sam Bennett said. The second-line center with ordinary regular-season numbers bagged 15 goals - including a record 13 on the road - in 23 brilliant games. Florida's No. 1 hitter collected 11 of 18 first-place votes to claim the Conn Smythe Trophy.The Panthers dressed 22 skaters in the playoffs, none of them weak links - 19 scored at least once while six reached 20 points. The line-by-line results are outrageous. Barkov, the top-line center, was on the ice for 19 goals for and 15 against at five-on-five despite facing the stiffest possible competition. Bennett finished at 17-11, Anton Lundell 24-8, and Tomas Nosek 5-1.Lundell, Brad Marchand, and Eetu Luostarinen were magical together. The trio will go down as arguably the most effective third line of the salary-cap era.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/cropped_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790965/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219970491.jpg?ts=1750250299 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/cropped_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/w220xh124_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/w320xh180_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/w640xh360_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/w768xh432_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790963/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2220660758.jpg?ts=1750250091 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Christian Petersen / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The enviable depth provided cover. Someone like Verhaeghe could go quiet for a stretch and it didn't put a dent into the operation. The clutch shooter would then snap out of it to pot the winning goal in a game in which one of the Panthers' other top nine forwards were having an off night.The depth also showed on defense (2.43 goals against per game, 86.4% penalty kill rate). The lineup featured the Selke Trophy winner in Barkov; a Selke finalist in Reinhart; other ultra-responsible forwards like Matthew Tkachuk, Marchand, Lundell, and Luostarinen; a large, rangy, and mobile defense corps; and a Hall of Fame-bound goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky.Not a single soul cares about Barkov's eight-game goal drought after he and Forsling limited McDavid to two points in the final four games."Their forecheck was great and they tilted the rink," McDavid <a href="https://x.com/JayOnSC/status/1935229953299145134/">told reporters</a>. "They were able to stay on top of us all over the place. We were never really able to generate any momentum up the ice. We kept trying the same thing over and over again, just banging our heads against the wall."Credit to them. They played well."Rival fan bases can pout all they want about the weather and tax advantages enjoyed by Florida-based teams. Those advantages are real (if not overblown) yet also completely irrelevant if the organization's poorly run. The Panthers wandered in the wilderness for two decades.The current juggernaut roster is the product of pro scouting excellence. Only four of the 23 players who saw playoff action were drafted by the Panthers (Barkov, Ekblad, Lundell, and Mackie Samoskevich). The rest were signed through free agency (11), acquired via trade (seven), or picked up on waivers (Forsling).General manager Bill Zito, a finalist or winner of the NHL's executive of the year award four of his five seasons in Florida, has taken a ton of risks - he won't make a first-round pick between 2022 and 2027 due to aggressive trades. But those picks matter little considering the 2025-27 firsts turned into irreplaceable contributors Tkachuk, Seth Jones, and Marchand."That guy is the biggest dawg I think I've ever played with. He's incredible," Bennett said of Marchand, who was acquired with Jones in separate trades ahead of March's deadline."The best leader. He leads by example, he speaks up. He's fearless out there," Bennett added about 37-year-old Marchand, who looked fantastic in a third-line role, posting 20 points. "I have been telling him this whole playoffs, 'We're following you.' And we followed him this whole playoff run."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/cropped_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790966/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218501976.jpg?ts=1750250377 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brian Babineau / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/cropped_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790967/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219978788.jpg?ts=1750250480 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Zito turned over more than a third of last year's lineup. And he made that many changes and felt confident there wouldn't be too many issues - if any - because of head coach Paul Maurice. While Maurice's system isn't easy for players to adjust to, it can be liberating once a player settles in. Panthers hockey is smothering hockey, and it requires full buy-in from everyone."Can't give the coaching staff enough credit. They did a lot of video with me when I got here. Completely different system than what I'm used to," Jones, a champion at 30, said. "But they said at the end of the day, everyone here has to trust their instincts. Be aggressive in what you do. And that's what we did. Each guy trusts each other and they trust the system."Jones added, "Bill Zito believed in me and gave me a chance. This is (the) best day of my life."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/cropped_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/w220xh124_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/w320xh180_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/w640xh360_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/w768xh432_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790964/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2220660476.jpg?ts=1750250124 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brian Babineau / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Panthers paced themselves, looking unmotivated at times in the regular season. They finished third in the Atlantic Division, then beat a higher-seeded team every round. They showed resilience in games and series, most notably beating Toronto after falling behind 2-0 in the series and 2-0 midway through the first period of Game 3, and bouncing back following a Game 1 overtime loss to Edmonton.From a purely vibes and culture perspective, the Panthers check off several dynastic boxes. The leadership group - from the loquacious Maurice to heart-and-soul assistant captain Tkachuk to introverted captain Barkov - is diverse and focused on the right things. High standards. Consistency. Respect from everybody and to everybody on the roster, from the stars to the role players.The Cup handoff order spoke volumes. Barkov lifted the Cup first, as is tradition. It then went to first-time winners like Nate Schmidt, Jones, Nosek, Vitek Vanecek, and A.J. Greer. Bennett, the playoff MVP, was the 17th guy to raise it. No big deal. "We really love each other as a group," Bennett said.The Panthers' trajectory changed once Maurice and Tkachuk arrived in the summer of 2022. Neither move was a guaranteed home run at the time but both ultimately led to a legendary celebration at the famous Elbo Room beach bar in Fort Lauderdale last June. How about now, a year later?<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I’m in <a href="https://t.co/p8UK4wsvEB">https://t.co/p8UK4wsvEB</a>— Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TKACHUKycheese_/status/1935260007324377175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>"We've gotta be a dynasty now," said Tkachuk, who fought through <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3301377" href="https://thescore.com/news/3301377">significant injuries</a> during the run. "Three finals in a row, two championships. This team is so special. 'Stanley Cup champion.' This never gets old."John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Champions again: Inevitable Panthers make dynasty case

Welcome to NHL Inbox, a monthly forum in which readers can ask me anything hockey related and I t...

Welcome to NHL Inbox, a monthly forum in which readers can ask me anything hockey related and I try my best to deliver an insightful answer.Note: the questions below were lightly edited for clarity and brevity.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/cropped_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790247/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213352996.jpg?ts=1749817784 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Tyler Tate / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>T.J. asks: Will the NHL ever return to the 1-8 seeding playoff format? I feel that the divisional playoff format is stale, as watching the same matchups each year gets repetitive. Teams are missing out on rivalries outside of their division.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>I've received a bunch of questions similar to this one. Fans seem ready for a change after 12 years of the NHL trying to manufacture regional rivalries.The current format (three seeds per division, two wild cards per conference) has led to too many <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3257556" href="https://thescore.com/news/3257556">repeat matchups</a> over a short period and too many excellent teams being eliminated in Rounds 1 and 2. Reverting to the 1-versus-8 format, which the NHL used from 1994 through 2013, would give the 82-game regular season extra weight and lessen the likelihood of a division winner facing off against a strong opponent in the opening round. Reseeding after each round is another exciting and equitable feature of the 1-versus-8 setup.Commissioner Gary Bettman has been consistent on this topic, saying he sees no issues with the format and doesn't like the idea of a play-in round. "Best team to win the (Stanley) Cup has got to get through the best teams," Bettman <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3246253/bettman-no-plans-to-change-playoff-format-or-extend-overtime">told reporters</a> in March. "And you know what? Having great matchups in the first round, that's terrific. That's not a problem, that's a great thing."Bettman, 73, hasn't revealed his timeline for retirement, but he won't be running the league forever. If his successor is looking for some early public relations victories, reimagining the playoff format would be a good start.The worst part of the current setup is that Round 3 tends to feature two teams who deserve to be there and two who have technically earned their spots but also probably benefited from the rigid bracket setup. Case in point: 2021 was the last time a conference final series required all seven games.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/cropped_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/w220xh124_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/w320xh180_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/w640xh360_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/w768xh432_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790249/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2147022482.jpg?ts=1749818015 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Nic Antaya / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>wingsfan13 asks: Do you believe in the Yzerplan/GM Steve Yzerman? Lots of solid draft picks, but most of the free-agent signings have been disastrous. Vladimir Tarasenko, Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, Justin Holl, Erik Gustafsson, and Ville Husso are the obvious ones, and I think everyone's still confused about the Jake Walman trade. And now Yzerman's on coach No. 2. What grade would you give Yzerman's tenure?Former general manager Ken Holland left Yzerman with a mess of a roster in April 2019. Yzerman's made progress over the past six years through the so-called "Yzerplan," yet sustained on-ice success still feels like a pipe dream.Let's start with drafting and developing. Cornerstone pieces Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson, and Marco Kasper are all first-round success stories. But Detroit's turned only a few players selected beyond the opening round into everyday NHLers despite averaging 9.8 picks per draft.The GM also fumbled the blue-line construction by betting on the wrong veterans - 2022 signees Ben Chiarot and Olli Maatta, 2023 signee Holl, 2023 trade acquisition Jeff Petry, and 2024 signee Gustafsson. Oh, and that aforementioned Walman swap? Yzerman traded the top-four defenseman and a second-round pick to San Jose for literally nothing. Massive misread.Yzerman hasn't found an answer between the pipes and <a href="https://thescore.com/news/3271971">disappointed</a> captain Dylan Larkin by not adding talent ahead of the most recent trade deadline. The team regressed from 91 points in 2023-24 to 86 in 2024-25. The flip side to the conservatism: Detroit has mountains of cap space moving forward.My main take is that Yzerman would be on the hot seat if he were somebody else. Ownership trusts him six years into a mediocre rebuild more than it should because he's a franchise icon. The overall grade here is C-minus.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/cropped_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790204/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219870895.jpg?ts=1749777479 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Slinger92 asks: Do you think the NHL will ever start assessing penalties or disallowing goals if a player isn't wearing his mouth guard properly? I haven't seen Matthew Tkachuk score a goal without his mouth guard hanging out.Fun question, especially with Tkachuk scoring twice in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night, but the answer is no. The mouth guard isn't a mandatory piece of equipment, so players like Tkachuk aren't violating a rule.I do find it comical that grown men turn the mouth guard into an adult soother or chew toy, defeating its protective qualities. To each their own, I guess!?<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/cropped_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790192/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187213018.jpg?ts=1749772458 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dennis Pajot / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>ahawthorne56812 asks: The days of Patrick Roy and Carey Price are gone, and Jordan Binnington is NOT Olympic-starter quality. What Canadian prospects can bring back the days of those Hall of Fame-caliber goalies?I hate to break it to you, but there isn't a single Canadian goalie in the NHL now or in the pipeline who fits that lofty description. Canada has fallen way behind Russia, the United States, and Sweden in the elite netminder category, and a course correction could take a decade or longer.That said, we're talking about the unpredictable world of goaltending here. A B-level prospect could blossom into a star NHL starter by the 2030 Olympics.Here are three names to watch:Mackenzie Blackwood, Avalanche: Goalie experts love Blackwood, believing the 28-year-old still has upside. A physical freak, the muscular 6-foot-4 netminder is extremely athletic for his size. Projecting him as a future Hall of Famer would be crazy, but there's a decent chance he someday surpasses Binnington's tier of goalie and earns Vezina Trophy consideration.Sebastian Cossa, AHL Grand Rapids: The 2021 first-round pick has shown flashes of brilliance for the Red Wings' top affiliate, posting a .909 save percentage in 84 games over the past three seasons. While the hype train from his draft year has slowed, Cossa remains on an NHL starter's trajectory. He's 22, large (6-foot-6, 209 pounds), technically sound, and agile between the pipes.Joshua Ravensbergen, WHL Prince George: Ravensbergen, 18, is a late bloomer expected to go in the first round of June's draft. The 6-foot-5 right-catching goalie is best known for his elite puck tracking. He's at least a few years away from NHL duty, yet undoubtedly one of the most promising netminding prospects out of Canada since Price (drafted fifth overall in 2005).<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/cropped_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/w220xh124_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/w320xh180_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/w640xh360_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/w768xh432_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790114/w1080xh607_GettyImages-83377776.jpg?ts=1749747068 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dave Sandford / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Lance A. asks: I believe in soccer, only the players on the pitch at the end of extra time are allowed to participate in the shootout. Are NHL teams allowed to switch goalies for the shootout? Are there any specific rules? Do you know if any team has done it in the past? What were the reasons for the change?A team is indeed allowed to switch goalies before the shootout.The NHL rule book states, "All players are eligible to participate in the shootout unless they are serving a 10-minute misconduct or have been assessed a game misconduct or match penalty." One wrinkle: A team can't replace a goalie in the middle of a shootout for performance reasons. The netminder must be injured.According to the NHL's stats and research department, a team has called upon a cold goalie just seven times in the 20-season history of the shootout, although four were because of injury:<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Coming in cold" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-O70Ri" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/O70Ri/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="606" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><div> </div><div> </div>Former Leafs coach Ron Wilson told reporters in 2008 that he was "playing the percentages" by replacing Vesa Toskala with Curtis Joseph after 65 minutes."I'm not going to hesitate to do that until we get Tosk a little more practice - a different way of thinking on stopping the other team in shootouts," <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/oilers-edged-by-stars-in-shootout-1.600213">Wilson said</a> of Toskala's 2-9 shootout record at the time. "I had nothing to lose."<div> </div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/cropped_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790234/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207522981.jpg?ts=1749814808 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jamie Sabau / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Chris M. asks: Suggestion: If a team scores while up six-on-five because of a delayed penalty, it should still get a power play. Thoughts? This could possibly increase scoring and be a momentum changer.I don't love it. The six-on-five time created by a delayed penalty is an extension of the upcoming power play and should thus be treated as such.Two related thoughts: The NHL should adopt the <a href="https://www.thescore.com/pwhl/news/2840542">"jailbreak" rule</a> introduced by the PWHL, where a shorthanded goal frees the player from the penalty box. I like the idea of teams being rewarded for shorties, and in theory, more aggressive penalty kills lead to defensive breakdowns and power-play goals. As far as juicing scoring-chance numbers, it's a win-win. Also, the shorthanded team shouldn't be allowed to ice the puck. This rule has never made sense to me, and it confuses new fans. Killers shouldn't get a free pass.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure>What do you want to know, hockey fans?There are three ways to submit a question for future NHL Inbox editions:<ul>
<li>Comment on this article in theScore app</li>
<li>Email senior NHL writer John Matisz at <a href="mailto:john.matisz@theScore.com">john.matisz@thescore.com</a>
</li>
<li>Send John a message on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/MatiszJohn">@matiszjohn</a>)</li>
</ul>

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NHL Inbox: Yzerplan grade? Next great Canadian goalie?

Edmonton's Game 3 implosion aside, the Stanley Cup Final has been as advertised - tight, exhilara...

