(Photo: Last Word On Sports, NHL)
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers will duke it out later tonight in the Scotia Bank Arena in downtown Toronto in Game 5 too see who will have a chance to eliminate who in Sunrise Florida in game 6. After taking a 2-0 series lead things were looking up for the Maple Leafs but a tough OT loss in Game 3 and a Defensive masterclass by the Panthers in 4 has the leafs fans wondering if they are back to there old ways.
Key players on the leafs like Captain Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner really need to step it up if the Leafs want to avoid a massive collapse in the second round. Matthews needs to step it up on the offensive end as he has yet to score in the 2nd round in his career, and Marner needs to step it up on the defensive side of things as many fans are displeased with his risky no look passes and lack of effort on the back check. The only man who did play very hard in game 4 Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll will be in goal tonight as it looks like he has gotten used to the pace of play in the playoffs and if he plays the way he did in game 4 the Leafs have a great shot at taking the 3-2 series lead.
The Panthers have gained significant momentum after there back to back wins. The defending Stanley Cup champions are ready to go as rumours suggest they will be getting a key piece back in there line up in Evan Rodrigues. Offence wise most of the big names have been up to par in this series so far and adding Rodrigues back will definitely help with Floridas fire power, but thats if they get him back remember its just a rumor. https://x.com/GeorgeRichards/status/1922298488655675530
As for my predictions for the game i think the Panthers will win this game. The Panthers will come out strong and i think they will get some sort of offensive help from there defence this game. The Leafs will play great in this game, but goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will have all the answers for the Leafs shots. The score will be 2-1 heading into the 3rd period the Panthers will add some sort of cushion making it 3-1. The Leafs will push with the net empty but the Panthers will put the game to bed winning this game 4-1 and taking a 3-2 series lead.