Former Leaf explains what the game plan should be against Florida tonight and it doesn't involve violence
Tonight's game against the Florida Panthers will have a lot of emotions, memories, and conflicting feelings for several members of the Toronto Maple Leafs as this will be the first matchup against their divisional foe that ousted them in 5 games during the second round of the playoffs back in May.
The Leafs were riding high after taking down the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round for their first series victory in almost 2 decades. The Panthers on the other hand took down the Boston Bruins who not only had a historically great regular season but held a 3-1 series lead.
The Panthers made quick work of the Maple Leafs but it was a very chippy, aggressive, and heated battle with the likes of Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Radko Gudas being in the mix of things. The Maple Leafs have a chance to exorcise some demons tonight and former enforcer, Jay Rosehill believes they need to set the tempo of their road trip with a massive victory in Florida:
"It's gonna be a game that a lot of guys on that roster want. They're not going to be happy to see that crew over there and I think they're going to want to say 'hey, just so you know, this season is a different season and your little cinderella story is over', and they need to smash [them] and it's important no matter who they're playing at the beginning of the road trip to get off to a good start.
It sets the whole vibe, the whole tone, the whole tempo for a good road trip. All the practices that you have, all the travelling around, and having team meetings and team dinners... everyone's always together and the vibe of that is so much sweeter if you start off with a couple of wins and do the right thing on the road trip...important to get off to a good start and no better opponent than the Florida Panthers tonight."
It sets the whole vibe, the whole tone, the whole tempo for a good road trip. All the practices that you have, all the travelling around, and having team meetings and team dinners... everyone's always together and the vibe of that is so much sweeter if you start off with a couple of wins and do the right thing on the road trip...important to get off to a good start and no better opponent than the Florida Panthers tonight."
The host mentions that with Gudas off to Anaheim and Bennett out of the lineup, it might not be as heated as many would hope but Rosehill counters that with the idea that the Maple Leafs shouldn't be going out there to bang bodies but to be filling the opposition's net and reminding them who is the best team in the division:
"I'm not thinking go beat them up or anything like that. Smash them on the scoreboard, put them away and tell them 'your little story is over.' We're the [top] team in the Atlantic, we're gonna be smashing everyone this year and you guys don't have a chance against us and make sure the feelings from the players from the team last spring, when you got beat out. make sure you remember those feelings very very well, let them soak in for a second and remind yourself what that was like, take it to the ice and put up some numbers."
Tonight will be a good test to see where the Maple Leafs stand against a team that should be hovering around the top of the Atlantic but to also test their emotional intelligence. They shouldn't be out there trying to exact revenge through the penalty box because they have the offensive firepower to show them up in their own barn.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 19 | 53 ANSWERS Former Leaf explains what the game plan should be against Florida tonight and it doesn't involve violence Should the Leafs be extra rough with the Panthers tonight? | ||
| Yes, payback's a b***h | 30 | 56.6 % |
| No, just beat them on the scoresheet | 18 | 34 % |
| No, save it for the playoffs | 5 | 9.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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