Edmonton's Game 3 <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3298197" href="https://thescore.com/news/3298197">implosion</a> aside, the Stanley Cup Final has been as advertised - tight, exhilarating, and full of storylines. The Panthers hold a 2-1 lead over the Oilers with Game 4 set for Thursday night in Sunrise, Florida."I don't think our best has shown up all series long, but it's coming," Oilers captain Connor McDavid told reporters following the 6-1 defeat in Game 3.There's weight to McDavid's words. Down 3-0 in last year's final, Edmonton dominated Florida in Game 4, then won Games 5 and 6 to force a title-decider.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Below we lay out each team's mid-series Cup case.<h3>Panthers' case</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/cropped_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789985/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219513865.jpg?ts=1749680999 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>This Cup Final rematch was well-hyped for a variety of reasons, including the stylistic clash between a forechecking giant (Florida) and a fast-break nightmare (Edmonton). It turns out one team doesn't care for the contrast.The Panthers are capable of trading rush chances if a game becomes a track meet, whereas the Oilers tend to get stuck in the mud if a game hinges on puck retrievals, board battles, and cycles. Put another way, Florida's better at playing Edmonton's preferred style than Edmonton is at playing Florida's.A chief reason for the imbalance: There are no passengers in the Panthers' top nine. Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Brad Marchand, Eetu Luostarinen, and Evan Rodrigues are all impact players in their own right and, perhaps most importantly, are highly intelligent players who consistently adapt their game to the style du jour.Reinhart, for instance, is both a master of the little details (getting pucks off the wall and into space, deflecting wide point shots, intercepting opponents' passes) and a lethal sniper off the rush. The winger, declared fully healthy by coach Paul Maurice on Tuesday, has been misfiring a ton lately but did snap a five-game goal drought in Game 3. It came off a hard forecheck, of course.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/cropped_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789935/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218853804.jpg?ts=1749665971 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Bennett and Marchand accounting for eight of Florida's 14 goals must be keeping Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch up at night. It's starting to feel inevitable that the rest of the top nine - three total goals - will pop off. Tkachuk, who's bagged five goals off 90 shot attempts in the playoffs, is due.Meanwhile, the Panthers' sparingly used fourth line is serviceable.Resilience runs through the forward group, and it'll be extra important in the last stretch of the final. From Jonah Gadjovich (team-low 7:40 a night) to Barkov (20:24, each second against stiff competition), there's an understanding that a goal against or a cheap shot against is not cause for panic. Go back out there and score one yourself. Go out and draw a penalty.<h3>Oilers' case</h3>The hill to climb, while not impossibly steep, is still a challenging one.To recap: The Oilers need to win three of four. They're not as healthy as the opposition, with Zach Hyman out for the series and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins a game-time decision for Thursday. There are questions about goaltending quality and an inability to stay out of the penalty box. And McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are coming off a game in which they combined for one shot attempt.As for the optimistic view, Edmonton boasts not only the greatest player of his generation and arguably the second-best player on the planet but also irrefutable evidence that Nos. 97 and 29 can rise to the occasion. The Oilers own a confidence-boosting 18-2 record in Games 4-7 in the Knoblauch era.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/cropped_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789937/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218348641.jpg?ts=1749666145 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Devlin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>They also have the first two games of this series as proof the Panthers are solvable. Both games went to overtime and the aggregate five-on-five score was 5-4 for Florida. One goal is nothing in a hotly contested Cup Final.There's a chance the referees put their whistles away following a penalty-filled Game 3. The Oilers would be fine with that shift because they've killed off only 67% of penalties and tend to thrive in games with fewer stops and starts. In general, Edmonton, a team filled with wily veterans, has surely learned its lesson around the extracurricular stuff.For how surgical the Panthers can be, they play with fire by applying so much pressure in the neutral and offensive zones. Do that enough times against McDavid and you'll eventually pay. Sergei Bobrovsky is a future Hall of Famer, but he's not spoken about in the same terms as countryman Andrei Vasilevskiy or other all-time clutch goalies for a reason - he isn't impenetrable.The Oilers need fewer low-percentage "Bouch bombs" off the stick of Evan Bouchard and more high-danger chaos. McDavid, Draisaitl, and Corey Perry have been tremendous as Knoblauch's so-called nuclear option, controlling 69% of the attempts, 69% of the shots, and 71% of the goals in 25 minutes together. With a maximum of four games remaining in the season, McDavid and Draisaitl can empty the tank and throw everything they have at Bobrovsky.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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The Oilers and Panthers are about to clash in another Stanley Cup Final. Their original matchup w...

The Oilers and Panthers are about to clash in another Stanley Cup Final. Their original matchup was thrilling. The sequel promises to be a classic. These questions will decide if Edmonton triumphs or Florida keeps the crown:<h3>Can Draisaitl make an emphatic impact?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788454/cropped_GettyImages-2217547389.jpg?ts=1748829437" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788454/w220xh124_GettyImages-2217547389.jpg?ts=1748829437 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788454/w320xh180_GettyImages-2217547389.jpg?ts=1748829437 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788454/w640xh360_GettyImages-2217547389.jpg?ts=1748829437 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788454/w768xh432_GettyImages-2217547389.jpg?ts=1748829437 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788454/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2217547389.jpg?ts=1748829437 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Devlin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl form a peerless 1-2 punch. Their incredible offensive feats blow open games and tilt close matchups. The German second-line center constantly enhances his reputation as a playoff performer and two-way beast.Last year’s Cup Final was a rare exception: Hand and rib injuries muted Draisaitl’s influence, and he was held to three assists. Forced to carry Edmonton, McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy in defeat.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 McDrai's scoring by round" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-cEa5x" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/cEa5x/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="340" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>The Oilers avoided a humbling sweep and almost clinched their first championship since 1990 with a hobbled Draisaitl. Now, he's healthy, comparatively fresh, and raring to dominate. Because of Edmonton's efficient romp through the Western Conference, Draisaitl played two fewer games and 37 fewer minutes from Rounds 1-3 than he did last year.The Oilers are opening a series at home - and would host a potential Game 7 - for the first time since Round 1 in 2024. They'll own last change and can aim to build momentum at a frenzied Rogers Place before heading to Sunrise. That segment of the series won't faze Draisaitl - he's the postseason leader with 14 road points and bagged most of his goals in the regular season (28 of 52) on enemy ice.<h3>How do blue lines handle divergent attacks?</h3>Both teams have deeper rosters compared to last year, and it shows.The Oilers are the playoffs' top offensive squad, ranking first in goals for (4.06 per game) and expected GF (4.05), according to Sportlogiq. The Panthers are tops at defending - first in goals against (2.29) and expected GA (2.52).Edmonton, with its 8.4 scoring chances generated off the rush per game, can skate you out of the building. McDavid, alone, has been credited with a whopping 29 rush chances (Draisaitl is tied with Toronto's William Nylander for second with 17). Florida defensemen can't afford loose gaps, especially in the neutral zone.The Panthers are a well-oiled forechecking machine that can grind you down. They're elite at disrupting best-laid plans of the defenseman retrieving dump-ins deep in the zone. The first forechecker lays the body as Florida's other skaters stealthily set up behind him to choke off potential breakout opportunities. Oilers blue-liners must be quick and decisive with the puck.<h3>Which second-tier forward stays hot?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788054/cropped_GettyImages-2156789017.jpg?ts=1748626514" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788054/w220xh124_GettyImages-2156789017.jpg?ts=1748626514 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788054/w320xh180_GettyImages-2156789017.jpg?ts=1748626514 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788054/w640xh360_GettyImages-2156789017.jpg?ts=1748626514 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788054/w768xh432_GettyImages-2156789017.jpg?ts=1748626514 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788054/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2156789017.jpg?ts=1748626514 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dave Sandford / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Each team boasts bona fide star forwards in McDavid and Draisaitl, and Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart. A rung below - in the overflowing second tier of the forward groups - is an intriguing battle of red-hot players.Florida's Sam Bennett leads the postseason with 10 goals and has recorded at least one point in 12 of 17 games. The 29-year-old center always elevates his play in the spring - his career points per game rate jumps from 0.49 in the regular season to 0.71 in the playoffs.Bennett makes his living around the blue paint. Proof: His 19 inner-slot shots rank second to McDavid, plus he accidentally/purposefully delivered an elbow to the head of the opposing goalie in Rounds 2 and 3. A pending unrestricted free agent, Bennett could be playing his final games in a Panthers uniform.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is Edmonton's indispensable supporting piece. The plain but effective winger also produces better in the playoffs (0.88 career points per game compared to 0.78 in the regular season). The pressure's on him to continue to cook alongside McDavid and Corey Perry, with another second-tier guy, sniping winger Zach Hyman, out for the series due to injury.Nugent-Hopkins, the longest-serving Oiler, is fourth in playoff scoring with 18 points (half of which were collected in the conference final) and third among Oilers forwards in ice time, thanks to heavy special-teams usage.<h3>Can Skinner keep up with Bobrovsky?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788070/cropped_GettyImages-2159166573.jpg?ts=1748633105" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788070/w220xh124_GettyImages-2159166573.jpg?ts=1748633105 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788070/w320xh180_GettyImages-2159166573.jpg?ts=1748633105 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788070/w640xh360_GettyImages-2159166573.jpg?ts=1748633105 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788070/w768xh432_GettyImages-2159166573.jpg?ts=1748633105 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788070/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2159166573.jpg?ts=1748633105 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>At one end is a future Hall of Famer with a Stanley Cup, two Vezina Trophies, and a .935 save percentage (including two shutouts) in the Panthers' past 10 games.At the other is a wildly inconsistent netminder who was demoted to the Oilers' backup role midway through the first round. He returned to the crease in Round 2 after his partner was injured and posted a .944 save percentage (including three shutouts) in the Oilers' last seven games.Sergei Bobrovsky versus Stuart Skinner is a battle of goalies with different backgrounds who are similarly dialed in entering the Cup Final. The edge still goes to Bobrovsky for his well-rounded skill set, track record, and veteran savvy. But, if Skinner can keep up, Edmonton will be in good shape overall.<h3>Is Edmonton's PK a liability?</h3>A year ago, the Oilers' impenetrable penalty kill allowed one power-play goal - Evan Rodrigues' deflection early in the final - over its last 17 playoff games. This year, Edmonton's been scored on in droves and enters the rematch with the worst kill rate in history (66%) for a Cup finalist.Prone to slow starts, the PK gave up five multi-goal efforts within the first three games of the Kings, Golden Knights, and Stars series. Dallas almost rallied to tie Game 5 of the conference final after its power play's rapid lateral puck movement freed Roope Hintz, who stood alone at the hash marks, to roof a shot over Skinner.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🚨 Goals by game state" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-8O6WJ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/8O6WJ/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Florida's as dominant as Edmonton at five-on-five and zaps more man advantages. With an excellent 87.9% kill rate, the Panthers have let in nine fewer power-play goals despite lacking discipline and going down shorthanded 3.41 times per game (Oilers are at 2.94).At the other end, Matthew Tkachuk's eight power-play points - he's one shy of Draisaitl's league lead - reflect how he can strain a defense from the goal-line area and overwhelm goalies with tips, quick releases, and nice feeds.<h3>Are Florida's leads safe?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788068/cropped_GettyImages-2216998185.jpg?ts=1748632050" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788068/w220xh124_GettyImages-2216998185.jpg?ts=1748632050 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788068/w320xh180_GettyImages-2216998185.jpg?ts=1748632050 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788068/w640xh360_GettyImages-2216998185.jpg?ts=1748632050 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788068/w768xh432_GettyImages-2216998185.jpg?ts=1748632050 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788068/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2216998185.jpg?ts=1748632050 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>If the Panthers are up at intermission, they're winning the game.That's what the past three postseasons have taught us about the Paul Maurice-coached club. Florida is 20-0 overall and 7-0 in the 2025 playoffs when leading after 20 minutes and 29-0 and 10-0, respectively, when leading after 40.The Panthers are a stout defensive team with a calm, big-game goalie. They're never satisfied offensively, either, pushing constantly to fatten leads.However, if one team's suited to reverse this mystifying game script trend, it's the Oilers. Edmonton's armed with the biggest game-breakers on the planet in McDavid and Draisaitl. Each guy can single-handedly take over a game in its late stages like prime Steph Curry. Together, the odds increase exponentially.The Oilers have been credited with six comeback victories this postseason and famously nearly came back from a 3-0 series deficit in last year's final.<h3>What did Oilers learn from 2024?</h3>When the NHL expanded beyond six teams, repeat Cup Finals became a rarity. Oilers versus Panthers is the fifth immediate rematch to occur in the modern era. It's the first since Sidney Crosby's championship breakthrough.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="✌️ Cup Final rematches" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-d6SVh" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/d6SVh/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Early rematches involved famous dynasties. Canadiens juggernauts outclassed the expansion Blues and post-Bobby Orr Bruins. The last stand of the invincible Islanders delayed Wayne Gretzky's ascent to the mountaintop and his own prolonged reign.Crosby's youthful Penguins teams were big underdogs, but they slayed the 2009 Red Wings by protecting home ice and their own net.For these Oilers to exact revenge, their offense needs to strike in the coming days. Edmonton failed to set the tone in last year's final, only scored twice over the first eight periods, and almost ran out of time to find Bobrovsky's weak spots and mount a miraculous turnaround.John Matisz and Nick Faris cover the NHL for theScore.

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7 Oilers-Panthers questions that'll swing Stanley Cup rematch

No shouts to the heavens. No jumps for joy. No exuberance, period.  The Florida Panthers' celebra...

