Florida Panthers

The Toronto Maple Leafs needed a big night from their big stars. They did not get one Friday.

John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner were held off the scoreboard in Game 5, and the Florida Panthers scored in overtime to eliminate the Leafs with a 3-2 win in Toronto.

The Panthers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in franchise history.

Meanwhile, the Leafs' 56-year Stanley Cup drought remained one of hockey fans' favorite jokes.

20,465 days since a Cup.

7,669 days since winning a second round series.

1,175 days since losing to an AHL Zamboni driver.

0 days since being eliminated by the 17th place @FlaPanthers. #LeafsForever

— Since Leafs Last Cup (@LeafsIastCup) May 13, 2023

Someone forgot to tell the Leafs you don’t win the Stanley Cup in the first round

— Louis (@Louis_Onofrio) May 13, 2023

After that goal, the New York Islanders still have more playoff series wins in Toronto than John Tavares has as a Maple Leaf.

— UrinatingTree (@UrinatingTree) May 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/JamesNCFan1/status/1657217177085173761

A good effort from a small market team like the Maple Leafs, but as usual it was a team from a real hockey market like the state of Florida that sends them packing

— Andrew Weiss (@WeissHockeyTalk) May 13, 2023

The good new for Tavares is that he abandoned the franchise that adopted and raised him, but at least he got to go home and ruin his childhood favourite team’s cup chances with his albatross of a contract.

— Cory (@Corynoscopy) May 13, 2023

Playoff losses are nothing new for a team that just ended its first second-round appearance since 2004. This one, however, raised questions about whether the Maple Leafs can make a deep run with their core.

Captain Tavares, who earned several scoring chances in the elimination game, recorded just one assist in five games in the second round.

John Tavares’ inability to finish his chances is a huge reason the Leafs are down 3-1 in this series. Gotta find a way to finish.

— Sam McKee (@SamAMcKee) May 12, 2023

Maybe Morgan Rielly should come out for the third wearing that C, since John Tavares doesn't seem to want it.#LeafsForever

— Annex Canada (but not Quebec) (@torontobaghead) May 13, 2023

Bench Tavares now. Captain but is worst when it matters the most

— Johan s (@Johans54806418) May 13, 2023

rip the C off of Tavares’ chest and slap it on Rielly’s

— bobbi :(( (@mo_gardiner) May 13, 2023

get a new coach and strip tavares’ C please.

— ☘︎ (@AU5T0N) May 13, 2023

Tavares do something!
Otherwise give up that C .
Your children are in attendance DO SOMETHING

— Fer (@Fershebang96) May 12, 2023

Gotta love the difference between the guy who's supposed to be your captain and the actual captain of this team. Tavares is a non factor and Cptn. Mo Rielly plays big when it matters. #leafs #Leafsin7 #tradeJT#givehimtheC

— Apathetic Leafs Fan (@BRNR11679280) May 13, 2023

Fans also leveled criticism at Matthews, who tallied 40 goals during the regular season but was scoreless against the Panthers.

https://twitter.com/hammyahol/status/1657198050970943488

we’re gonna lose a series where Matthews and Tavares combined for 0 goals

— bobbi :(( (@mo_gardiner) May 13, 2023

I am the most angry at Auston Matthews. Zero goals is unacceptable. I do not care about anything else. Zero goals in round 2

— thisteambringsnothingbutpain-in 6! (@LeafsFanMd) May 13, 2023

Auston Matthews looks like a freaking freight train, goes wherever he wants, has the puck on a string AND NEVER SCORES

— Mark Armstrong (@MarkPArmstrong) May 13, 2023

Matthews still plays for the Leafs right? I dunno.

— Matty Dubs. (@AustonPowers34) May 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/SB4xJG4/status/1657191333788778503

Back at the beginning of the night, Florida's Aaron Ekblad scored on a power play 3:31 in before the Leafs took control of the first period.

Toronto looked like it was moments from getting one of several high-danger chances past Sergei Bobrovsky when the Panthers earned a rush the other way. Carter Verhaeghe deflated the crowd when he blasted home a one-timer from a sharp angle, stretching the Panthers' lead to 2-0 at 16:18.

Eight minutes into the second period, Sam Lafferty led a charge into the Panthers' zone. The Leafs set up, and Morgan Rielly's shot from the point snaked through traffic to finally beat Bobrovsky.

