It's never not dramatic in Toronto when it involves the Maple Leafs. The Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers 3-2 in overtime of Game 5 on Friday…
NHL Fans Mock John Tavares, Maple Leafs After Toronto Eliminated by Panthers in OT
May 13, 2023
TORONTO, ON - MAY 12: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up before facing the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on May 12, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 eliminated from the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs with an INSERT ROUND/LOSS to the TEAM X, which means it's time for the…
NHL Rumors: Ryan Reynolds' Bid to Buy Ottawa Senators Won't Move Forward
May 11, 2023
WREXHAM, WALES - MAY 02: Ryan Reynolds, Co-Owner of Wrexham Football Club celebrates with players of Wrexham Men's and Women's sides during a Wrexham FC bus parade following their respective title winning seasons in the Vanarama National League and Genero Adran North, on May 02, 2023 in Wrexham, Wales. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
It's a disappointing day for Ottawa's Deadpool lovers.
Actor Ryan Reynolds will not be moving forward with his bid to own the Ottawa Senators, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan.
Reynolds was preparing a bid for the Senators alongside real estate mogul Christopher Bratty and the Remington Group. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported two weeks ago the bid was estimated to be worth over $1 billion.
Neither Reynolds nor the rest of the Remington Group will be moving forward with the bid, Garrioch reported.
Reynolds requested "an exclusive window to complete the deal" and was denied, per Kaplan. The deadline for final, non-binding offers for the Ottawa team is May 15.
News: Ryan Reynolds' bid to own the NHL's Ottawa Senators is not moving forward, sources told ESPN.https://t.co/rYEWrsITzo
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman previously told ESPN he had met with Reynolds to discuss potential ownership of the Senators.
The news comes after Snoop Dogg recently reaffirmed he will be part of a bid for the Senators led by businessman Neko Sparks. Sparks was reportedly the highest bidder in the first round of bidding, with an offer of over $900 million.
Garrioch reported that other interested bidders includeMichael Andlauer, who owns the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs and 20 percent of the Montreal Canadiens, Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos, and Jeffrey and Michael Kimel, previous owners of a minority piece of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Forbes valued the Ottawa Senators at $800 million last December, but after high first-round bids, the team's value has reportedly approached $1 billion.
That price would make this the most expensive hockey team transaction since the Fenway Sports Group purchased the Penguins in 2021 for $900 million. Forbes projected that price was equal to 4.5x the Pittsburgh team's projected revenue for the 2021-22 season, while Fenway Sports Group chairman Tom Werner said it was the value of an "iconic" brand.
The Senators have been looking at moving their arena, currently miles from the city center, toward Ottawa's downtown. That's an additional cost for the team's future owner to consider. Whoever that is, it will likely not be Reynolds.
Joseph Woll Excites Fans as Matthews, Maple Leafs Save Season vs. Tkachuk, Panthers
May 11, 2023
SUNRISE, FL - MAY 7: Joseph Woll #60 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stops a shot by Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers during third period action in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on May 7, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
The Toronto Maple Leafs live to see another day in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Down 3-0 and on the verge of elimination in their second-round series against the Florida Panthers, the Maple Leafs rallied for a 2-1 victory Wednesday night at FLA Live Arena to keep their title hopes alive.
After a scoreless first period, William Nylander opened the scoring on the power play at the 3:29 mark of the middle frame to put Toronto up 1-0.
The Panthers made a significant push in the third period in an attempt to tie the game, but Maple Leafs rookie netminder Joseph Woll was outstanding in the crease, stopping 24 of 25 shots in the win.
Mitch Marner went on to give the Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead at the 10:03 mark of the third on a seeing-eye shot that beat Sergei Bobrovsky.
Leafs are outshooting, out-hitting, out faceoff-ing, and out possessing the Panthers, and Woll has been excellent so far. Go out and give him some insurance in the third.
Woll was given the nod for Game 4 after starting goaltender Ilya Samsonov was knocked out of Game 3 with an upper-body injury. Wednesday's contest was his first career NHL playoff start.
The 24-year-old, who was selected in the third round of the 2016 draft out of Boston College, appeared in seven games for the Maple Leafs during the regular season, posting a 6-1-0 record with a 2.16 goals-against average and .932 save percentage.
Given his successful track record, the Leafs may want to go with Woll as the starter for Game 5, regardless if Samsonov is healthy enough to play.
Game 5 between the Leafs and Panthers is set for Friday at Scotiabank Arena.
NHL Rumors: The Weeknd Joins Ownership Group Seeking to Purchase Ottawa Senators
May 6, 2023
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: The Weeknd attends 20th Century Studio's "Avatar 2: The Way of Water" U.S. Premiere at Dolby Theatre at Dolby Theatre on December 12, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)
Investors continue to add some big names to their bidding groups for the Ottawa Senators.