No shouts to the heavens. No jumps for joy. No exuberance, period.The Florida Panthers' celebration on Wednesday was about as tame as they come for a team that had just clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Final."It's all business," forward Matthew Tkachuk told reporters after Florida's come-from-behind 5-3 victory over Carolina. "We've got a bigger job to do."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>For a third straight year, the Panthers will compete for the Cup, having raised it in 2024 and lost it in 2023. The dominance extends further: In 2022, with roughly the same core group of players but a different head coach, the club posted a league-best 58-18-6 record before bowing out in Round 2.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787781/cropped_GettyImages-2216921859.jpg?ts=1748551785" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787781/w220xh124_GettyImages-2216921859.jpg?ts=1748551785 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787781/w320xh180_GettyImages-2216921859.jpg?ts=1748551785 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787781/w640xh360_GettyImages-2216921859.jpg?ts=1748551785 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787781/w768xh432_GettyImages-2216921859.jpg?ts=1748551785 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787781/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2216921859.jpg?ts=1748551785 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Josh Lavallee / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Putting aside the nontransferable parts of the Panthers' existence (notably low taxes and beautiful winter weather), what can the NHL's 31 other teams learn?theScore asked three people for their big-picture takeaways from this Panthers run: <a href="https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/38955/jack-han">Jack Han</a>, a hockey coach and analyst with AHL and NHL experience and the author of the <a href="https://jhanhky.gumroad.com/l/hockeytactics2025">2025 Hockey Tactics</a> ebook; an anonymous member of an NHL front office; and an anonymous NHL assistant coach.<h3>Full-scale buy-in, savviness matters</h3>The ability to limit the opposition's offensive zone time and puck possession has become a hallmark of coach Paul Maurice's era in Florida. The Panthers pressure the puck and gap tightly, especially in the neutral zone, and it often results in scoring chances and goals the other way. They love a counterpunch."They have an incredible commitment to a playing style and identity that pushes the tempo and makes it really challenging for opponents," the front-office member said. "And they obviously have tremendous buy-in.""Resilience sticks out," the coach said, adding: "They have skilled players who are also gritty. And it's the will - grit - that comes out this time of year."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787863/cropped_GettyImages-2217358733.jpg?ts=1748539460" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787863/w220xh124_GettyImages-2217358733.jpg?ts=1748539460 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787863/w320xh180_GettyImages-2217358733.jpg?ts=1748539460 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787863/w640xh360_GettyImages-2217358733.jpg?ts=1748539460 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787863/w768xh432_GettyImages-2217358733.jpg?ts=1748539460 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787863/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2217358733.jpg?ts=1748539460 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>That buy-in promotes composure and stubbornness. The Panthers have proven time and again that they're perfectly comfortable in uncomfortable situations. They recorded seven comeback wins in the 2024 playoffs; after Wednesday's win, they have four this year. Florida dropped the first two games against Toronto in Round 2, didn't flinch, and went on to win four of the next five.Defenseman Nate Schmidt shared his early impressions of the Panthers' culture in late October. The 2024 free-agent signee was blown away by the attention to detail by the coaches and players. He said Panthers players are constantly discussing on-ice tactics with each other, and in those early days Schmidt heard from a few teammates about how to execute "Panther hockey.""It's a hell of a self-policing system," he told theScore.So, what are the lessons?One, competitiveness and malleability might be underrated skills. That may seem crazy - who doesn't value competitiveness? - but there's no denying Florida has a disproportionate number of ultra-competitive, versatile players.Two, savviness matters. So many Panthers find a way to contribute on off nights through <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2912350">strong wall play</a>, penalty drawing, or other unglamorous acts.Three, it probably doesn't hurt to have a diverse set of leaders. The loquacious Maurice is a much different person and leader than introverted captain Aleksander Barkov, who's much different than Tkachuk, a pesky, heart-and-soul type. The different styles complement each other.<h3>Don't shrug off pro scouting</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787697/cropped_GettyImages-2213174401.jpg?ts=1748464286" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787697/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213174401.jpg?ts=1748464286 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787697/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213174401.jpg?ts=1748464286 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787697/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213174401.jpg?ts=1748464286 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787697/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213174401.jpg?ts=1748464286 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787697/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213174401.jpg?ts=1748464286 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Panthers have dressed 23 players this postseason. Only four - Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, Anton Lundell, and Mackie Samoskevich - are draft picks. The other 19 were acquired through free agency (11), trade (seven), or waivers (one).All of those acquisitions required input from Florida's pro scouting staff, which isn't large by NHL standards (four people are listed under "pro scout" in the team's online staff directory) but is clearly valued by management. Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola are two standout finds, while the early 2021 pickup of Gustav Forsling is arguably the greatest waiver claim in league history."I have no information on how the Panthers do it - their process, what's going on behind the scenes - but if you look just at outcomes, it's impressive," Han said. "They bring in all these players and they become key contributors."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787794/cropped_GettyImages-2216998158.jpg?ts=1748518745" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787794/w220xh124_GettyImages-2216998158.jpg?ts=1748518745 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787794/w320xh180_GettyImages-2216998158.jpg?ts=1748518745 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787794/w640xh360_GettyImages-2216998158.jpg?ts=1748518745 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787794/w768xh432_GettyImages-2216998158.jpg?ts=1748518745 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787794/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2216998158.jpg?ts=1748518745 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>As Han points out, the Panthers are constantly upgrading, and each upgrade has a cascading effect - say, the third-line center bumps down to the fourth line and suddenly dominates. Improving depth piece by piece also allows a star player like Tkachuk to fly under the radar if he logs a poor game or series. Nobody cares to break down the winger's meh postseason because the Lundell-centered third line has sparkled, and the team keeps advancing.The amateur scouting process is, to use Han's words, "very rigorous" across the board in the NHL. There's a ton of resources dedicated to finding the right players, and the methodologies are detailed. By contrast, pro scouting is "relatively haphazard" for many teams. The investment isn't particularly high."There are some instances in the NHL where pro scouting is a place where you give people breaking into the front-office side of the game some experience," Han said. "It could be a recently retired player. It could be so-and-so's brother or so-and-so's son. I would say that across the league pro scouting is probably the area where there's the least amount of craftsmanship."The lesson? Reassess your pro scouting processes. Are you doing enough?<h3>Find balance between risk, discipline</h3>The Panthers haven't made a pick in the first round of the draft since 2021 (Samoskevich, 24th overall) and don't have a first-rounder until 2028, thanks to trades for Tkachuk (2025), Seth Jones (2026), and Brad Marchand (2027).Trading firsts isn't a novel strategy. Most win-now GMs do it. What's different about Florida's Bill Zito is how often he's put his neck on the line. The Tkachuk trade, for one, looks like a no-brainer in hindsight, but sending 100-point winger Jonathan Huberdeau, top-pair defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, a decent prospect, and a first to Calgary was a massive gamble in July 2022."Zito has balls and that's what I respect about him," the front-office member said. "He could have gotten fired over a lot of decisions he made if they had gone the other way. He's not risk-averse, that's for sure."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787696/cropped_GettyImages-2156512230.jpg?ts=1748464175" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787696/w220xh124_GettyImages-2156512230.jpg?ts=1748464175 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787696/w320xh180_GettyImages-2156512230.jpg?ts=1748464175 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787696/w640xh360_GettyImages-2156512230.jpg?ts=1748464175 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787696/w768xh432_GettyImages-2156512230.jpg?ts=1748464175 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787696/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2156512230.jpg?ts=1748464175 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Zito's paired this aggressive streak with a disciplined approach to pending unrestricted free agents. The Panthers don't overpay on extensions but aren't opposed to re-signing key pieces. For every Brandon Montour who leaves town for a payday, there's a Sam Reinhart - a player who wants to remain a Panther and thus finds common ground (i.e. a team-friendly contract) with the club.Regardless of the player's stance, Zito doesn't get into public spats. The GM wishes outgoing players good luck, then pivots to a replacement. No drama."Who's the last player to get run out of Florida?" Han asked rhetorically.Zito, 60, is a lawyer by trade who previously worked as an agent for NHLers, including Tuukka Rask, Tim Thomas, and Brian Rafalski. He broke into hockey operations in 2013, spending seven years in Columbus as an assistant GM. Hired by the Panthers in 2020, he's been nominated for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award four times in five seasons.The lesson? Be honest. Be fair. Be decisive. A good reputation will follow.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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3 things NHL teams can learn from the juggernaut Panthers

Two rounds are over, and the third's in full swing. What have we learned about the NHL through 72...

Two rounds are over, and the third's in full swing. What have we learned about the NHL through 72 playoff games? Let's dig into some big-picture observations ahead of Thursday's Game 2 between Carolina and Florida.<h3>⭐ 3 skater-related trends</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786707/cropped_GettyImages-2213578831.jpg?ts=1747848028" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786707/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213578831.jpg?ts=1747848028 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786707/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213578831.jpg?ts=1747848028 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786707/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213578831.jpg?ts=1747848028 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786707/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213578831.jpg?ts=1747848028 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786707/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213578831.jpg?ts=1747848028 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>1. The NHL has gradually evolved into a league that orbits around the elite.Yes, depth is vitally important, and by no means are NHL superstars impacting the game at the level of the NBA's megastars or the NFL quarterback. However, to my eye, a certain caliber of player - basically, the Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov class - seems to be flat-out dominating games more frequently and with greater ease in 2025.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Mikko Rantanen's unbelievable seven-game heater of nine goals and nine assists against the Avalanche and Jets is a prime example. The Stars' front office looks brilliant for acquiring such a transcendent talent midseason.A couple of crack theories: A diluted talent pool (expansion) and offense-friendly changes to the rulebook have created a star-friendly environment.I don't have a bunch of stats to support my claim. But, as the chart below shows, the number of individual three-point games in an NHL season peaked during Wayne Gretzky's prime, then spiked again over the past four years.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title=":ice_hockey_stick_and_puck: 3-point boom" aria-label="Interactive area chart" id="datawrapper-chart-Xj4px" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Xj4px/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>2. Speaking of Rantanen, this is a golden age for Finnish hockey.The country of 5.6 million is well represented in the conference finals, with 12 of its 43 NHL forwards and defensemen still competing for the Stanley Cup.Dallas' lineup includes Rantanen, fellow first-liners Roope Hintz and Mikael Granlund, No. 1 defenseman Miro Heiskanen, and second-pair blue-liner Esa Lindell. Florida's got stud centers Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell, underrated winger Eetu Luostarinen, and big D-man Niko Mikkola. Carolina has Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Edmonton rosters Kasperi Kapanen.3. The NHL has always been welcoming to large defensemen. But the big dude can't be a sluggish, basic stay-at-home rearguard nowadays. He must be a strong, agile skater who uses his size to defend in different ways, whether outmuscling opponents or eliminating time and space through less forceful tactics such as a tight gap, angling, and stick checks.There was a brief period when the league fixed its gaze upon small blue-liners for their puck-moving skills. The big boys went to work, became competent offensively, and have squeezed the little guys out. Check out the average heights and weights for each remaining team's blue line (top six defensemen):<ul>
<li>Hurricanes: 6-foot-1, 204 pounds</li>
<li>Panthers: 6-foot-3, 208 pounds</li>
<li>Oilers: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds</li>
<li>Stars: 6-foot-4, 213 pounds</li>
</ul><h3>📉 Shots on goal declining</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786689/cropped_GettyImages-2216164355.jpg?ts=1747842363" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786689/w220xh124_GettyImages-2216164355.jpg?ts=1747842363 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786689/w320xh180_GettyImages-2216164355.jpg?ts=1747842363 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786689/w640xh360_GettyImages-2216164355.jpg?ts=1747842363 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786689/w768xh432_GettyImages-2216164355.jpg?ts=1747842363 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786689/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2216164355.jpg?ts=1747842363 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final started frenetically, with both teams forechecking hard, delivering hits, and slinging pucks at the opposing goalie. About five minutes into the first period, Frederik Andersen gloved a Gustav Forsling point shot. As the whistle blew, I glanced at the scorebug in the top left corner of the broadcast and noted the shot counter. 1 Florida, 0 Carolina.Wait, one shot on goal? Total? Really?!It wasn't the first time I had this reaction in recent weeks. The shot counter hasn't matched the level of activity on the ice fairly often during the playoffs.The NHL started tracking shot attempts in 2007-08, which means we have 18 seasons of data. The 2024-25 regular season and 2024-25 playoffs both rank dead last in shots on goal generated per 60 minutes, according to <a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/">Evolving-Hockey</a>. Through 72 postseason games, at least one team has been limited to 20 or fewer shots in 22 contests. Washington recorded a playoff-low 14 shots in its second-round opener.Interestingly, 2024-25 sits at the other end of the spectrum in shot attempts generated per 60 - or the combined shots on goal, missed shots, and blocked shots in an average regulation game. The 2024-25 regular season and playoffs sit second and third, respectively, in attempts per 60 in the 18-season sample.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786685/cropped_GettyImages-2215612364.jpg?ts=1747842025" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786685/w220xh124_GettyImages-2215612364.jpg?ts=1747842025 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786685/w320xh180_GettyImages-2215612364.jpg?ts=1747842025 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786685/w640xh360_GettyImages-2215612364.jpg?ts=1747842025 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786685/w768xh432_GettyImages-2215612364.jpg?ts=1747842025 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786685/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2215612364.jpg?ts=1747842025 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>So, minimal shots on goal but loads of shot attempts. What's going on?In short, shooters are missing the net and getting shots blocked by the other team at unusually high rates. Two factors come to mind immediately.One, as ex-Flyers coach John Tortorella explained to me in January, NHLers have never been so willing to block shots or so good at clogging shooting lanes. Most clubs defend in layers, too, so it's become increasingly difficult to get the puck through to the goalie, even in a random regular-season game.Two, the NHL is obsessed with grade A scoring chances. Attackers are pursuing the best possible scoring opportunity instead of settling for a low-percentage look such as an unscreened point shot. They miss the net often because they're being tricky (one-timer off east-west pass) or precise (picking a corner). Part of this is a response to how advanced goalies have become.Perhaps unsurprisingly, each conference finalist sat near the top of the league in key shot quality categories during the regular season, according to Sportlogiq. Expected goals: Oilers second, Canes third, Stars fifth, Panthers seventh. Inner-slot shots: Stars second, Oilers third, Canes fourth, Panthers 12th.<h3>🥅 Load management for the win</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786704/cropped_GettyImages-2215288998.jpg?ts=1747846038" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786704/w220xh124_GettyImages-2215288998.jpg?ts=1747846038 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786704/w320xh180_GettyImages-2215288998.jpg?ts=1747846038 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786704/w640xh360_GettyImages-2215288998.jpg?ts=1747846038 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786704/w768xh432_GettyImages-2215288998.jpg?ts=1747846038 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786704/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2215288998.jpg?ts=1747846038 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Leila Devlin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>NHL teams have adopted a load management approach to goaltending over the past handful of years. While there are a few exceptions, most 82-game workloads are either split roughly down the middle between two netminders or divided up at about 50 starts for the No. 1 goalie and 32 for the backup.The main objective is to keep the top goalie healthy and in peak form come playoff time, and it's proven to be a smart way of doing business. There have been 19 Cup winners in the salary-cap era, and only two had a goalie who appeared in 60 or more games during the regular season.Here's the full list of Cup winners backstopped by goalies who played in at least two-thirds of regular-season games (minimum of 55 appearances):<ul>
<li>2024 Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky, 58 appearances</li>
<li>2022 Avalanche: Darcy Kuemper, 57</li>
<li>2015 Blackhawks: Corey Crawford, 57</li>
<li>2012 Kings: Jonathan Quick, 69</li>
<li>2011 Bruins: Tim Thomas, 57</li>
<li>2009 Penguins: Marc-Andre Fleury, 62</li>
<li>2007 Ducks: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, 56</li>
</ul>Put another way, 12 of 19 winners were led by a goalie with 54 or fewer appearances.Jake Oettinger (58 appearances), Bobrovsky (54), Stuart Skinner (51), and Andersen (22 due to injury) are the last goalies standing this year.Now, there's no magic number here. The Stars may win the Cup with a 58-game goalie because teams reach the top of the mountain for a whole host of reasons, and those reasons change year to year. Still, the trend is undeniable: It's wise to carefully monitor your starting goalie's workload.<h3>🤔 Carolina remains outlier</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786716/cropped_GettyImages-2210785463.jpg?ts=1747849971" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786716/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210785463.jpg?ts=1747849971 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786716/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210785463.jpg?ts=1747849971 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786716/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210785463.jpg?ts=1747849971 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786716/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210785463.jpg?ts=1747849971 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786716/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210785463.jpg?ts=1747849971 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Hurricanes are the NHL's most unique franchise. This isn't a new development, but every passing year provides additional reference points.Nobody plays the game as aggressively as the Canes. Defense, offense, whatever, they never stop skating. It's an extreme example of a team buying into a specific style, from the front office to the coaches to the players.Nobody's braintrust is as eclectic as Carolina's. Owner Tom Dundon is involved enough in the day-to-day activities that he'll study videos of prospects as if he were a scout. GM Eric Tulsky is a certified genius with a PhD in chemistry who views the sport through a different lens than most. One of his assistant GMs, Tyler Dellow, rose to prominence in hockey circles as a sharp analytics writer.At the draft table, the Hurricanes aren't afraid to take chances on two riskier types of prospects: under-contract Russians and small, skilled forwards. They love swapping picks. In free agency, they unemotionally let veterans walk.The NHL roster is missing an offensive superstar. The Hurricanes had one in Rantanen, of course, but traded him. Like it or not, Carolina's different than the rest.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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What this postseason has revealed about the state of the NHL

Mitch Marner stared at the ice, shell-shocked and heartbroken, as the quickest post-series handsh...