Toward the end of the frame, it appeared Rielly had tied the game with his second goal of the night. This time, he came in alone, cut across the net and shoved the puck into Bobrovsky's pads. Rielly raised his arms in celebration as the crowd erupted—too early, as it turned out. Referees were already waving off the goal.

After minutes of deliberation, the NHL situation room made the call. The puck crossed the line after the official had decided the play was dead.

Boos echoed through Scotiabank Arena as the teams left for the break.

goodbye goodbye goodbye you were bigger than the whole sky pic.twitter.com/to9nlWp2AN

— marcie (@60leafs) May 13, 2023

The most leaf thing is to probably lose a series bc the ref blew the whistle before the puck crossed the line. So the goal is no good 😂

— PVolpe (@paulie_volpe) May 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/bigscreenleaks/status/1657191441334935553

It’s the same thing every year: a blown call heavily influences a loss

Last year was #Holl disallowed #Tavares goal, and now #Reilly goal turned back on what should’ve been a continuance play.

Absolute garbage. #LeafsForever

— Angelo Ricci (@angeloricci_) May 13, 2023

They’ll be talking about that no goal for a long time around these parts.

Or maybe not. If the Leafs find a way.

But if they don’t. They’ll talk.

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) May 13, 2023

With less than five minutes left in regulation, William Nylander scored one of the most clutch goals of his career.

Tavares fed Nylander at the blue line. Nylander, who also scored in the Leafs' 2-1 Game 4 win, zipped into the zone, shouldered aside a defender and snapped the puck up high over Bobrovsky's shoulder.

It's really the Big Three, all above 10M AAV, that seem to wilt in their scoring when the games get tough. Nylander isn't in that group in salary or in play. Dude is clutch.

— Ryan (@ryanfancey) May 13, 2023

William Nylander and Morgan Rielly are the only Leafs that matter.

— ًًً (@icenineleafs) May 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/CarcelMousineau/status/1657202390653698051

Nylander outplaying Matthews by about 5m AAV

— Mr. Tenkrat (@PeterTenkrat) May 13, 2023

Nylander and Rielly are the heart of that team. Consistently.

— Berkshire.bsky.social (@AndrewBerkshire) May 13, 2023

Matthews earned consecutive point-blank jabs in the paint three minutes into overtime but was turned aside by Bobrovsky.

The Leafs successfully killed off a TJ Brodie delay-of-game penalty before a Tavares tip on a Brodie shot nearly ended things with under seven minutes remaining.

Then, a couple of Leafs collided in the defensive zone, and the Panthers earned an odd-man rush the other way. Radko Gudas fed Nick Cousins, who waited, dragged it back and scored to ruin Toronto's comeback.

Having completed their second straight upset after knocking out the Boston Bruins in the first round, the Panthers will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference final. The Hurricanes have home-ice advantage, so Florida will head to Raleigh for Game 1.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been stunned in back-to-back games by the Florida Panthers to open the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

After taking Game 1 at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, the "Comeback Cats" defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in Thursday's Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead over Toronto with the series set to shift back to South Florida.

Down 2-0 just 5:10 into the first period, the relentlessness of the Panthers was on full display when Anton Lundell scored at the 11:13 mark of the first period to cut the lead to 2-1 entering the middle frame.

Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling scored back-to-back goals in the first 1:06 of the second period to put the Panthers up 3-2, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky went on to stop the remainder of the shots he faced as Florida shut out the Leafs in the final two periods.

THE CAPTAIN TIES IT ‼️ pic.twitter.com/aKtKUoFWIK

— x - Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 5, 2023

Chucky finds Gus and oh myyyyyyy 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Vf709ur4kv

— x - Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 5, 2023

B🚫B getting it done 👏 pic.twitter.com/ytAAMV9467

— x - Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 5, 2023

After defeating the top-seeded Boston Bruins in Game 7 and taking a 2-0 series lead over the Maple Leafs, fans are touting the eighth-seeded Panthers as a "team of destiny," and rightfully so:

The Florida Panthers best the Maple Leafs again in Toronto

This might be a team of destiny

— Football (@BostonConnr) May 5, 2023

Are the Florida Panthers the team of destiny?

— Dustin (@Haloopa) May 5, 2023

Are the panthers a team of destiny or something? Wtf

— 🚏 (@atlcopo) May 5, 2023

simultaneously wanting the Leafs to lose the series bc duh, Panthers to lose because they knocked the Bruins, but also hoping Florida’s just a team of destiny to make myself feel better about the Bruins’ 1st round exit

— Sarah (@skg_18) May 5, 2023

A Paul Maurice coached Florida Panthers team... Is a team of destiny???

