Leafs are resilient. Came back twice from a goal down and just took the lead with less than 3 minutes to go in the 2nd. Panthers can’t afford to go down 0-2 in the series.
Toronto is like a Tortorella team. They block everything and Florida had a hard time getting the puck on goal. Good game but Panthers are in trouble.
Give credit to Toronto. They battle back, and while Florida outplayed them tonight, it doesn't matter as Toronto found a way to win. I wouldn't mind seeing them win, but I do not believe the series is over. I can totally see Florida going home and winning both. That series still has ups and downs to come IMO. A Canadian team hasn't won the Cup since 93, so they are due. With Edmonton winning last night, Toronto up 2-0, and the Jets still alive, they have a shot to break that streak this season.
The debate about how good Rantanen is has been answered pretty loudly so far. He has another hat trick tonight, all in the 2nd period, and through 8 playoff games including tonight, he has 8 goals and 15 points, with all 8 goals and 14 points coming in the past 4 games, wow.
Yes, he did, or at the very least Carolina couldn't/wouldn't give him the contract Dallas signed him for, $12M per for 8-years with a NMC for the whole contract. They had to move him so as not to lose him for nothing, but what a huge get for Dallas, and it's paying off huge to get them by Colorado and so far, tonight.
I feel incredibly strong that Dallas will win the cup. Winning without one of the best 5 defenseman in the game vs. Colorado and Robertson also. Winning game one with their top D man. Rantanen is fucking rolling now.
Rantanen wanted to stay in Colorado, went to management to work out a deal for less money and was traded to a team he didn't want to play for anyway. Whatever you want to say about Drury, he is nowhere near as incompetent as Chris MacFarlane trading a guy to your opponent to send you home.
Edmonton has won 6 straight. They were down 2-0 and trailing late in game 3 against the Kings, now they are up 2-0 in the second round, crazy. Dallas looks good right now, especially with Robertson back, and maybe Heiskanen back at some point against the Jets. In the NHL playoffs, things can change very quickly though, as we see with Edmonton. I'm rooting for Dallas; I like that team.
Still say there is no way we are keeping the 12th overall pick in a weak draft. Like I said. This team is one injury away to a J.T. Miller or Fox or Trochek or Shesterkin to being a top 7 lottery team in a loaded 2026 nhl draft.
Do any of you watch these youtube channels dedicated to Rangers talk (Locked On/Rangers Digest etc.)? You sometimes get some good insight but for the most part it's clickbait headlines/thumbnails that are just rumors and prognosticating.
If the offer is right I think there is a good chance the Rangers move on from Lafreniere if they get back a good, proven, young, NHL center man.