Mitch Marner stared at the ice, shell-shocked and heartbroken, as the quickest post-series handshake line in recent memory wrapped behind him. The winger then raised his stick to salute the sparse crowd alongside his teammates.He hung his head again before gliding off the Scotiabank Arena ice.That somber moment won't be the lasting image of Marner in a Maple Leafs uniform. Instead, it'll be the 28-year-old <a href="https://x.com/NastyKnuckles/status/1924269309041283512">screaming</a> "Wake the f--k up!" at the Leafs bench in the second period of Sunday's Game 7, when, ironically, Marner himself needed to be shaken out of a daze in the middle of a woeful 6-1 loss to the Panthers.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786378/cropped_GettyImages-2215808242.jpg?ts=1747651574" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786378/w220xh124_GettyImages-2215808242.jpg?ts=1747651574 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786378/w320xh180_GettyImages-2215808242.jpg?ts=1747651574 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786378/w640xh360_GettyImages-2215808242.jpg?ts=1747651574 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786378/w768xh432_GettyImages-2215808242.jpg?ts=1747651574 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786378/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2215808242.jpg?ts=1747651574 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Claus Andersen / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>This Leafs team was supposed to be "different." It was during the regular season and for stretches of a 13-game postseason. But not when adversity struck. Fans were instead treated to familiarity - another meltdown.Toronto couldn't handle a strong push from Florida to start Sunday's second period, failed to show any life in the third, and soon watched a handful of disgusted patrons throw jerseys onto the ice. The Leafs, up 2-0 in the second-round series, put forth unacceptable performances in Games 5 and 7."For me, it's all between the ears. It's a mindset," Leafs head coach Craig Berube told reporters after the loss. "These guys are capable of doing it. You've just got to execute, and we didn't execute."Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly are now 0-6 in Game 7s - an unfathomably poor record for such a talented core. Even more troubling, that core has scored more than one goal in just one of those elimination games.This playoff run, which included seven wins, technically stands as the deepest of the Matthews-Marner era. But it doesn't feel like progress when the core has produced only two series victories in nine years. What a waste of a decade.It's the hope - the small, blissful bursts of belief - that kills Leafs fans' spirits.So, what now? <h3>Shanahan and Marner</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786379/cropped_GettyImages-2172014422.jpg?ts=1747651991" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786379/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172014422.jpg?ts=1747651991 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786379/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172014422.jpg?ts=1747651991 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786379/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172014422.jpg?ts=1747651991 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786379/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172014422.jpg?ts=1747651991 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786379/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172014422.jpg?ts=1747651991 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Nick Lachance / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Change is most definitely on its way in Leaf land. It's a matter of how much.For starters, general manager Brad Treliving and Berube shouldn't be worried about their jobs. Both were hired within the past two years and are generally viewed in a positive light. Treliving has most notably built out a formidable blue line, while Berube implemented a much-needed north-south brand of hockey.Their boss, on the other hand, is all but gone. President Brendan Shanahan, hired in 2014 and on an expiring contract, has overseen the whole era. He drafted the core players, coddled and paid them, and held onto them for too long. Shanahan's on his third GM (previously Lou Lamoriello, Kyle Dubas) and fourth permanent head coach (Randy Carlyle, Mike Babcock, Sheldon Keefe).Moving on from Shanahan is an obvious move. What Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley does with the president position is less clear.Does Pelley find an elder statesman to oversee Treliving? Does he promote Treliving to president, allowing him to bring in a new GM? Would that GM, presumably a first- or second-timer, come from within (assistant GM Brandon Pridham, for instance) or elsewhere (Mathieu Darche of the Lightning comes to mind)? Or does Treliving become a one-man show as president/GM?<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786380/cropped_GettyImages-2185178529.jpg?ts=1747654414" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786380/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185178529.jpg?ts=1747654414 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786380/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185178529.jpg?ts=1747654414 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786380/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185178529.jpg?ts=1747654414 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786380/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185178529.jpg?ts=1747654414 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786380/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185178529.jpg?ts=1747654414 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Toronto had four pending unrestricted free agents in its Game 7 lineup. Two - Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz - are afterthoughts in the big picture because the others are Marner and former captain John Tavares, a pair of longtime core pieces who made a combined $21.9 million in 2024-25.Marner has been both a lovable character and punching bag for the fan base since 2019, when he squeezed every last dollar out of the Leafs on his second NHL contract. He's a Selke Trophy-caliber forward who's scored at a 92-point pace over his career but has consistently failed to rise to the occasion in the playoffs. Although the Leafs attempted to re-sign Marner midseason, Treliving also asked him to waive his no-movement clause around the trade deadline in an effort to acquire superstar Mikko Rantanen from the Hurricanes.The odds of Marner returning are close to zero. The team's better off spending his cap hit on multiple players, while Marner desperately needs a scenery change. Despite his postseason struggles, Marner will command upwards of $14 million a year as the top UFA. Potential landing spots include Carolina, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, and Utah.<h3>Tavares and the rest</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781491/cropped_GettyImages-2210942910.jpg?ts=1745173542" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781491/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210942910.jpg?ts=1745173542 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781491/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210942910.jpg?ts=1745173542 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781491/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210942910.jpg?ts=1745173542 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781491/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210942910.jpg?ts=1745173542 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781491/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210942910.jpg?ts=1745173542 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Tavares' situation is not so cut and dried. On one hand, most Leafs fans would like Treliving to get rid of another part of the problem. On the other, Tavares really wants to stay in Toronto. If he's willing to take a major discount ($4.5 million a year range) and a lesser role, he might be the Leafs' best bet for third-line center. The 34-year-old just put up 74 points in 75 games.Regardless of Tavares' future, this is fully Matthews' and Nylander's team.Matthews, who struggled to score goals all season amid injury issues, is under contract for three more years. Nylander, coming off an up-and-down postseason and a career-high 45 regular-season goals that ranked second in the NHL, is locked up for seven more campaigns. Both own no-movement clauses.Matthew Knies, arguably Toronto's best forward in the playoffs, is another high-impact piece for the present and future. Treliving needs to sign the pending restricted free agent to a long-term deal sooner rather than later. The power winger is an offer-sheet candidate, and the Leafs can't afford to lose him like the Oilers lost RFAs Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg last offseason.The other Leafs signed past 2026-27: forward Max Domi, defensemen Rielly, Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jake McCabe, and goalie Joseph Woll. The club's other netminder, Anthony Stolarz, is a 2026 UFA and thus eligible to sign an extension on July 1. Toronto seems set in net for a while.The Leafs enter the offseason with $26.9 million in 2025-26 cap space, <a href="https://puckpedia.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs">according to PuckPedia</a>. Sixteen of 23 NHL roster spots are currently filled.Offseason priority No. 1: acquire two top-six forwards - one to replace Marner at first-line right wing, another to replace Tavares at second-line center.Treliving must also address the lack of offensive punch in the forward group's bottom six. Toronto received just seven playoff goals from its third and fourth lines in the postseason, with Domi and Pacioretty accounting for six. (Pacioretty, of course, played a chunk of the series on Line 2, as well.)<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786381/cropped_GettyImages-2215615619.jpg?ts=1747656843" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786381/w220xh124_GettyImages-2215615619.jpg?ts=1747656843 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786381/w320xh180_GettyImages-2215615619.jpg?ts=1747656843 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786381/w640xh360_GettyImages-2215615619.jpg?ts=1747656843 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786381/w768xh432_GettyImages-2215615619.jpg?ts=1747656843 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786381/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2215615619.jpg?ts=1747656843 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Carmen Mandato / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The defense corps, while old, is in pretty good shape overall. It's rangy, strong, and mobile. Dynamism is the one issue. There's limited offensive creativity beyond Rielly. Adding a gifted puck-moving middle-pair guy would go a long way.As for options, forward Easton Cowan is the club's only A-level prospect on the cusp of making the NHL, and he's no savior. Florida's Sam Bennett and Colorado's Brock Nelson would be fantastic fits at 2C, and Vancouver's Brock Boeser would look nice on Matthews' wing. But, with such a lackluster UFA class, the Leafs will be one of a dozen (if not dozens of) teams vying for those players' services. (Heck, Bennett and Nelson might re-sign before July 1.)The trade route could be more fruitful. One factor Treliving can't ignore - especially in pursuing a Marner replacement - is the psychological component of the playoff failures. The core pieces are all wired similarly. The lineup and dressing room need more stone-cold killers like Brad Marchand.The backdrop to the offseason is an increasingly competitive Atlantic Division. The Panthers and Lightning will be forces again next year. The Senators, Canadiens, and Red Wings are only getting better. What makes another frustrating playoff exit exponentially more painful for Leafs fans is that their team set itself up for success this year by winning the division.Over the Matthews-Marner era, the franchise has mixed up the leadership dynamic, added sandpaper, improved the goaltending, revamped the blue line, and swapped out GMs and coaches. Somehow, none of it has led to a conference final appearance. Not one. Will next year be any different?John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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What's next for Leafs after yet another excruciating playoff exit?

In classic Maple Leafs fashion, Toronto is set to play in a Game 7 following a roller-coaster six...

In classic Maple Leafs fashion, Toronto is set to play in a Game 7 following a roller-coaster six games. The winner-take-all showdown against Florida goes Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena. Here's what the Leafs must do to beat the Panthers and reach the conference finals for the first time in 23 years.<h3>Find early Matthews line advantage</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786158/cropped_GettyImages-2214524130.jpg?ts=1747516313" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786158/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214524130.jpg?ts=1747516313 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786158/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214524130.jpg?ts=1747516313 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786158/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214524130.jpg?ts=1747516313 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786158/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214524130.jpg?ts=1747516313 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786158/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214524130.jpg?ts=1747516313 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Sousa / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Everything in the playoffs flows downstream from a team's best players. Game 5 revealed the Leafs' worst-case scenario: Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were passengers in a dreadful 6-1 loss. Game 6 resembled some version of the best-case scenario - Matthews impacted all three zones, and the superstars connected on the eventual game-winner.Sunday is a legacy-molding night for Matthews, 27, and Marner, 28. It's also potentially the last hurrah for a nearly decade-long partnership with Marner due to test free agency. It goes without saying, but it also can't go unsaid: Matthews and Marner need to have monster performances. Nothing less.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Historically, the team that scores first in Game 7 has won 75% of the time. Why? The leading team often turns it into a dump-and-chase exhibition.The Leafs have scored first only once in five Game 7s in the Matthews-Marner era. The urgency should be at full blast this time around. The Leafs must push the pace and take it to the Panthers from puck drop onward. Since 2023, Florida, which can play a smothering brand of hockey at a moment's notice, is 17-0 in the playoffs when leading after one period and 25-0 when leading after two. An early Panthers lead could send the crowd into a daze, and the players might follow due to the high stakes and weight of past failures.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786204/cropped_GettyImages-2212095091.jpg?ts=1747535227" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786204/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212095091.jpg?ts=1747535227 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786204/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212095091.jpg?ts=1747535227 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786204/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212095091.jpg?ts=1747535227 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786204/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212095091.jpg?ts=1747535227 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786204/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212095091.jpg?ts=1747535227 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Coach Craig Berube has opted to go power-versus-power this series, with Matthews' line almost exclusively drawing Aleksander Barkov's in Games 1, 2, and 5. It's worked out well in the aggregate, as Toronto's top line is 4-2 at five-on-five on home ice. But Berube should ride the top line especially hard Sunday while trying his best to sneak William Nylander onto the left wing for 30 seconds here and there. There's no tomorrow. Get aggressive. Go nuclear and use the benefit of the last change to your advantage.Matthews' other winger, Matthew Knies, has been fantastic this postseason. He suffered an injury in Game 6, and while it'd be shocking if the forechecking menace missed Game 7, expectations should be tempered. This isn't about Knies, though. This game is about Matthews and Marner first and foremost.<h3>Be direct, handle puck with care</h3>The team that's done a better job imposing its will on the opponent's attack, by eliminating time and space and stealing pucks, has usually won.Florida recorded more takeaways than Toronto in its Games 3-5 wins. Toronto had more in Game 6 and finished Game 1 with just one fewer. Game 2 is the only true outlier, as the Leafs emerged victorious despite being on the losing end of a 4-1 takeaway count and posting 15 giveaways to the Panthers' five.Game 5 provided the Leafs with a template for what not to do with the puck in a tight-checking series. Matthews committed a turnover at Toronto's goal line before Florida's first goal. Marner, in a wildly irresponsible move, tossed a spinning backhand into the neutral zone ahead of Florida's third. Chris Tanev coughed up the puck along the half-wall on the fourth goal.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786144/cropped_GettyImages-2213174386.jpg?ts=1747512584" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786144/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213174386.jpg?ts=1747512584 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786144/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213174386.jpg?ts=1747512584 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786144/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213174386.jpg?ts=1747512584 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786144/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213174386.jpg?ts=1747512584 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786144/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213174386.jpg?ts=1747512584 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Leafs players were in their own heads, tentative. They didn't play instinctual hockey, which led to slow feet and hands and an overall lack of competitive juice. The Panthers smelled blood and smothered the Leafs' puck carriers.Game 6, on the other hand, provided a template for what to do. Toronto was direct and decisive, managing risk well on zone exits and entries, chipping pucks into open space, forechecking, and, occasionally, crashing Florida's net.The Leafs must be smart and cohesive again in Game 7 because Florida's counterattack is deadly. Consider this: The Panthers have scored 39 goals in the playoffs, and a whopping 17 have come within 10 seconds of a turnover.<h3>Win 'battle' of upstart third lines</h3>Anton Lundell and Max Domi - the third-line centers in this series - have shared the ice for 12 five-on-five minutes in six games, so it's extremely unlikely their lines go head-to-head in Game 7. Yet it feels as if one of these No. 3 units will put its stamp on Sunday's game somehow.Domi and Bobby McMann have played together most of the postseason, while Max Pacioretty's a late arrival. The line doesn't have strong underlying numbers, but McMann and Pacioretty collaborated on a massive insurance goal in Game 6. Pacioretty's up to eight points in 10 games and has provided a ton of shift-to-shift value as a well-rounded, physical winger.McMann, a 20-goal scorer mired in a slump, is creating enough offense to warrant his first tally in 24 games Sunday. Domi, meanwhile, has alternated between being an energizing force (dangerous off the rush, big-time goals) and completely unreliable (uninspired play, unnecessary penalties).<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786153/cropped_GettyImages-2215420956.jpg?ts=1747516208" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786153/w220xh124_GettyImages-2215420956.jpg?ts=1747516208 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786153/w320xh180_GettyImages-2215420956.jpg?ts=1747516208 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786153/w640xh360_GettyImages-2215420956.jpg?ts=1747516208 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786153/w768xh432_GettyImages-2215420956.jpg?ts=1747516208 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786153/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2215420956.jpg?ts=1747516208 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Sousa / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Florida's line of Lundell, Brad Marchand, and Eetu Luostarinen has been flat-out dominant in 108 five-on-five playoff minutes, outscoring the opposition 8-2 and earning a 57% expected goals rate. Its largest contributions this series include a two-goal Game 2 and Marchand's overtime goal in Game 3. The responsible, skilled Finns are underrated, and Marchand is a pesky assassin.Marchand, who spent many years terrorizing the Leafs in a Bruins uniform, can become the first player in NHL history to defeat the same opponent in five winner-take-all games. Game 7s are historically low-scoring affairs, yet Marchand's produced seven points in 12 such games over his career.The smart money's on Marchand and the Finns outshining the Domi line. However, that Toronto line has "unfinished business" written all over it.<h3>Go save for save with Bobrovsky</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786152/cropped_GettyImages-2214598631.jpg?ts=1747516122" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786152/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214598631.jpg?ts=1747516122 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786152/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214598631.jpg?ts=1747516122 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786152/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214598631.jpg?ts=1747516122 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786152/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214598631.jpg?ts=1747516122 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786152/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214598631.jpg?ts=1747516122 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Carmen Mandato / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>There's no hiding the experience gap between goalies.In Florida's crease is a 36-year-old with 785 regular-season games, two Vezina Trophies, 105 playoff contests, two trips to the Stanley Cup Final, and one Cup ring to his name. In Toronto's is a 26-year-old with 91 total NHL games.That said, Woll's an atypical underdog. He's been exceptional in a small sample of elimination games, boasting a 4-1 record and a .958 save percentage. The 1B in a 1A-1B setup, Woll relieved injured partner Anthony Stolarz midway through Game 1, fared OK, steadily improved in Games 2, 3, and 4, stumbled in a five-goal Game 5, then flourished in a must-win Game 6. That was the first time Florida had been shut out in 56 playoff games.Toronto's defense was airtight in Game 6, limiting Florida to three slot shots (zero from the inner slot) and 2.09 expected goals off 77 attempts, according to Sportlogiq. Still, Woll did his part by stopping a few grade-A opportunities.The Leafs don't need Woll to stand on his head Sunday. But they also can't afford a subpar performance. He simply needs to go save for save with Bob.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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What the Maple Leafs must do to (finally) reach the conference finals

Joseph Woll granted himself a fleeting moment of confusion last week.  It was early in the second...

