“…I just thought we had too many passengers…” said Toronto Maple Leaf captain Auston Matthews, The Leafs Nation reports, when answering questions after the disappointing loss. The team and its supporters are now certifiably insane, after eight years of pounding the same thing. The Florida Panthers scored first, which immediately put a look of concern on the home team. The ‘Core Four’ have proven once again unreliable under pressure. If the 6-1 Game Seven loss wasn’t painful enough, their fans embarrassed the team and themselves near the end of the game. All stats below are per the NHL.
The first period left plenty of hope for fans from both sides. The eye test showed Florida as the dominant and more physical team, but the frame ended without a goal. The Panthers, who had just one more shot on goal, were still there for the taking.
The second is when the truth came out, showing both teams’ true identity. The Stanley Cup Champion Panthers, who never give up on their fans or each other, got the first goal 03:15 into the period. Florida defenceman Seth Jones buried the wrist shot off a sloppy change by the Leafs. It’s as if the fans felt the emptiness that was their team’s soul leaving their bodies. Things unraveled from there.
Just over four minutes after the first one, Florida forward Anton Lundell got another by Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll. The Panthers needed just two minutes and 29 seconds more to make it 3-0, when forward Jonah Gadjovich netted his second of the postseason. The second intermission was a needed rest, even if they were down three goals with twenty minutes left in the season.
The third period had no appreve for Canada. The Maple Leafs forward Max Domi got things as close as they would be with his goal just 02:07 into the third. Florida put all hope to bed 47 seconds later, forward Eetu Luostarinen with a slick tip-in after his team won a battle along the boards. The home fans noticeably booing their home crowd on the broadcast did not give them any motivation against a team that generally cannot create its own.
The team and the players gave up on each other, leading to two more unanswered goals for the Panthers. Forward Sam Reinhart with one 09:24 into the third, and an empty netter from forward Brad Marchand with 3:03 remaining. Fans elevated the booing to tossing their sweaters on the ice.
The fans gave up on the team when there was time left, even putting players in danger by throwing sweaters onto the ice during play. On the other hand, the players made it clear they were no longer trying to entertain and maximize the fan entertainment. The players don’t deserve the fans, and the fans don’t deserve the players.
The Panthers showed what true championship mentality is, while the ‘Core Four’ are yet to show any accountability or leadership. Florida takes on the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference, while the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers clash in the Western Conference finals. The Leafs head home, hoping management finds them better players to work with, when they are the problem. Fans can expect a shake-up in Toronto this offseason.
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