The Florida Panthers pulled off a shocker by dispatching the 65-win Boston Bruins in seven games, rallying from a 3-1 series deficit in the process. The Panthers finished 43 points behind the Bruins in the regular season, which, according to Sportsnet Stats, makes it the biggest upset in a best-of-seven series in Stanley Cup Playoff history.
“It really is the biggest upset in NHL history to every single person other than the guys in (our) room,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, who had a team-high 11 points in the series, told Sportsnet’s Caroline Cameron after the game Sunday.
Now the Panthers turn their attention to the Maple Leafs, who will have their hands full with the Comeback Cats. Under first-year coach Paul Maurice, the Panthers changed their offensive philosophy, relying less on scoring off the rush and more on causing havoc on the forecheck. Florida scored seven of its 15 goals at 5-on-5 against Boston within five seconds of forcing a turnover. (The Panthers scored 40 such goals at 5-on-5 during the regular season, second most in the NHL.)
The Bruins had little breathing room whenever they attempted to exit the zone. They committed 39 defensive-zone turnovers per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 in the series — up from 33.7 per 60 in the regular season.
An effective forecheck is critical to the Panthers’ success. In their four wins against the Bruins, the Panthers had a 14-5 edge in forecheck scoring chances at 5-on-5. In their three losses, they had only four such chances.
The combination of Tkachuk and Sam Bennett is particularly dangerous in that regard. Despite arriving in Florida last summer fresh off a 104-point season, Tkachuk has exceeded expectations in his first season with the Panthers. The Bruins could not contain Tkachuk, who was on the ice for seven Panthers goals — all of which came from the slot — and two against at 5-on-5. When Tkachuk and Bennett were on the ice together, Florida controlled 63.6 per cent of the expected goals over 82-plus minutes.
“I thought that that Bennett line was pretty dominant,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters Sunday. “They always changed the momentum back to them every time they were on the ice.”
Toronto will also have to contend with Carter Verhaeghe, one of the most clutch performers in the NHL. Five of his 10 career playoff goals are game winners, including the series clincher in Boston.
Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov, who likely will match up against Auston Matthews, held his own against the Bruins’ top scorers. Over the final three games of the series, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand were not on the ice for a Bruins goal at 5-on-5 when Barkov was out there as well. Barkov blocked 34 passes in all situations, including 20 in the defensive zone. Both totals lead all forwards in the playoffs.
On the back end, Brandon Montour is a dynamic force. His five first-round goals were the most in a series by a defenceman in 20 years. Maurice told reporters after Game 7 that his players “now have a shared experience of what ‘hard’ is.”
The Maple Leafs will need to be at their absolute best to get past the ultra-confident Panthers.
All stats from Sportlogiq