Joseph Woll granted himself a fleeting moment of confusion last week.It was early in the second period of Game 2 in the second-round series between the Maple Leafs and Panthers. The Toronto goalie had been beaten on a net-drive backhand, but he wasn't quite sure why. Woll glanced at Florida's celebration, at the puck and net behind him, and at his equipment.He then rose from the ice and immediately slipped into a hard-wired routine.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Water-bottle squirt into his mouth. Squirt down the back of his jersey. Squirt into his mouth again. Return the bottle to its holder. Glide to the right of the crease while readjusting his mask. Loop back to the blue paint. Clear away snowy ice with his stick. Look up at the in-arena videoboard while his glove hand rests on the crossbar. Sway lightly. Tap the left post with his glove, the right post with his stick. Glide to the top of the crease as the puck's dropped.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784691/cropped_GettyImages-2214053488.jpg?ts=1746724670" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784691/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214053488.jpg?ts=1746724670 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784691/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214053488.jpg?ts=1746724670 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784691/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214053488.jpg?ts=1746724670 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784691/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214053488.jpg?ts=1746724670 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784691/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214053488.jpg?ts=1746724670 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Sousa / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Total time elapsed from Game 2's 2-1 goal to action resuming: 38 seconds.Those seconds are precious for a goalie, especially in the pressure cooker of the NHL playoffs. Woll's routine isn't a string of superstitions for good luck. The squirts, glides, taps - all of it is habitual, purposeful. "You're constantly coming back to where you are in the moment," Woll said earlier this season.Adam Francilia is a goalie trainer whose client list features 10 NHLers, including Woll, and superstars Connor Hellebuyck and Andrei Vasilevskiy. He considers what a netminder does following a goal - his "post-goal protocol" - to be as critical to success as pregame preparation and postgame recovery."Not only does it provide a mental, emotional reset for the goalie," Francilia says, "but it also - because of optics - impacts the goalie's team, the opposing team, fans in the arena, TV viewers, and commentary from the broadcasters."Every goalie's wired differently. Let's explore the various approaches.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784703/cropped_54405603109_56fe02c555_k.jpg?ts=1746727524" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784703/w220xh124_54405603109_56fe02c555_k.jpg?ts=1746727524 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784703/w320xh180_54405603109_56fe02c555_k.jpg?ts=1746727524 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784703/w640xh360_54405603109_56fe02c555_k.jpg?ts=1746727524 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784703/w768xh432_54405603109_56fe02c555_k.jpg?ts=1746727524 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784703/w1080xh607_54405603109_56fe02c555_k.jpg?ts=1746727524 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Terence Leung / Calgary Wranglers</figcaption></figure>Devin Cooley, a 27-year-old goalie with six games of NHL experience, doesn't have a protocol like Woll. ("What do I physically do after a goal? It's honestly random," he says.) Cooley's instead deeply focused on the psychological component. He strives to be as emotionless as possible between the pipes.Cooley spent the 2024-25 season with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers. He recalls on multiple occasions sitting in the dressing room listening to head coach Joe Cirella deliver an intermission speech and reminding himself that Cirella is going to die someday. Same goes for that teammate over there. The trainers.From his crease, Cooley would look through his mask, see fans of all ages enjoying themselves in the stands, and again tap into a detached, nihilistic mindset. They're all going to be dead. It doesn't matter. Nothing matters. Nobody's going to remember this. Don't worry about having fun. Let all of your emotions go. Play emotionless. Stop caring so much. Just relax.Cooley doesn't walk around with a dark cloud over his head. In fact, he's a smiley, friendly guy who's full of life. But he finds positive self-talk to be "kind of bullshit" and has learned he plays his best hockey when he's in the middle of his emotional range - not angry, joyful, stressed, eager. Simply existing.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784747/cropped_GettyImages-2136579053.jpg?ts=1746749782" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784747/w220xh124_GettyImages-2136579053.jpg?ts=1746749782 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784747/w320xh180_GettyImages-2136579053.jpg?ts=1746749782 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784747/w640xh360_GettyImages-2136579053.jpg?ts=1746749782 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784747/w768xh432_GettyImages-2136579053.jpg?ts=1746749782 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784747/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2136579053.jpg?ts=1746749782 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andreea Cardani / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Cooley developed this framework last season during his lone NHL stint with the Sharks. He hated that he was heaping more and more pressure on himself as games progressed. Not caring about results helped ease the tension.If anybody wants a peek inside Cooley's brain nowadays, he says, track his body language after a goal against. No outward reaction is a good reaction."Sometimes you have to check yourself and realize what you're doing isn't so important and it's not the end of the world," says Cooley, an AHL All-Star."Putting extra pressure on yourself doesn't work as a goalie. It's not sustainable. You can't just try harder. You can't just put in more effort," he adds. "Because as soon as your mind starts going faster, it becomes really hard to play the position. You need to have peace of mind and be relaxed."Part of what makes goaltending a mental grind is that it's mainly reactive. For instance, if a goalie whiffs on a saveable shot, he can't lay a hit or skate the puck end-to-end the next shift. Unlike forwards and defensemen, he influences the game only when the flow of play returns to his end of the ice."You can get into a little battle in your head," says Marc-Andre Fleury, who's set to retire after 21 seasons with Pittsburgh, Vegas, Chicago, and Minnesota.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784848/cropped_GettyImages-2211197701.jpg?ts=1746808326" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784848/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211197701.jpg?ts=1746808326 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784848/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211197701.jpg?ts=1746808326 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784848/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211197701.jpg?ts=1746808326 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784848/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211197701.jpg?ts=1746808326 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784848/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211197701.jpg?ts=1746808326 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Fleury, 40, ranks second all time in career games played and wins, and third in shots against and saves. He's felt powerless countless times as play resumes following a goal and an opportunity for redemption isn't imminent. Emotional by nature, he trained himself early in his career to direct his mental energy toward proper technique - square, set, hands in front - no matter the score."I say a couple of bad words and then skate into the corner on the right side of the net," a grinning Fleury says of his animated post-goal protocol. "I watch the replay on the Jumbotron to see what just happened, what I can do differently. Then it's, 'F--- it,' and the puck drops, and it's a thing of the past."Bruins starter Jeremy Swayman tries to stay in the same state following every shot attempt, regardless of where the puck ends up. The objective is to avoid a spike or drop on the confidence meter."It's a quick flush. I'm moving forward with the understanding that the here and now is the important thing. One shot at a time," Swayman says. "Say you make 30 consecutive saves, and you're all puffy and happy. One shot - one goal - can make a different experience out of that game. Next-shot mentality."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784915/cropped_GettyImages-2207519604.jpg?ts=1746836878" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784915/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207519604.jpg?ts=1746836878 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784915/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207519604.jpg?ts=1746836878 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784915/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207519604.jpg?ts=1746836878 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784915/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207519604.jpg?ts=1746836878 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784915/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207519604.jpg?ts=1746836878 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andre Ringuette / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Swayman's former net partner in Boston, Linus Ullmark, swears by a "goldfish mentality." His post-goal protocol is equal parts neutral and businesslike: yank the puck out of the net, water break, equipment adjustment, head down in the crease. He's not interested in a leisurely skate or watching the replay."I can't go up to the coach or the ref and say, 'Hey, that's not a goal,'" says Ullmark, the starter in Ottawa now. "It doesn't work that way. If it's 1-0 on the board, it's 1-0 on the board. And then it's all about the next one."Spencer Knight of the Blackhawks was Sergei Bobrovsky's understudy in Florida for parts of four seasons. Asked what it was like to watch the two-time Vezina Trophy winner every single day, Knight brought up Bobrovsky's post-goal protocol. "He doesn't get flustered - like, ever," Knight <a href="https://x.com/Arda/status/1879538055029416138">told ESPN</a>. "He's so down to earth. One of the best teammates. And you see it: every time he gets scored on, he hands the puck to the ref. He's not out there complaining."Francilia, the trainer, specializes in physiology, neurology, and biomechanics. He views the goalie as the team's flight attendant, or the one member of the squad everybody glances toward for a vibe check. Body language is especially key in times of turbulence; if trust in the goalie erodes midgame, forwards and defensemen start defending differently, which creates disorder in the defensive zone.Francilia works with clients on being a sturdy, unflinching flight attendant. The first step is getting back on your feet within two to three seconds of the puck crossing the line."When you watch closely, there's a very specific rhythm to a televised hockey game," he says. "The sequence goes like this almost every single time: goal goes in, broadcast immediately shows the goal-scorer and his teammates celebrating. Then, almost every time, the next camera shot is of the goalie."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784882/cropped_GettyImages-2186573171.jpg?ts=1746817893" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784882/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186573171.jpg?ts=1746817893 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784882/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186573171.jpg?ts=1746817893 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784882/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186573171.jpg?ts=1746817893 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784882/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186573171.jpg?ts=1746817893 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784882/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186573171.jpg?ts=1746817893 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark LoMoglio / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The rest of the post-goal protocol can be individualized. Some goalies like to face the net; others look to center ice. Some, like Ullmark, are stoic and still; others, like Fleury, are charged up and active. Francilia's main message to clients is to develop a comfortable protocol and deploy it consistently until it becomes automatic, like so many other aspects of being a modern goalie."The mind is the driver of a goalie's success. It's everything," says Charlie Lindgren, the Capitals' 31-year-old undrafted backup goalie. "To make it to the NHL, to stay, to thrive, you have to have a really strong mental game."Lindgren's mind was tested in late November. He tried to pass a bouncing puck but instead shot it directly into his net to put the Capitals down 4-3 eight minutes into the third period. Understandably upset by the own goal, Lindgren instinctively flipped the puck over the glass - "The amount of peace that brought," he recalls with a smile - then fell into his reset routine."Look, it's one goal," he told himself before taking a couple of deep breaths.Multiple teammates swung by the crease to tap Lindgren's pads and offer encouragement. He made a difficult save once play resumed, the offense rallied to score twice in the final 10 minutes, and Washington won 5-4."The brain is powerful, man. You can let something crumble you in a heartbeat," Lindgren says. "But if you can withstand it, turn the tides, and just think of that next play, that next shot, your body's going to respond well."Fleury, Swayman, and Golden Knights backup Ilya Samsonov are among dozens of NHL-caliber goalies who've worked with a sports psychologist at some point. For Samsonov, breathing exercises recommended by his psychologist have become a gateway to regulating his system following a goal. "Keep breathing and get the emotion down," he says. "Focus only on the moment."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785602/cropped_GettyImages-2212431309.jpg?ts=1747248381" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785602/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212431309.jpg?ts=1747248381 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785602/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212431309.jpg?ts=1747248381 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785602/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212431309.jpg?ts=1747248381 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785602/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212431309.jpg?ts=1747248381 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785602/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212431309.jpg?ts=1747248381 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Martin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Avalanche starter Mackenzie Blackwood would never be described as a "cerebral" goalie like Toronto's Woll. His rise has been fueled by an elite physical package: flexibility, power, athleticism. But one soft skill the 28-year-old's honed through 259 NHL appearances is the art of letting goals go."I don't want to say I'm numb to it," Blackwood says, "but the more you get scored on and the more you get into those shitty situations where you're down in games and feel at fault, you can shake it off easier. It's like, 'Ah f---, whatever,' you know? We'll keep going and whatever happens, happens."The irony of goaltending is that the most successful goalies accumulate the most goals against due to outsized workloads and lengthy careers. As Francilia points out to his clients, Martin Brodeur, a contender for greatest of all time, holds the NHL record for most goals allowed: 2,781."The more you play, the better you are, the longer your career, the higher you elevate in goaltending - all of it leads to goals," Francilia tells his clients. "So you have to start redefining and revaluing what a goal really means to you."John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31314719/related

Nihilism, cursing, loops: How NHL goalies bounce back during games

Tied 2-2, the Maple Leafs and Panthers series has become a best-of-three battle. Here are 10 Toro...

Tied 2-2, the Maple Leafs and Panthers series has become a best-of-three battle. Here are 10 Toronto-Florida thoughts to preview Wednesday's Game 5.<h3>1. Matthews needs Nylander boost</h3>Auston Matthews has impacted this series in a positive way. The Leafs are outscoring the Panthers 5-2 in his five-on-five minutes, and his most common opponent, Aleksander Barkov, has been held to one even-strength point.Yet, Matthews has underwhelmed overall. The greatest regular season goal-scorer of the past nine years has two goals in 10 playoff games - none versus Florida - and looked ordinary in the process. Where's the momentum-building gallop through the neutral zone? All-world explosiveness and deception in his shot? Swagger and assertiveness in the offensive zone? Power-play prowess?<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785501/cropped_GettyImages-2212107076.jpg?ts=1747171626" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785501/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212107076.jpg?ts=1747171626 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785501/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212107076.jpg?ts=1747171626 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785501/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212107076.jpg?ts=1747171626 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785501/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212107076.jpg?ts=1747171626 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785501/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212107076.jpg?ts=1747171626 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Claus Andersen / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Matthews could be nursing an injury, feeling unconfident, getting bad puck luck, or falling victim to strong defending. In all likelihood, it's a combination of all four factors. Coach Craig Berube needs to do his part to get No. 34 going.William Nylander, Toronto's most dangerous player all postseason, should get a few shifts on Matthews' right wing early in Game 5. The Swede's dynamism could unlock different, better looks for Matthews, especially off the rush. From a playmaking perspective, Matthews would have a natural sniper to pass to. That double dual-threat attack could be a lot for even the Panthers to handle.If it doesn't work out, all good. Mitch Marner is there for another shot at 1RW.<h3>2. Tkachuk, Reinhart are due</h3>Two Panthers seem to be marching toward breakthrough performances.Matthew Tkachuk, sidelined by injury for the final two months of the regular season, has progressively improved in the playoffs. He's back to being a pest and using his elite hockey sense (beautiful heads-up, cross-ice pass for the primary assist on Game 4's eventual winning goal). However, the two-time 100-point winger is still searching for his first multi-point outing in Round 2.Sam Reinhart leads the Panthers in shot attempts (38), shots on goal (17), and expected goals (2.16), according to <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/">Natural Stat Trick</a>. He hit the crossbar in Games 2 and 3, then nailed the post in Game 4. Ironically, a Game 3 jam play in the Leafs' crease counts as his lone goal. He's primed for a proper snipe.<h3>3. Woll's play trending up</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785508/cropped_GettyImages-2214709785.jpg?ts=1747177140" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785508/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214709785.jpg?ts=1747177140 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785508/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214709785.jpg?ts=1747177140 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785508/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214709785.jpg?ts=1747177140 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785508/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214709785.jpg?ts=1747177140 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785508/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214709785.jpg?ts=1747177140 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Joel Auerbach / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Leafs goalie Joseph Woll has allowed 13 goals on 121 Florida shots since coming in midway through Game 1 to replace injured starter Anthony Stolarz.Of those 13 goals, nine have been scored from below the hashmarks, two from inside the left circle, and one from the high slot. Put another way, Woll's mostly been beaten on high-leverage scoring chances - nothing overly soft.The 26-year-old's pedestrian playoff save percentage (.893) certainly doesn't do his trajectory justice. His timing, reads, rebound control, and puckhandling have all sharpened game to game, which is excellent news for the Leafs.<h3>4. Leafs can't let Florida dictate play</h3>Odd-man rushes are 19-13 for Toronto, however, most of the Leafs' fast-break damage came in Games 1-3. Florida was dialed into its structure in Game 4.As so many playoff opponents have found out over the past few years, the Panthers can be frustratingly efficient at closing windows of space. For instance, if Florida's on its game and there's a 50-50 battle on the boards in the offensive zone, the strong-side defenseman is winning that puck. Or, if the other team has possession and numbers in the neutral zone, a Panthers forward is quickly eliminating any advantage with relentless back pressure.The Leafs don't necessarily need to turn into a dump-and-chase team in Game 5, but they must do a better job of relieving pressure. Toronto pierced through Florida's structure early in the series by completing short passes in the defensive zone and chipping pucks into open areas elsewhere.<h3>5. The Domi question mark(s)</h3>Which version of Max Domi is going to show up to close out the series?The Leafs forward who for short stretches has exploded on the attack, most notably scoring the winning goal in Game 2 of the first round? Or the Domi who for long stretches has been ineffective and taken stupid penalties?<h3>6. Lundell line seriously good</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785509/cropped_GettyImages-2214397843.jpg?ts=1747177310" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785509/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214397843.jpg?ts=1747177310 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785509/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214397843.jpg?ts=1747177310 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785509/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214397843.jpg?ts=1747177310 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785509/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214397843.jpg?ts=1747177310 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785509/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214397843.jpg?ts=1747177310 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Berube is presumably going to use home-ice last change to minimize the Barkov line Wednesday. It's what any reasonable coach would do. And yet, the scariest Panthers trio might not be Barkov's, or the Sam Bennett-centered line, but rather Anton Lundell between Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen.The Panthers outscored the Leafs 2-1 while outshooting them 5-4 with the Lundell line on the ice in Game 1. Their minutes in Game 2 came mostly against John Tavares, Nylander, and Max Pacioretty and yielded two goals and eight shots for Florida and zero goals and two shots for Toronto.Games 3 and 4 were more workmanlike. Tasked with shutting down Matthews, Marner, and Matthew Knies, the Lundell line survived - 0-1 in goals, 7-9 in shots. Marchand scored the Game 3 overtime winner alongside Lundell but with Luostarinen on the bench waiting for a Carter Verhaeghe change.<h3>7. Leafs must shake up bottom six</h3>The bottom two lines' lack of production has become an issue for the Leafs.Domi's the only depth forward to put up a goal in the playoffs (and he has two). That means absolutely nothing of substance from Bobby McMann (20 goals in 74 regular season games), Scott Laughton (13 in 80 games), Steven Lorentz (eight in 80), Pontus Holmberg (seven in 68), and Calle Jarnkrok (one in 19).McMann, a big, speedy winger with utility in all three zones, will end his 21-game drought eventually. He's been good enough to keep his lineup spot.Otherwise, Game 5 is a perfect time to insert David Kampf. The defensively responsible center isn't a major upgrade on the others, but Berube may as well try a different blend. Jarnkrok, Holmberg, and Laughton have had positive moments in the playoffs, so Lorentz feels like the right guy to scratch.It remains to be seen if Berube feels similarly. <a href="https://x.com/jonassiegel/status/1922308474349777382">No changes</a> were made to Game 4 forward lines at practice Tuesday.<h3>8. Rodrigues out, Samoskevich in?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785513/cropped_GettyImages-2214602884.jpg?ts=1747181393" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785513/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214602884.jpg?ts=1747181393 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785513/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214602884.jpg?ts=1747181393 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785513/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214602884.jpg?ts=1747181393 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785513/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214602884.jpg?ts=1747181393 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785513/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214602884.jpg?ts=1747181393 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Carmen Mandato / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Evan Rodrigues was aggressively interfered with by former teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Game 4. The Panthers forward, who had to be helped off the ice, returned to practice Tuesday. Rodrigues <a href="https://x.com/markhmasters/status/1921981563627081906">hasn't been cleared</a> to play, and a decision on his Game 5 status will come after the morning skate.Rodrigues is the Panthers' equivalent of McMann: a trustworthy winger who can move up and down the lineup and not look out of place on the second power-play unit. If Rodrigues can't go Wednesday, expect to see more of 22-year-old Mackie Samoskevich, who was scratched for Games 1, 3, and 4.<h3>9. Keep at it, Leafs power play</h3>Toronto's 2-for-15 power play has been a hot topic to start the week.No need to overthink it, folks: The Leafs must continue to throw five forwards over the boards because their five best offensive players are forwards. They must focus on funneling the puck to either Matthews for one-timers on the right flank or the net-front area where Knies and Tavares love to set up camp.The penalty kill and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will break soon enough.<h3>10. No coming back vs. Florida</h3>An amazing tidbit requiring no commentary: Since 2023, the Panthers are 15-0 in the playoffs when leading after one period and 23-0 when leading after two.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31284218/related