After rapper and actor Snoop Dogg joined Neko Sparks' bidding group to purchase the Sens earlier this week, Canadian singer and songwriter The Weeknd has agreed to join the bidding group led by Toronto billionaires Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of the Harlo Capital Group, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.
The Weeknd, who's real name is Abel Tesfaye, wanted to join the bidding group because "he grew up in Toronto, loves hockey, has ties to the Ottawa area and believes there's a chance to be part of something special here," according to Garrioch.
A source close to The Weeknd told Garrioch:
"He's going to be a great partner for Ottawa and the NHL. The team he works with grew up in Ottawa, so they know the market really well, but he's the largest musician planet right now. He has the most views, the most streams and he's a hockey guy.
"He doesn't like to be in the media very often so this really says something that he wants to be part of a bid. He wants to get this deal done, he wants to build something that will be great great in Ottawa and he'll be a good fit. He's got a lot of connections of worldwide."
Another celebrity, actor Ryan Reynolds, joined the Remington Group's bid to purchase the franchise. Garrioch reported last week that the consortium was preparing to make an offer worth more than $1 billion.
The Melnyk family, which owns the Senators, hired New York-based Galatioto Sports Partners last year to explore a potential sale of the franchise. Eugene Melnyk, who purchased the Sens in 2003 for $92 million, died in March 2022 and left the team to his two children.
The Senators are valued at $800 million, according to Forbes. If purchased for $1 billion, it would top the $900 million Fenway Sports Group paid for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2021.
Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers Hyped as 'Team of Destiny' by Fans After Win vs Maple Leafs
May 5, 2023
TORONTO, ON - MAY 04: Florida Panthers Defenceman Gustav Forsling (42) celebrates his goal with Center Anton Lundell (15) during the second period of the Round 2 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 2 between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 4, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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.
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
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
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.
Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs Leave Fans Stunned with Play in Loss vs. Panthers
May 3, 2023
TORONTO, ON - MAY 02: Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (34) shoots on net in the first period during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi Final between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on May 2, 2023 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It was three days ago when Toronto Maple Leafs fans were chanting "We want Florida" in the streets surrounding Scotiabank Centre following the team's first-round victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Florida Panthers went on to secure a date with the Maple Leafs in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs following a first-round upset of the top-seeded Boston Bruins on Sunday, and now Toronto fans may be wishing they never broke out that chant in the first place.
The Panthers secured a 4-2 win in Game 1 against the Maple Leafs in Toronto, and the silence at Scotiabank Centre and the streets surrounding it was deafening.
Toronto went down 1-0 early in the first period on a goal by Nick Cousins, and Sam Bennett extended the Panthers' lead to 2-0 early in the second period.
The Maple Leafs fought back to tie the game 2-2 on goals by Matthew Knies—his first career NHL goal—and Michael Bunting in the second period.
However, the Panthers continued to display the ability to bounce back almost instantly—the Bruins saw a lot of this in the first round—and Carter Verhaeghe scored late in the second period to claim a 3-2 lead for Florida entering the third period.
The Panthers were impressive in the final frame, and Brandon Montour scored his sixth goal of the postseason to give Florida a 4-2 lead and put the game out of reach.
After the game, Maple Leafs fans were shocked by what had just occurred at their home rink, and they were also roasted for chanting "We want Florida" before the series began:
Maple Leafs lose and no goals in last 3 minutes with an empty net to lose OVER 6.5.
Maple Leafs fans were chanting "We Want Florida" a couple of nights ago. Yeah, you didn't want Florida. Panthers doing the same thing to Toronto that they did to the Boston Bruins
I wish the Leafs would play with the same intensity they play with when there is only 5 minutes left and they’re losing. They go hard to the net and give 110 percent. They coasted for most of this game. #LeafsForever
The @MapleLeafs now dropped to 1-3 at the Scotiabank Arena in the playoffs (2nd straight home loss) after the @FlaPanthers come into T.O for a nice 4-2 road win. Leafs fans are in for a rude awakening if they thought that was going to be a easy series!
The Maple Leafs found out quickly what Florida is made of, and Toronto must make the necessary adjustments ahead of Game 2 on Thursday.
If the Leafs struggle to adjust, similarly to how the Bruins did in the first round, they could also find themselves on the golf course a little early this spring.
Report: Bruins' Linus Ullmark Had 'Debilitating & Painful' Injury in Panthers Series
May 1, 2023
SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 23: Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) takes a moment during a stop in play during game four of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on Friday, April 23, 2023 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The top-seeded Boston Bruins put together one of the biggest choke jobs in NHL history on Sunday night with a Game 7 loss to the eighth-seeded Florida Panthers at TD Garden, putting an end to a historic campaign that saw the franchise set single-season records for points and wins.