— Coale Henderson | Producer Coale Bay-Bay (@CoaleTrain) May 5, 2023

https://twitter.com/JandSbets/status/1654300650048462849

Fans also couldn't help but tout Bobrovsky for his brilliant performance in goal:

sergei bobrovsky saving five goals above expected over the first two games 👍 pic.twitter.com/sE000DWr74

— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) May 5, 2023

Yeah if Bobrovsky’s gonna play like this Florida’s really gonna win the whole goddamn thing

— Jim Murray (@bigjimmurray) May 5, 2023

Sergei Bobrovsky is the definition of "goalies are voodoo".

Multiple Vezinas. $70 million contract. Loses his job to 2nd & 3rd stringers. Randomly comes back and lights it up in the playoffs.

— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) May 5, 2023

bobrovsky is the goalie this era deserves tbh

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) May 5, 2023

Sergei Bobrovsky saved 2.04 goals above expected, per @EvolvingHockey. Not just a quality start but a stolen win.

— Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) May 5, 2023

the Florida Panthers go back to Sunrise with a 2-0 series lead. give Sergei Bobrovsky the first second and third stars of the game.

— Roy Bellamy (@roybelly) May 5, 2023

The Panthers give off "team of destiny vibes," and now they'll have the opportunity to potentially sweep the Maple Leafs on their home ice in Games 3 and 4. With Bobrovsky playing like the two-time Vezina Trophy winner that he is, it's possible we see Florida take full command of this series.

Game 3 between the Panthers and Maple Leafs is set for Sunday at FLA Live Arena.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjtPlU9PtII

Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron hadn't missed a playoff game since 2018, and their historic 2022-23 regular season likely doesn't happen without his decision to return to Boston on a one-year contract.

The perpetual Selke front-runner ended the season third on the team in points, still very much at the top of the league when it comes to two-way forwards. Most importantly, he's been a familiar leader as these Bruins and new head coach Jim Montgomery navigate their first season together.

The man played through a punctured lung during Game 6 of the 2013 Stanley Cup, but the stomach bug that has been circulating the Bruins' locker room presents a different liability because it's contagious. At the wrong time, things were trending against the Presidents' Trophy winners.

So the Bruins were without their captain for Game 1 against the Panthers. Everyone except Bergeron ended up good to go, but players weren't completely certain about the lineup until warm-ups.

"He was around all day, he talked to us before the game," said Jake DeBrusk, who scored in the Bruins' 3-1 win. "He was watching here in the room. Obviously, he is such a presence, you can tell how bad he wants to be out there. But it's one of those things we take as a team, it gives you a boost seeing him around. It's one of those things where we want to do it for him, that was the main goal at the start of the year."

The uncertainty surrounding the Bruins' lineup, the possibility that some players weren't at 100 percent health and the captain on the sideline would've been the perfect opportunity for the Panthers—who, for some reason, are taking exception to the "underdog" title—to steal a game and set things off in a different tone.

The Florida Panthers know most are viewing them as heavy underdogs against the record-setting Boston Bruins.

Ahead of Game 1, saw Florida players at TD Garden wearing t-shirts that have two words written on the back:

“Lead Dogs”

— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) April 17, 2023

Instead, the 2022-23 Bruins kept on 2022-23 Bruinsing.

Ullmark, who had been sick all week but woke up Monday feeling fine, made 31 saves.

"I thought he was excellent, cool, calm, just real confident, seeing the puck really well, steering rebounds," Montgomery said postgame at TD Garden. "It looked like there was a lot of chaos around our net, he's just great at steering pucks to the bad areas or smothering them up. It really provides us with a lot of confidence and allows us to control the chaos."

And there was chaos. Florida outshot Boston 32-29, but in the end, Matthew Tkachuk was the only Panther to make it count.

There was, as there is every year, so much talk about the Presidents' Trophy and its alleged curses headed into this postseason. But what happens when this trophy and all its bad vibes meet a team so good that luck isn't needed?

Ullmark Ullmarks. Then David Pastrňák and his brand new mullet David Pastrňáks, with his signature power-play goal to open up scoring for the Bruins. Of course, Brad Marchand Brad Marchands, and his 50th career playoff goal was a far-away fluke that a playoff veteran has a specific eye for.

You're generally going to need your stars to step up most nights in the playoffs, but the reason the Bruins feel downright unstoppable is depth. It's Pavel Zacha stepping into Bergeron's first-line center role without a hitch with a 59 percent faceoff percentage.