10 thoughts on Maple Leafs-Panthers ahead of all-important Game 5

A Canadian team hasn't won the Stanley Cup in 32 years, but the second round of the 2025 playoffs...

A Canadian team hasn't won the Stanley Cup in 32 years, but the second round of the 2025 playoffs is providing hope. Toronto leads its series with Florida, 2-1, Edmonton's up 2-0 over Vegas, and Winnipeg's tied 1-1 with Dallas. Below, we discuss reasons for optimism and pessimism for the three Canadian clubs.<h3>Toronto Maple Leafs</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/cropped_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Carmen Mandato / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Optimistic view: Toronto dictated the style and pace of play in Games 1 and 2 - two wins - and held its own in a Game 3 overtime loss. That's an extremely encouraging sign in a series against a well-oiled machine like the Panthers.The team with the most puck-battle wins has won each game, and in the Leafs' victories those battles have helped them attack off the rush with numbers. William Nylander's collected six points, four of them off the rush and a fifth when he joined the play late with downhill speed after a line change.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Other series standouts include Max Pacioretty (five points, team-high 16 hits), Matthew Knies (four points, forechecking nightmare), and Morgan Rielly (two goals, two assists). Shutdown defensemen Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev have been superb. Both are key to the penalty kill, and the Leafs are outscoring the Panthers 4-1 in the pair's 50-plus five-on-five minutes together.Pessimistic view: Auston Matthews hasn't been bad so far. In fact, he's contributed three assists, and his line with Knies and Mitch Marner has held Aleksander Barkov's line off the scoresheet at five-on-five.Yet, Matthews hasn't looked himself as a sniper. He's hesitant to shoot, especially on the power play, and when he does, the puck rarely meets its target. Matthews has 25 attempts in Round 2 but only 11 shots on goal. He has yet to solve Sergei Bobrovksy and scored just twice in the first round.Meanwhile, Leafs Nation is holding its breath every time Joseph Woll handles the puck. Woll's been competent in relief for Anthony Stolarz but had enough uh-oh moments in 165 minutes of crease time to fill a lengthy lowlight reel.A third mild concern: Tanev's durability. He's been on the receiving end of a playoff-high 71 hits for an average of 7.9 per game. He left Game 3 briefly, and it feels like he's one awkward collision from ending up on injured reserve.<h3>Edmonton Oilers</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/cropped_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Optimistic view: The Oilers top the playoffs in goals (4.5 per night) and ride a record streak of comeback wins (six in a row) into a homestand at Rogers Place, where they can nudge the Golden Knights to the brink. If the clock's still ticking, their playmakers and shooters know they can strike next and erase any deficit. That's a major psychological advantage.Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's awesome production - they combined for 27 points through eight games - aligns with their career averages, so no letup or drop-off is coming. Edmonton's prevailed twice in overtime because of McDavid's suite of unstoppable traits (acceleration, stickhandling, and vision) and Draisaitl's precise finishing.A league-high seven Oilers have already buried at least three goals. Corey Perry's revival, Evander Kane's return to health, and breakouts from Connor Brown and Vasily Podkolzin strengthened each of Kris Knoblauch's forward trios. The defense corps is imperfect but plainly benefited from the in-season additions of John Klingberg and Jake Walman.Pessimistic view: Comebacks are magical, but the Oilers seem unable to start on time and have trailed in every playoff game. They've conceded three opening goals within three minutes of puck drop and six by the middle of the first period. While Knoblauch presents a calm front, that must make his stomach churn.The penalty kill, a forte of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final squad, owns the league's worst success rate (59.3%). Opposing power plays boast four multi-goal performances. Losing three cornerstones of last year's airtight PK - the injured Mattias Ekholm, plus Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais - forced worse killers to take on bigger roles.Other concerns about Edmonton are hypothetical. Calvin Pickard's .888 save percentage has yet to lead to a loss, but if he begins to spring leaks, can Knoblauch confidently turn back to Stuart Skinner? Hold that thought for now.<h3>Winnipeg Jets</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/cropped_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Optimistic view: Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabriel Vilardi returned to the lineup in the second half of the first round. Mark Scheifele came back in Game 1 versus the Stars, and Josh Morrissey returned in Friday's Game 2. The Jets are finally at full force.The returnees' performances have ratcheted up the optimism, most notably Ehlers and Vilardi. Ehlers, a playoff no-show in the past, was flying throughout Game 2's victory, scoring twice on a game-high seven shots and adding a primary assist in less than 15 minutes of ice time. Vilardi, also a Game 2 goal-scorer, is generating inner-slot scoring chances at a high rate.Winnipeg almost didn't make it past St. Louis because superstar goalie Connor Hellebuyck faltered in multiple games. Well, he stopped all 21 Dallas shots Friday. His second-period glove save on Evgenii Dadonov was unreal, and overall his confidence appears to be back at an appropriate level.Pessimistic view: Mikko Rantanen is on the other team.The power forward has been a wrecking ball all playoffs. Since the Stars failed to score Friday, Rantanen enters Sunday's Game 3 with his wacko streak intact; he's somehow registered a point on each of Dallas' last 12 goals.The Avalanche had no answer for Rantanen in Round 1 and neither did the Jets in Game 1, as the former Av torched Winnipeg with a second-period hat trick. The series is shifting to Dallas, which means Pete DeBoer, one of the best matchup coaches in the NHL, should have an easier time getting Rantanen away from Jets captain and top defensive center Adam Lowry.Not to be forgotten: Hellebuyck collapsed in epic fashion on the road in the first round. For as good as he looked Friday, he needs a signature performance outside of Winnipeg before the doubters stop doubting him.John Matisz and Nick Faris cover the NHL for theScore.

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Each Canadian playoff team's reasons for optimism, pessimism

It wasn't a flawless performance, but the Maple Leafs held off a late charge by the Panthers on M...

It wasn't a flawless performance, but the Maple Leafs held off a late charge by the Panthers on Monday night to win Game 1 of the second-round series 5-4.Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz left around the midway point after taking two hits to the head - a mask-rattling Sam Reinhart wrist shot in the first period and an unpenalized Sam Bennett elbow in the second. Stolarz was seen vomiting at Toronto's bench before getting pulled and transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. Backup Joseph Woll turned aside 17 of 20 shots in relief.Here are two keys to victory for the Leafs in Wednesday's Game 2.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Minimize Woll's east-west weakness</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784363/cropped_GettyImages-2213750483.jpg?ts=1746560277" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784363/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213750483.jpg?ts=1746560277 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784363/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213750483.jpg?ts=1746560277 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784363/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213750483.jpg?ts=1746560277 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784363/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213750483.jpg?ts=1746560277 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784363/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213750483.jpg?ts=1746560277 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>It's no surprise head coach Craig Berube <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3282138" href="https://thescore.com/news/3282138">confirmed</a> Wednesday that Woll will be Toronto's Game 2 starter with Stolarz still "recovering."Woll wasn't spectacular in his 29-plus minutes Monday - he coughed up the puck behind the net and let in a stoppable Uvis Balinskis shot for the Panthers' third goal. Still, the 26-year-old fared well for a guy who hadn't seen action in 18 days.Woll's statistical profile is rock solid. He posted a .915 save percentage and saved 15 goals above expected in 42 regular-season games, according to Sportlogiq. There was no single type of scoring chance - off the rush, cycle, forecheck, rebound - that beat him significantly more often than the others.Yet there's one red flag deep in his 2024-25 profile: Woll had trouble stopping shots generated off east-to-west seam passes. (These are scenarios in which the offense forces the goalie to shift from the left post to the right post.)<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784381/cropped_GettyImages-2213174281.jpg?ts=1746565154" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784381/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213174281.jpg?ts=1746565154 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784381/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213174281.jpg?ts=1746565154 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784381/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213174281.jpg?ts=1746565154 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784381/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213174281.jpg?ts=1746565154 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784381/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213174281.jpg?ts=1746565154 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>It's an extremely difficult stop for any goalie to make, especially if a screen's involved, but Woll has been uniquely overmatched. He allowed 19 goals off 49 east-to-west seam-pass shots in the regular season for a woeful .612 SV%, bringing his career average to .702 in 79 games. (The league average since Woll entered the league in 2021-22 is .738.)Florida's likely looking to exploit this weakness. The pass that led to Eetu Luostarinen's Game 1 goal didn't qualify as an east-to-west seam pass because it didn't cross over to the left side of the offensive zone. However, that's exactly the kind of disorienting attack that often fools Woll.Leafs skaters have a role to play here. They need to fully commit to defending every inch of the defensive zone, like they've done for most of the postseason. That means tight gaps, well-timed hits, sticks in passing and shooting lanes, and an overall doggedness.There's a reason why it's become fashionable for defenses to clog the middle of the ice. The modern goalie can handle most perimeter shots. Interior offense is what creates chaos, especially if it incorporates cross-ice passing.<h3>Don't fall into Panthers' trap</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784393/cropped_GettyImages-2213104715.jpg?ts=1746571390" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784393/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213104715.jpg?ts=1746571390 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784393/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213104715.jpg?ts=1746571390 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784393/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213104715.jpg?ts=1746571390 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784393/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213104715.jpg?ts=1746571390 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784393/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213104715.jpg?ts=1746571390 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Sousa / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Panthers are an intimidating opponent because they apply endless pressure. If they have the puck, they're attacking with authority. If you have the puck, they're aggressively trying to pry it away. If there's a loose puck ...A sensible way to combat this style of play is to own the wall. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2912350" href="https://thescore.com/news/2912350">As I wrote</a> last postseason, a disproportionate amount of NHL action is spent within a few feet of the boards. Assertive and efficient wall play defensively is often the main difference between a clean breakout and an ugly turnover.The Leafs won the majority of puck battles Monday, including dozens close to or on the boards. Most notably, Max Pacioretty shielded the puck from a Panthers defender to <a href="https://x.com/LeafsNews/status/1919547104915017870">set up</a> the opening tally, and Mitch Marner finessed the puck out of Toronto's zone to spring Matthew Knies on a breakaway for the eventual game-winning goal. Watch Marner outduel Nate Schmidt on the wall:<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
MATTHEW KNIES, THAT WAS SICK 🥵 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> 🇺🇸: <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnH">https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnH</a> 🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF">https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF</a> <a href="https://t.co/zlijq6S32y">pic.twitter.com/zlijq6S32y</a>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1919581707444859033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The Panthers prefer a grinding slug fest, but those kinds of plays helped turn Game 1 into a track meet. That's the drawback of a smothering style: Opponents will expose you up the ice and make you run out of gas quickly if they can beat you in 50/50 battles and make smart decisions in transition. (Florida historically <a href="https://x.com/MikeKellyNHL/status/1901685616321958048">gives up a ton</a> of breakaways.)The Panthers are the 2024 Stanley Cup champions and 2023 finalists - they'll clap back in Game 2. The Leafs must show composure in two ways.One, Craig Berube needs to trust his instincts: He opened up the possibility for a mismatch further down the lineup in Game 1 by playing his top forward line of Auston Matthews, Marner, and Knies against Florida's No. 1 group of Aleksander Barkov, Reinhart, and Carter Verhaeghe. William Nylander scored twice and added a primary assist at five-on-five. Ride that deployment again.Two, the players can't look to settle the score for Bennett's elbow on Stolarz. Hit Bennett extra hard if you have him lined up for a legal hit, sure. But taking a penalty to get even isn't worth it in the playoffs. It's easier said than done against a team full of pests, but Toronto must stay disciplined.There's a decent chance the referees overcompensate Wednesday and call a bunch of penalties. Let them. The Panthers will win the series if it becomes defined by post-whistle scrums and questionable hits. The Leafs win it if the action revolves around up-tempo hockey.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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2 keys to victory for Maple Leafs in Game 2 versus Panthers

Our hockey writers shared observations throughout Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Sunday, M...