Just about every player on the team struggled in the first-round series, perhaps none more than potential Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark, who was benched for Game 7 in favor of backup goaltender Jeremy Swayman.
With the Black and Gold's season having officially come to an end, we are beginning to find out about what ailments the players dealt with in the playoffs.
Captain Patrice Bergeron said Sunday he played through a herniated disk in his back, and Ullmark played Games 1-6 with "a debilitating & painful injury that limited his mobility and technique," according to ESPN's Kevin Weekes.
Ullmark had a phenomenal regular season, posting a 40-6-1 record with a league-leading 1.89 goals-against average and .938 save percentage, in addition to two shutouts in 49 games.
However, the 29-year-old had an abysmal postseason, going 3-3 with a 3.33 goals-against average and .896 save percentage before being benched for Swayman ahead of Game 7.
The last straw for Ullmark was when he allowed six goals on 32 shots in a 7-5 Game 6 loss to the Panthers at FLA Live Arena. With such an uncharacteristic performance over the team's first six postseason games, questions about Ullmark's health arose.
However, when asked by reporters how he was feeling after Game 6, Ullmark responded: "I feel good. Thanks."
At this point, it's abundantly clear that the Boston netminder was anything but "fine," and the latest update on his health status makes the decision to continue starting him even more puzzling.
Like Ullmark, Swayman had a strong regular season, going 24-6-4 with a 2.27 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and four shutouts in 37 games. His goals-against average and save percentage were the fourth-best in the NHL.
It's possible Swayman could've helped the Bruins close out the series when they were up 3-1, but instead the team continued to start Ullmark and went on to blow that series lead.
Boston's loss isn't entirely on Ullmark as the team in front of him also struggled mightily throughout the series, but now Bruins fans are left with even more questions about what could have been after a magical regular season.
Snoop Dogg Joins Neko Sparks' Group Bidding for Senators Ownership
May 1, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Snoop Dogg attends the premiere of FX's "Dear Mama" at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/FilmMagic)
Snoop Dogg has entered the bidding for the Ottawa Senators.
The famous rapper confirmed on Instagram that he had joined the bidding group led by Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks in hopes of becoming part-owner of the Canadian NHL franchise.
The Athletic's Ian Mendes first reported the news.
"He's passionately involved. He's coming up with ideas. And he's legitimately excited," a source told The Athletic of Snoop's involvement. "He wants this team."
The group led by Sparks "is not intimidated" by the potential of the final sale price of the franchise to reach more than $1 billion, according to The Athletic. However, it's unclear how much Snoop Dogg has contributed financially.
The Sparks group is also hoping to become one of the most diverse ownership groups in the NHL. It already includes more than 12 investors, the majority of which are people of color, according to The Athletic.
Snoop Dogg is hoping to use his celebrity status "to amplify and grow" the Senators brand, per The Athletic. He has more than 100 million followers across Twitter and Instagram.
The 51-year-old is also particularly interested in "marketing hockey to families from diverse backgrounds in the Ottawa area—and beyond—who haven't necessarily been targeted by the sport in the past."
"He's passionate about trying to make this game affordable for visible minorities and kids in low-income areas who haven't been able to play hockey in the past," a source told The Athletic. "He wants to be community-oriented."
Snoop Dogg has become ingrained in hockey culture over the last several years, though during the early stages of his career he rocked a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey in the 1994 music video for "Gin and Juice."
Since then, Snoop Dogg has been involved in various NHL initiatives.
In 2018, he published a video series on NHL.com, dubbed "Hockey 101 with Snoop Dogg," where he explained various NHL rules, including icing and offside, in addition to hockey slang and traditions. In 2019, he was included in the EA Sports' NHL video game as a commentator.
The California native has also teamed up with the Los Angeles Kings in the past for several initiatives, including being a DJ and a commentator.
The next round of bidding for the Senators is due in two weeks, and the Sparks consortium will be competing with actor Ryan Reynolds and the Remington Group, among others, for the rights to the franchise.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported Friday that the Remington Group was preparing to make an offer for the Senators worth more than $1 billion.
The Melnyk family, which owns the Senators, hired Galatioto Sports Partners, a New York-based banker, last year to explore a potential sale of the franchise. Eugene Melnyk, who purchased the Sens in 2003 for $93 million, died in March 2022, and the team was left to his two children, though it is being run by a three-person board.
The Senators are valued at $800 million, according to Forbes' list of 2022 NHL team values. If purchased for more than $1 billion, it would top the $900 million Fenway Sports Group paid for the Pittsburgh Penguins in November 2021.
The Sens have been one of the most disappointing NHL franchises over the last several seasons, and there had been calls for Melnyk to sell the team prior to his death. Ottawa has not made the postseason since the 2016-17 campaign and is coming off a 2022-23 season in which it finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 39-35-8 record.