"For the last few years we've had that next man up mentality, Jake (Debrusk) Pavel (Zacha) and I spoke a lot about how we wanted to play and step it up," Marchand said. "It's just an opportunity when one guy goes down for someone else to step up, and Pav did an incredible job."

Then there was Tyler Bertuzzi's NHL playoff debut. The Bruins' final acquisition of the NHL trade deadline won the 2017 AHL playoff MVP title with the Grand Rapids Griffins, and his hard-nosed, dirty-area style combined with his elite hockey IQ translated just fine at the highest level.

He ended the night with two assists, two big hits, a Panthers' stick, more than 18 minutes of playing time, and high praise all around.

This is such a good, reactionary pass from Bertuzzi to set up Pastrnak for the goal. The fact that he gets this pass off so quickly gives Pasta all the space to score. pic.twitter.com/5BqKgznnWL

— Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) April 17, 2023

Bertuzzi took Cousins' stick to the Bruins' bench and broke it 😂 https://t.co/T8Pxp8vc0w

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 18, 2023

"He did great, he's a competitor, he battles extremely hard," Marchand said. "He's just one of those guys you hate to play against, he brings it every night. A guy that you knew was going to show up and be a playoff-type player."

"When we acquired him we thought he was a guy that was made for the playoffs," Montgomery added. "I thought his first shift he laid out two huge hits, he just kept making plays. The puck just seems to follow him and he makes really good decisions with it."

It was just one game, and Marchand mentioned the second one is usually harder to win. But the Bruins took the best opportunity the Panthers might have to gain an edge on this series and reminded us that the Presidents' Trophy curse need not apply.

"Just gotta get 15 more," Ullmark quipped.

Following a record-setting regular season in which they scored the most points of any team in NHL history, the Boston Bruins got their postseason off to a great start with a 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers at TD Garden in Boston.

As it did throughout most of the season, it was Boston's offense that pushed it over the top, helping the team overcome an impressive performance by Florida's Alex Lyon in net.

Lyon, who was making his playoff debut after having a huge impact for the Panthers over the final stretch of the year, had 26 saves but it wasn't enough.

It was a battle of the last two Presidents' Trophy winners and MVP contender David Pastrňák embraced the challenge as he continued his superb season by opening the scoring midway through the first period.

Pastrňák finished second in the league with 61 goals. He trailed only Edmonton's Connor McDavid. He was also tied for third with 113 points. Boston fans will be happy to see that his production is translating to the postseason.

Brad Marchand scored Boston's second goal and after Matthew Tkachuk cut into the 2-0 deficit, Jake Debrusk took advantage of Lyon not noticing the puck on his pads and pushed it in to restore the two-goal advantage that it'd never give up.

Perhaps the star of the night was Tyler Bertuzzi, who finished with two assists and was all over the ice. He was a headache for the Panthers all night long in his first taste of playoff hockey.

The Bruins are big favorites to win the series over Florida as they look to become the first team since the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks to win the President's Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season.

Twitter heaped praise on Bertuzzi and the NHL's best squad for the dominant performance.

#NHLBRUINS WIN GAME 1!!! pic.twitter.com/PVDzCvSIMS

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 18, 2023

If this is the result with our entire roster sick and our captain missing, I’m scared to see what we can actually do. Ullmark rock solid, Bertuzzi the best player on the ice tonight, all around excellent win considering the conditions.

— Mike (@PastrnakGOAT) April 18, 2023

The feeeeed. 🍝 pic.twitter.com/zoEh433idx

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 18, 2023

The Bruins are 43-1-3 when scoring first. That is incredible.

— Jeff Johnson (@jeje66) April 17, 2023

https://twitter.com/iancmclaren/status/1648134477598556163

Bertuzzi with an amazing pass to set up Pastrnak’s PP goal.

— Nicholas W. Goss (@NickGossNBCSB) April 17, 2023

Said on the radio today that I had a feeling Tyler Bertuzzi would have a good run. Off to a good start here. Two helpers through two periods.

— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) April 18, 2023

In news that literally everyone saw coming, Tyler Bertuzzi with two points in his first two periods of NHL playoff hockey

— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) April 18, 2023

1-0 Bruins. Beautiful play by Bertuzzi to collect that rebound and throw a pass behind his back right to Pastrnak.

— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) April 17, 2023

What a feed by Bertuzzi!