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Running analysis of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Welcome to NHL Inbox, a monthly forum in which readers can ask me anything hockey related and I try my best to deliver an insightful answer.Note: the questions below were lightly edited for clarity and brevity.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783863/cropped_GettyImages-2159740407.jpg?ts=1746299617" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783863/w220xh124_GettyImages-2159740407.jpg?ts=1746299617 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783863/w320xh180_GettyImages-2159740407.jpg?ts=1746299617 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783863/w640xh360_GettyImages-2159740407.jpg?ts=1746299617 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783863/w768xh432_GettyImages-2159740407.jpg?ts=1746299617 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783863/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2159740407.jpg?ts=1746299617 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>phonyspoon asks: If my Sharks win the draft lottery again, who should they draft? I've heard of the offensive prowess of players like Michael Misa and James Hagens, but SJ needs defense. Should they go for Matthew Schaefer?<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>San Jose, which finished last in 2024-25 with 52 points, has a league-high 25.5% chance of landing the top pick in Monday's draft lottery. Chicago (13.5%) and Nashville (11.5%) are the others with double-digit odds.If San Jose wins, Schaefer's the obvious choice for two basic reasons. Most importantly, the Canadian defenseman is arguably the best player in the 2025 class, regardless of position. Secondly, defense is a position of need.The Sharks already have a franchise center in 2024 first overall pick Macklin Celebrini. Don't overthink it, general manager Mike Grier, get yourself a complementary cornerstone blue-liner. Schaefer's an extremely intelligent player and elite skater who's capable of controlling the game like prime Drew Doughty. The OHL sophomore hasn't played in months after breaking his collarbone at the December world juniors, but there's no long-term worry.San Jose used its second 2024 first on defenseman Sam Dickinson, another mobile two-way force. Dickinson brings a little bit of everything to the table, and projects to be a top-pair guy in the NHL, though he may tap out on the second pair. Schaefer's ceiling, meanwhile, is "one of the 10 best defensemen on the planet." His meh outcome? Still an average first-pair guy.Dickinson and Shakir Mukhamadullin are San Jose's only exciting D-men 22 or under right now, whereas the forward group of the future is headlined by Celebrini (18), Quentin Musty (19), Will Smith (20), and William Eklund (22).<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783865/cropped_GettyImages-2211873621.jpg?ts=1746300246" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783865/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211873621.jpg?ts=1746300246 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783865/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211873621.jpg?ts=1746300246 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783865/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211873621.jpg?ts=1746300246 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783865/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211873621.jpg?ts=1746300246 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783865/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211873621.jpg?ts=1746300246 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Darcy Finley / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Ken S. asks: When a trailing team has pulled their goalie and the leading team has a breakaway to score an empty-net goal, why doesn't the trailing team's player on the heels of the puck carrier just tackle the guy, resulting in a penalty shot? That way the trailing team could bring their goalie back in for the penalty shot and at least have a chance of not giving up another goal.Hate to burst your bubble, Ken, but if the puck carrier's tackled under these circumstances, there's no penalty or penalty shot. His team's given a goal.The NHL's official rulebook lays it out clearly in Rule 25.1:<blockquote>A goal will be awarded to the attacking team when the opposing team has taken their goalkeeper off the ice and an attacking player has possession and control of the puck (or would have gained possession and control) in the neutral or attacking zone, without a defending player between himself and the opposing goal, and he is prevented from scoring as a result of an infraction committed by the defending team.</blockquote><figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783866/cropped_GettyImages-2208358485.jpg?ts=1746300373" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783866/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208358485.jpg?ts=1746300373 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783866/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208358485.jpg?ts=1746300373 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783866/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208358485.jpg?ts=1746300373 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783866/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208358485.jpg?ts=1746300373 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783866/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208358485.jpg?ts=1746300373 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Blair B. asks: What's the most common statistical trait of a Stanley Cup-winning team? My best guess is playoff goaltending with a save percentage above .910, but perhaps that's not the most unique stat to review when considering playoff success.Fantastic question, and from my research, Blair is definitely onto something.The Stanley Cup winner has finished with a team save percentage above .910 in 13 of 19 seasons in the salary cap era, which began in 2005-06. Three others narrowly missed the cut: the 2013-14 Kings had a .910 SV%, while the 2008-09 Penguins and 2018-19 Blues were .908 and .907 clubs, respectively.A penalty kill rate of 80% or higher also correlates well. Only four cap-era champions dipped below 80% (and the 2014-15 Blackhawks were at 79%).All that said, I think the strongest signal of a Cup champ is an ability to bounce back in the middle of playoff games. All but four cap-era Cup winners were credited with at least four comeback wins during their respective runs. (Why focus on four? Four comebacks is an average of one per round.)Any team, no matter how talented on paper and dominant shift-to-shift, is bound to trail for stretches on the road to 16 wins. The very best are resilient. They regroup instantly and assertively. Five champs averaged two or more comebacks per round: the 2005-06 Hurricanes (nine), 2008-09 Pens (10), 2013-14 Kings (eight), 2021-22 Avalanche (10), and 2022-23 Golden Knights (nine).Florida's the consensus Cup favorite right now. The defending champs look unstoppable partly because nobody's counterpunch is as strong as theirs.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783883/cropped_GettyImages-1497065814.jpg?ts=1746305064" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783883/w220xh124_GettyImages-1497065814.jpg?ts=1746305064 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783883/w320xh180_GettyImages-1497065814.jpg?ts=1746305064 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783883/w640xh360_GettyImages-1497065814.jpg?ts=1746305064 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783883/w768xh432_GettyImages-1497065814.jpg?ts=1746305064 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783883/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1497065814.jpg?ts=1746305064 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>ebeck02893 asks: How do you foresee the new NCAA eligibility rule changing players' paths through the Canadian Hockey League? Will all the best 16-, 17-year-olds play in the CHL and all the best 18 or older players go to the NCAA or NHL? I think there's no way the USHL doesn't get ruined by this. Some context: the NCAA announced last November that it's lifting a longtime ban on players who've played major-junior hockey in Canada. As noted in the question, the landmark decision has <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3124209" href="https://thescore.com/news/3124209">opened the door</a> for high-end teens to play in the CHL and NCAA, not one or the other.A total of 133 players from the CHL's three leagues - WHL, OHL, QMJHL - have committed to American colleges, according to Sportsnet's <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/article/chl-to-ncaa-tracker-ohl-whl-qmjhl-players-going-to-u-s-college-ranks/">signing tracker</a>. That seems like a massive number, but keep in mind most of the commits are older and not considered serious NHL prospects. Flames third-round pick Henry Mews is probably the biggest name to make the list so far.While the amateur hockey landscape is changing, I don't think "all" the best North American teens will follow the same path of Canadian junior at 16 and 17 and American college at 18 and onwards. Some, but certainly not all. One NHLPA player agent with a few clients still debating next steps told me that while the eligibility change creates more options, some players are simply far better suited for one of the routes. The CHL, for instance, provides a pro-style schedule. The NCAA, with no midweek games, offers extra time for strength training, and also may offer six-figure NIL deals in some cases."Most players on the fence are going to want to wait to see which NHL team drafts them before committing to any kind of change," the agent said. "They want to get a feel for what their team thinks is best for their development."A major NCAA headline may soon be on the way. Gavin McKenna, the consensus top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, has been heavily recruited. The Canadian has nothing left to prove in junior after posting 1.8 points per game over three WHL seasons. It makes sense for him to play his draft year at a major college like the University of Michigan.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783877/cropped_GettyImages-2208168873.jpg?ts=1746303632" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783877/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208168873.jpg?ts=1746303632 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783877/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208168873.jpg?ts=1746303632 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783877/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208168873.jpg?ts=1746303632 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783877/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208168873.jpg?ts=1746303632 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783877/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208168873.jpg?ts=1746303632 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bill Wippert / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>ddoroy39224 asks: What's wrong with the Buffalo Sabres? It starts at the top.Owner Terry Pegula isn't pouring enough money into the hockey operations department (no veteran president, a first-time GM, low overall headcount) or the on-ice product. The NHL is a highly competitive 32-team league and a club can't expect to contend for a playoff spot if its payroll is consistently well below the salary cap. The Senators are a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3267279" href="https://thescore.com/news/3267279">case in point</a>: they've gotten their act together on and off the ice in part due to heavy investment from ownership.I like a lot of the individual pieces in Buffalo. But they haven't clicked cohesively on the ice. Year after year, the roster ranks as one of the league's youngest. The group desperately needs to add some useful veterans with playoff pedigree this offseason. The Sabres aren't just in a rut; they've failed to make the playoffs for a record 14th straight year.Yes, what GM Kevyn Adams said earlier this season is true: there are no palm trees in Buffalo and New York taxes are high. But the Sabres' two best players, Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin, can do only so much. The cap is going to rise exponentially over the next few years and Buffalo better flip the spending switch soon or the gap between it and playoff teams will further widen.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure>What do you want to know, hockey fans?There are three ways to submit a question for future NHL Inbox editions:<ul>
<li>Comment on this article in theScore app</li>
<li>Email senior NHL writer John Matisz at <a href="mailto:john.matisz@theScore.com">john.matisz@thescore.com</a>
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<li>Send John a message on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/MatiszJohn">@matiszjohn</a>)</li>
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NHL Inbox: Who should Sharks draft? Sabres' main issue? Cup winner traits?

Our hockey writers shared observations throughout Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tap to ret...

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Past analysis of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Maple Leafs' record in closeout games since 2018 fell to 1-13 on Tuesday, as the Senators sta...

The Maple Leafs' record in closeout games since 2018 fell to 1-13 on Tuesday, as the Senators staved off elimination for a second time in four days. The Eastern Conference first-round series, now 3-2 for Toronto, resumes Thursday in Ottawa. Beyond shedding the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3272880" href="https://thescore.com/news/3272880">much-talked-about</a> mental "playoff demons," what can the Leafs do to finish off the Sens? Let's dig in.<h3>Matthews must activate beast mode</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783322/cropped_GettyImages-2212095168.jpg?ts=1746033251" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783322/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212095168.jpg?ts=1746033251 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783322/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212095168.jpg?ts=1746033251 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783322/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212095168.jpg?ts=1746033251 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783322/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212095168.jpg?ts=1746033251 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783322/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212095168.jpg?ts=1746033251 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Thomas Skrlj / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Nobody has scored more regular-season goals than Auston Matthews since he entered the NHL in 2016. The playoffs are, famously, a different story, with Matthews' 82-game pace dropping from a prolific 52 goals to a mortal 33.Matthews, who's in his first season as Leafs captain, has scored just once in five games against Ottawa. That Game 3 tally was a gift from Mitch Marner. Matthews received a gorgeous pass below the right circle and, with goalie Linus Ullmark looking the other way, had nearly the entire net to shoot at.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Matthews hasn't been invisible in this series; he's been strong defensively (ugly giveaway in Game 5's third period excluded), picked up five assists, and led the Leafs in shot attempts (39), shots on goal (18), and posts hit (two).On the other hand, Matthews is 2024-25's highest-paid player because he's an elite goal-scorer. The Leafs need their 6-foot-3 No. 1 center - limited by injury or not - to put forth a monster effort in Game 6. To assert his dominance over every Senator who enters his orbit. To incorporate deception into his shot to outduel Ullmark. Most crucially, he needs to hit the back of the net at least once.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782896/cropped_GettyImages-2212297855.jpg?ts=1746046873" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782896/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212297855.jpg?ts=1746046873 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782896/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212297855.jpg?ts=1746046873 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782896/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212297855.jpg?ts=1746046873 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782896/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212297855.jpg?ts=1746046873 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782896/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212297855.jpg?ts=1746046873 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Ottawa coach Travis Green line-matched pretty hard with the advantage of last change at home in Games 3 and 4, pitting Shane Pinto's line against Matthews' as much as possible. Matthews, Marner, and Matthew Knies, so far, have the upper hand in 26:55 total head-to-head minutes - 3-0 in goals, 21-19 in shot attempts, 12-8 in scoring chances, and 5-0 in inner-slot shots.Pinto is a quality center, but he doesn't present the same challenge to Matthews as Patrice Bergeron, Anthony Cirelli, and Aleksander Barkov of past playoff matchups. Matthews should be outplaying Pinto and can't lose the Game 6 battle.Matthews has consistently failed to carry his team to victory late in playoff series in the way this era's other great forwards do. Thursday is a golden chance to be like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nikita Kucherov.<h3>Offense can't be 'one and done'</h3>William Nylander and Bobby McMann - two of Toronto's six 20-goal scorers this season - have combined for one goal versus Ottawa. That Nylander marker came way back in Game 1 during a five-on-three power play.Nylander's pushed the pace throughout the series, though he's impacted games largely through cerebral playmaking (five primary assists). McMann, meanwhile, was most noticeable in Game 3. He's played almost exclusively on the third line with center Max Domi and either Nick Robertson or Max Pacioretty but is an obvious candidate to bump up to second-line left wing.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783328/cropped_GettyImages-2211000000.jpg?ts=1746034979" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783328/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211000000.jpg?ts=1746034979 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783328/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211000000.jpg?ts=1746034979 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783328/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211000000.jpg?ts=1746034979 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783328/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211000000.jpg?ts=1746034979 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783328/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211000000.jpg?ts=1746034979 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andre Ringuette / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>McMann should take the spot of Pontus Holmberg, who's simply not fit for top-six duty in the playoffs. A handful of high-end scoring chances have died on the Swede's stick. Coach Craig Berube should shorten his bench and ride Knies-Matthews-Marner and McMann-John Tavares-Nylander hard when possible. Mind you, the fourth line of Scott Laughton between Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok has been solid. (Jarnkrok was fantastic in Game 5.)Berube put it perfectly Tuesday night: The Matthews line can't be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmwo3lY0QVM&amp;ab_channel=TorontoMapleLeafs">"one and done"</a> in the offensive zone. The same goes for the rest of the squad. So, how can the Leafs get off this single-shot-sequence hamster wheel? Attack in numbers, beat opponents to loose pucks for rebounds, and win board battles.Toronto can learn something from Ottawa, too. The Senators have struggled to get to the interior of the offensive zone, so they've often settled for long-range shots from the high slot and blue line. The best way to turn those low-percentage shots into something dangerous: screens. Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz has battled a screen on four of the Senators' six five-on-five goals.<h3>Sanderson needs to be reined in</h3>Brady Tkachuk's been doing Brady Tkachuk things in the offensive zone. Drake Batherson's been a handful off the rush. Fellow Sens Pinto, Dylan Cozens, Tim Stutzle, and Thomas Chabot have all had their moments of brilliance.Yet none of those core members can compete with Jake Sanderson's play. The 22-year-old blue-liner has been the series' best player, period, thanks in large part to exceptional defensive work. Sanderson's been on an upward trajectory all year, evolving before our eyes into basically a younger version of Jaccob Slavin, Carolina's longtime underrated, do-everything defenseman.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783325/cropped_GettyImages-2212110821.jpg?ts=1746033714" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783325/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212110821.jpg?ts=1746033714 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783325/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212110821.jpg?ts=1746033714 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783325/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212110821.jpg?ts=1746033714 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783325/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212110821.jpg?ts=1746033714 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783325/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212110821.jpg?ts=1746033714 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andre Ringuette / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Sanderson uses his tremendous skating ability, hockey sense, and range to kill plays constantly. As of Wednesday morning, he ranked third among all playoff defensemen in "total defensive plays," a catch-all metric by Sportlogiq. He's first among Sens in stick checks, loose-puck recoveries, and blocked passes; second in blocked shots; third in puck-battle wins; and fourth in defensive-zone denials. He's also the series leader in ice time (27:21 a game).Offensively, it took Sanderson and fellow playoff rookie Chabot a game or two to find a groove. Both have started and joined rushes with more regularity as the series progressed. Sanderson is at his best when he's maneuvering through layers of defense, head up. He really popped in Game 4, not only scoring the winning goal but also recording 11 five-on-five shot attempts.The Leafs need to punish Sanderson on the forecheck as much as possible to limit how often he can contribute to the Senators' breakout.<h3>Protect the house - especially early on</h3>"Score the first goal" is an eye-roll-worthy cliche. But it's stuck for a reason, and in this series, the team that's scored first has won four of five games.Both clubs are well-coached and have already shown they're capable of falling into a defensive shell after gaining a lead. This was especially evident in Games 1 and 2, when the Leafs happily conceded the territorial battle for a triumphant final score. Sens attackers were met with active sticks and well-timed physicality any time they tried to enter the interior of the offensive zone.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783329/cropped_GettyImages-2212110094.jpg?ts=1746035238" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783329/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212110094.jpg?ts=1746035238 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783329/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212110094.jpg?ts=1746035238 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783329/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212110094.jpg?ts=1746035238 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783329/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212110094.jpg?ts=1746035238 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783329/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212110094.jpg?ts=1746035238 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Chisholm / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Ottawa's season is on the line Thursday. If the Sens fall behind early, they'll likely opt for an overly aggressive desperation state of play. This dynamic could prove to be overwhelming for the Leafs ... or completely tolerable given the veteran savvy on the blue line and the ice the Sens will hand over in the process.In that second scenario, seams should open up for Toronto. We've witnessed the Leafs attempt middle-lane stretch passes all series, connecting on a vast majority of them. One particular sequence in Game 1 led to a Marner breakaway goal.One parting thought: The Leafs can't let the Sens' penalty kill get in their heads. Yes, Toronto's allowed two shorthanded goals in this series, and the overall special teams score from Games 4 and 5 was 3-0 for Ottawa. But the focus should remain on executing on the man advantage. Win offensive zone draws, move the puck around efficiently, and pull the trigger on good looks.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Pressure mounting: What Leafs need to do in Game 6 to eliminate Sens

The Ottawa Senators avoided an opening-round sweep Saturday night with a thrilling 4-3 overtime v...

The Ottawa Senators avoided an opening-round sweep Saturday night with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Here are five battles to monitor in Tuesday night's Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena.<h3>Sens' shooters vs. Leafs' blockers</h3>Heading into Monday's games, the Sens ranked 16th out of 16 playoff teams in one important category: inner-slot shots. They've generated a measly 3.8 per game, according to Sportlogiq, with St. Louis sitting 15th at 4.5 per game and the 14 other teams generating between 5.8 (three clubs) and nine (Oilers).The Senators' struggle to get into the interior of the offensive zone is strongly linked to an overall inability to get shots through the Leafs' defensive shell. Those storylines explain the series' arc well.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782921/cropped_GettyImages-2211607973.jpg?ts=1745854556" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782921/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211607973.jpg?ts=1745854556 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782921/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211607973.jpg?ts=1745854556 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782921/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211607973.jpg?ts=1745854556 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782921/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211607973.jpg?ts=1745854556 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782921/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211607973.jpg?ts=1745854556 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andre Ringuette / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Ottawa's attempted 280 total shots over four games - 102 of them have ended up on goal, 83 have missed the net, and, most crucially, 95 have been blocked. Unsurprisingly, Toronto leads the postseason in blocked shots.There have been plenty of instances in which a skilled Sens player enters the Leafs' zone with time and space only for it to evaporate thanks to active sticks and well-timed physicality from the likes of Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Ottawa's most talented forward, Tim Stutzle, has been victimized countless times in this way, though the German (and most of his teammates) did a much better job maximizing offensive-zone possessions in Game 4.Drake Batherson's been the exception to the rule all series. The Sens winger has made mistakes without the puck (blown coverage in overtime of Game 2, reckless penalty late in Game 4), but he's been a handful with it. He's consistently used his skating and big frame to power his way into the middle of the ice and deserves a better stat line than one goal and one assist.<h3>Leafs' power play vs. Sens' penalty kill</h3>The Leafs scored four goals on seven power-play opportunities in the first two games. The total time needed on those successful power plays: 38 seconds.Fast forward to overtime in Game 4, and Toronto looked primed to send the Senators into the offseason after Batherson incurred a four-minute double major for high-sticking. Except the Leafs over-passed. Auston Matthews hitting the post was the lone highlight.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782971/cropped_GettyImages-2212297885.jpg?ts=1745871208" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782971/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212297885.jpg?ts=1745871208 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782971/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212297885.jpg?ts=1745871208 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782971/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212297885.jpg?ts=1745871208 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782971/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212297885.jpg?ts=1745871208 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782971/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212297885.jpg?ts=1745871208 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Two major factors were at play. One, the Leafs' five-forward power-play unit had to be downgraded to four forwards because John Tavares was being treated for a possible concussion. Two, the Senators' penalty kill was better prepared for the Leafs' movement patterns following 12 previous power plays and film study. Toronto had trouble funneling pucks to the goal line and slot areas.It's obvious but needs to be stated: Ottawa's PK can't fail the rest of the team in Game 5. It all starts with goalie Linus Ullmark. The 2023 Vezina Trophy winner hasn't carried his fair share of the load through four games, posting an ugly goals saved above expected of minus-3.7, according to Sportlogiq.<h3>Sens' doggedness vs. Stolarz's sightlines</h3>The Senators have scored 10 goals in the series but only five at even strength.Of those five, three came off rebounds, one was a deflected point shot, and one was a screened point shot. What do those five Sens goals have in common? They involved some degree of chaos in front of Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz, either immediately before or during the shot attempt.Playoff hockey isn't rocket science. Get bodies to the net and then outwork the opposition to the puck, whether it's loose or in flight. This is especially applicable to the Sens in this matchup: They have less talent, which means they must be the hungriest for pucks.<h3>Matthew Knies vs. Ridly Greig</h3>Matthew Knies proved in the regular season that he wasn't some sidekick to linemates Matthews and Mitch Marner. The 22-year-old's taken his game to an even higher level as arguably the best forward on either team through four games.Knies is coach Craig Berube's dream when it comes to executing a north-south playing style. A linebacker on skates at 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, he crashes and bangs on the forecheck and retrieves dump-ins at a high rate. He's outstanding at keeping his feet moving in traffic both off the rush and in the offensive zone, making him difficult to contain. His playmaking seems to be improving daily, too.Knies' physical traits were on full display for his breakaway goal in Game 4:<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/urMxY214WdI?si=vaiTCi1R-oKm6YKT" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>In Knies, Matthews, and Tavares, the Leafs have three top-six forwards who can be physically dominant shift to shift. This has proven to be an issue for a Sens team that isn't overly imposing down the middle or on the blue line.Knies' emergence has been especially important for Toronto because the Leafs have received nothing offensively from second-line left winger Pontus Holmberg, and the Max Domi-centered third line can't seem to find its purpose.Ridly Greig is the Sens' closest equivalent to Knies. Greig's smaller and not quite the same player, but both occupy that space between their club's star players and bit pieces. Greig's been on the ice for three five-on-five goals against and none for, but he's personally looked effective most shifts. He has that high-motor, in-your-face layer to his game that leaves the door open for a monster performance. Greig has a chance here to be a villain on the road.This battle of Knies versus Greig isn't head-to-head. But if Ottawa can slow down Knies and Greig can make a Knies-esque impact, Game 5 should be close.<h3>Leafs' stars vs. human element</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782986/cropped_GettyImages-2212297850.jpg?ts=1745875338" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782986/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212297850.jpg?ts=1745875338 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782986/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212297850.jpg?ts=1745875338 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782986/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212297850.jpg?ts=1745875338 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782986/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212297850.jpg?ts=1745875338 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782986/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212297850.jpg?ts=1745875338 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Imagine for a moment the Leafs surrender the first goal for the third straight game. Now imagine you're Matthews, Marner, Nylander, or Morgan Rielly, one of the players who's lost 11 of 12 series closeout games.What goes through your mind? How do you feel? They're all human."They've got demons in their head, in their car, under their f-----g beds, everywhere they turn, there's a f-----g demon," former Leafs assistant coach Paul MacLean said in the 2021 "All Or Nothing" Amazon documentary."The biggest obstacle this team has now is themselves."The Leafs have won a series since MacLean's revealing soundbite, and the roster's been turned over for the most part. Plus, they enter Tuesday night up 3-1. There's no logical reason to panic.Still, the core's history is what it is, and Ottawa, for all its warts, has pushed Toronto to three overtimes in four games. There are no free wins in the playoffs. Psyches will be tested if things go sideways early in Game 5.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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5 battles that'll determine Game 5 of Leafs-Senators series

The Maple Leafs have a 2-0 lead in a playoff series for the first time since 2002, and the Senato...

The Maple Leafs have a 2-0 lead in a playoff series for the first time since 2002, and the Senators are hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2017. The ever-entertaining Battle of Ontario resumes Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. Here are six thoughts on the matchup heading into Game 3.<h3>Senators need to put out PK fire</h3>Everything in this series, which began with 6-2 and 3-2 Leafs victories in Toronto, flows downstream from the talent gap at forward.The Senators simply don't have what the Leafs have in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. Nor do they have an answer for a top power-play unit featuring those three, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782039/cropped_GettyImages-2211320757.jpg?ts=1745440496" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782039/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211320757.jpg?ts=1745440496 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782039/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211320757.jpg?ts=1745440496 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782039/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211320757.jpg?ts=1745440496 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782039/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211320757.jpg?ts=1745440496 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782039/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211320757.jpg?ts=1745440496 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Toronto's capitalized on four of seven power-play opportunities. Each goal has followed an offensive zone faceoff win, with the five-forward unit needing just nine, three, eight, and 18 seconds of PP time to find the back of the net. The Leafs' stars are picking apart the Senators' diamond formation by moving the puck frequently, not overthinking shot selection, and crashing the crease.It can be difficult for a team to change its special teams strategy mid-series. However, pivoting to a less aggressive penalty-killing scheme would be worth a try given the dire results. The ultimate pivot, of course, would be taking fewer penalties. The officiating standard has been set. Time to adhere to it.<h3>Leafs stifling dangerous Stutzle</h3>Ottawa gains two things in Game 3: the home crowd and last change.Head coach Travis Green's No. 1 task is obvious to all parties. Get Tim Stutzle, the Sens' best offensive player, away from the Leafs' best defensive players.The series' five-on-five numbers heavily favor Stutzle and linemates Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux (85% of the shot attempts, 71% of the expected goals). Yet, the Sens' top trio has struggled to infiltrate the middle of the ice.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782041/cropped_GettyImages-2211649374.jpg?ts=1745440642" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782041/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211649374.jpg?ts=1745440642 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782041/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211649374.jpg?ts=1745440642 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782041/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211649374.jpg?ts=1745440642 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782041/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211649374.jpg?ts=1745440642 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782041/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211649374.jpg?ts=1745440642 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Claus Andersen / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>There's been a Leaf waiting with an active stick or body check seemingly every time Stutzle's tried to attack off the rush. Sometimes it's Matthews, Marner, or Knies. Other times it's Jake McCabe or Chris Tanev. Those five have seen plenty of Stutzle so far and fared well steering him to the perimeter.Green should target the Max Domi line and the Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson pairing as much as possible in hopes that Stutzle can occasionally roam free.As for the rest of the lineup, how about promoting Fabian Zetterlund? A natural goal-scorer currently on the fourth line, Zetterlund's earned either the 1LW or 2LW spot over Giroux or David Perron by pushing the pace, getting in on the forecheck, and laying hits. It would be a low-risk, high reward move for Green.<h3>Leafs depth providing answers and questions</h3>Speaking of mixing and matching, Toronto head coach Craig Berube elevated Pontus Holmberg to his second line midway through Game 1 and looks smart for it.Holmberg has fit in seamlessly as Tavares and Nylander's third wheel. The trio is up 1-0 in 15 five-on-five minutes together thanks in part to Holmberg's blue-collar work. He's made little chip plays to keep the action moving in the right direction, extended possessions by protecting the puck, and drawn two penalties. The oft-forgotten Leaf even had a breakaway early in Game 2.The fourth line of Scott Laughton between Calle Jarnkrok and Steven Lorentz is also off to a promising start. The same can't be said about the "what exactly do you do around here?" line of Bobby McMann, Max Domi, and Nick Robertson. Domi's Game 2 overtime goal (rightfully) overshadows how ineffective he's been on the whole, especially compared to 4C Laughton.<h3>Starting goalies on opposite paths</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782046/cropped_GettyImages-2210612798.jpg?ts=1745440902" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782046/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210612798.jpg?ts=1745440902 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782046/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210612798.jpg?ts=1745440902 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782046/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210612798.jpg?ts=1745440902 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782046/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210612798.jpg?ts=1745440902 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782046/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210612798.jpg?ts=1745440902 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Sens goalie Linus Ullmark allowed six goals in Game 1. It felt like a mulligan for the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner since he was left out to dry multiple times.Ullmark wasn't horrendous in Game 2, but he wasn't nearly good enough, again. No goalie gets two mulligans in two games. The Swede has let his club down and neither can afford another subpar goaltending performance.Anthony Stolarz, meanwhile, has been in complete control, stopping 57 of 61 shots while outplaying his environment a bit at 1.93 goals saved above expected, according to <a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/stats/goalie_standard/?_inputs_&amp;std_gl_table=%22On-Ice%22&amp;std_gl_team=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_str=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_adj=%22No%20Adjustment%22&amp;std_gl_range=%22Seasons%22&amp;std_gl_span=%22Playoffs%22&amp;std_gl_group=%22Team%2C%20Season%22&amp;std_gl_age1=%2217%22&amp;std_gl_age2=%2250%22&amp;std_gl_dft_yr=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_status=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_info=%22No%22&amp;std_gl_players=null&amp;std_gl_fa=%2250%22&amp;std_gl_season=%2220242025%22">Evolving Hockey</a>. He hasn't lost since March 15.The Sens have outshot the Leafs in both games and are no doubt trying to rally behind that fact internally. One issue: Toronto boasted a league-best 33-12-2 record when outshot during the regular season. The defensive shell hardens quickly if the Leafs gain a lead. Ottawa needs the first goal.<h3>Signature performance incoming?</h3>Part of the Sens' conundrum relates to Jake Sanderson's and Thomas Chabot's lack of dynamism to their games right now. Neither is initiating or joining the rush with the usual probing creativity.The Leafs' neutral-zone forecheck has played a major role in keeping a lid on the Sens' explosiveness. We also can't discount the human element - this is all new for playoff rookies Sanderson, Chabot, and other young Sens. Everybody goes through an adjustment period. How long it lasts is the tricky question.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782058/cropped_GettyImages-2208852200.jpg?ts=1745447049" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782058/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208852200.jpg?ts=1745447049 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782058/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208852200.jpg?ts=1745447049 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782058/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208852200.jpg?ts=1745447049 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782058/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208852200.jpg?ts=1745447049 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782058/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208852200.jpg?ts=1745447049 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andre Ringuette / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Can one of the stud blue-liners, captain Tkachuk, Stutzle, or Drake Batherson deliver a signature performance for Ottawa before it's too late? Leafs fans know all too well what it feels like to wait for a dominant, MVP game from a star player.On that note, Matthews and Knies are prime candidates to pop off in Game 3. Both have been excellent - winning puck battles, causing turnovers, blocking shots, generating scoring chances - but have just one goal between them for Toronto.<h3>Greig chaos watch officially on</h3>The stage is set for some kind of Ridly Greig-related chaos.Maybe it's a controversial goal where the Sens winger accidentally-on-purpose falls onto Stolarz as the puck crosses the line. Or maybe a penalty's drawn through pure agitation. Or a penalty's taken by Greig himself because he lets emotions get in the way of playing quality hockey. Who knows.But it sure feels like, no matter who ultimately wins Game 3, Greig will be in the middle of it. Remember, this is the guy who blasted a one-timer into an empty net in a 2024 regular-season game before eating a wicked Morgan Rielly cross-check. Greig's had one of his sticks <a href="https://x.com/Sportsnet/status/1914819606893695467/">snapped in half</a> by Matthews, been called "annoying" by Knies, and been the target of many Stolarz whacks.What are the consequences of whatever shenanigans unfold Thursday?<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782059/cropped_GettyImages-2210111592.jpg?ts=1745447211" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782059/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210111592.jpg?ts=1745447211 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782059/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210111592.jpg?ts=1745447211 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782059/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210111592.jpg?ts=1745447211 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782059/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210111592.jpg?ts=1745447211 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782059/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210111592.jpg?ts=1745447211 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andre Ringuette / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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6 Battle of Ontario thoughts ahead of pivotal Game 3

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