— Brian Barrett (@itsbrianbarrett) April 17, 2023

Perhaps what's most impressive from Monday night's win is that the Bruins were able to do it without their captain Patrice Bergeron, who was out with an upper body injury that he suffered in the regular season finale.

It's scary to think of what a full strength squad will be able to do.

Game two of the series is set for Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Florida Panthers teammates and brothers Eric and Marc Staal did not participate in warm-ups ahead of Thursday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at FLA Live Arena in protest of the team's annual Pride Night, which includes the option to wear rainbow Pride jerseys.

The Staal brothers cited their religious beliefs as the reason they did not participate in wearing the Pride jerseys, per Florida Hockey Now's George Richards.

"The Panthers said any player who did not choose to wear the jersey had that right but would not warm up before the game," Richards wrote.

Eric and Marc Staal said in a statement, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press:

"After many thoughts, prayers and discussions we have chosen not to wear a pride jersey tonight. We carry no judgement on how people choose to live their lives, and believe that all people should be welcome in all aspects of the game of hockey.

"Having said that, we feel that by us wearing a pride jersey it goes against our Christian beliefs. We hope you can respect this statement, we will not be speaking any further on this matter and would like to continue to focus on the game and helping the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup."

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said of the team's decision to move forward with wearing the jerseys:

"As an organization, we have decided — and rightfully so — to move forward with it and support it and celebrate it.

"Teams around the league and players around the league, they've got the right to their opinion, and we've got the right to ours. But I've seen the sweaters. They're great looking, and it should be a great night tonight."

The Staal brothers join San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov in choosing not to wear Pride jerseys during their team's annual Pride Night celebrations.

Both Reimer and Provorov cited their religious beliefs as the reason for not wearing the jerseys.

Pride jerseys have become a contentious topic around the NHL since Provorov opted against wearing one during Philadelphia's Pride Night in January.

Four NHL teams have pulled the plug entirely on wearing Pride jerseys this season—the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks and Wild reportedly cited concern for the safety of Russian players as the reasoning for having their teams not suit up in Pride jerseys.

A Russian law enacted in December expanded the country's ban on "gay propaganda," making it "illegal to promote or 'praise' LGBTQ relationships, publicly express non-heterosexual orientations or suggest that they are 'normal,'" according to CNN's Ivana Kottasova and Anna Chernova.

The Rangers scrapped plans to wear Pride jerseys for warm-ups on Jan. 27, citing "everyone's individual right to respectfully express their beliefs." The Islanders also did not wear the jerseys for warm-ups on Feb. 9, citing an organizational policy.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman commented on the way teams have handled Pride Night celebrations during the NHL's All-Star Weekend in February (h/t Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press):

"You know what our goals, our values and our intentions are across the league, whether it's at the league level or at the club level. But we also have to respect some individual choice, and some people are more comfortable embracing themselves in causes than others. And part of being diverse and welcoming is understanding those differences."

A number of teams still have Pride Night celebrations on tap before the end of the regular season next month.

Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight has entered the player assistance program and will be away from the team indefinitely, the NHL and NHL Players' Association announced Friday.

Knight will continue to be paid while receiving treatment and will not be able to return to on-ice competition until cleared to do so by the program's administrators.

The player assistance program, founded in 1996, is available to all players and their families and helps those struggling with mental health, substance abuse and other matters.

Knight was selected by the Panthers 13th overall in the 2019 NHL draft out of Boston College.

The Connecticut native made his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season as a 19-year-old and has appeared in 21 games for the Panthers this season, posting a 9-8-3 record with a 3.18 goals-against average, .901 save percentage and one shutout.

Knight was assigned to the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday alongside forward Grigori Denisenko.

The Panthers will rely on Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Lyon between the pipes in Knight's absence. Florida sits fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 29-25-6 record.

Because of privacy laws, a player's reasoning for entering the player assistance program is not released.

The NHL and NHLPA's player assistance program has been used by players more often in recent seasons.

In October, Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana entered the program and wasn't reinstated until December. When he was cleared to return, Vrana did not reveal why he entered the program, telling reporters it was a personal matter.

Additionally, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price used the program last season and later revealed he entered it for help with substance abuse and mental health.

"Over the last few years I have let myself get to a very dark place and I didn't have the tools to cope with that struggle," Price said in a statement. "Things had reached a point that I realized I needed to prioritize my health for both myself and for my family.

"Asking for help when you need it is what we encourage our kids to do. And it was what I needed to do."

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