TORONTO (May 6) — And, precisely who should the Florida Panthers be concerned about, as it relates to vengeance, on the Maple Leafs? You could search the DNA database of the entire Toronto club without detecting a single portent of violence. Craig Berube is a possible exception, but he hasn’t laced ’em up in a quarter century. Ryan Reaves? You have to be kidding. In the second round of the playoffs? After a series–opening win?

Look, we’ve been saying it since the Maple Leafs ousted Ottawa on Thursday. The Panthers are a different animal. In the wild… and on the ice. A contest of skill isn’t likely to overwhelm the top–heavy Leafs, who can skate and make plays with the best teams in the National Hockey League. But, there’s no evidence the Core–4 version can prevail in an alley fight. As such, the plan for Paul Maurice and his defending champions — having fallen behind 4–1 in the second period of Game 1 — was to start crumbling their division rival. Knowing the Leafs cannot retaliate. Sure, they could dress Reaves to torpedo Sergei Bobrovsky and get suspended for the remainder of the series. The exchange would favor Toronto. Matthew Knies can look after himself but he isn’t exactly Mean Mr. Mustard. Would Berube instruct Mitch Marner to goon Sasha Barkov? Can you envision Auston Matthews donning brass knuckles, then cold–cocking Sam Bennett for his abuse of teammate Anthony Stolarz? Maybe Pontus Holmberg could lose his mind for a minute or two (that I’d like to see). Get my drift? To win the Stanley Cup, a team must not only perform increasingly well, but with purpose, according to the opposition. So, Florida started by attempting to neutralize Toronto’s primary playoff weapon. Its No. 1 goalie. That American guy rather familiar to the defending champions as back–up stopper on their 2024 club. All is fair in love and war, right?

Maurice worked long enough in this market to understand the hysteria that surrounds the Leafs. It requires minimal effort to agitate the club and its neurotic fan base. Paul knows the Leafs can count on the local and national media to help fight their battles (see image, below). Virtually all TV pundits today are paid by the owners of the hockey club. Most writers avoid contentious issues and contribute publicity articles on behalf of the team. So, why not send a loud message by discombobulating the goalie in a second–period blowout? Depending on whom you ask, the incident that sent a nauseated Stolarz to hospital was either a petty elbow bump or a deliberate forearm smash from the top rope. The NHL chose Door No. 1 and Bennett escaped supplementary discipline. The close call will not intimidate the Panthers. Why should it? In days or yore, with such ogres as Dave (Tiger) Williams, Wendel Clark, Tie Domi, Gary Roberts, Shayne Corson, Wade Belak and Darcy Tucker, opponents didn’t fu** with the Leafs. Especially in the playoffs. There was too much “snot” in the line–up. Additionally, the best players could look after themselves. Nobody had to “protect” Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald, Rick Vaive, Glenn Anderson, Doug Gilmour, Mats Sundin or Roberts (even if deterrents existed). The 2025 Leafs are more gifted… but their noses are generally snot–free. So, you’d better believe that Maurice knows precisely what his club is doing.

Joseph Woll, if needed, has proven capable of performing in high–leverage situations. But, who’s to say he isn’t next? Why would the Panthers stop at Stolarz? Again, who on the current Leafs is going to terrify the defending champs? Reaves is the only member of the 23–man roster capable of an ass–whupping. But, at what cost? Do you honestly believe that Berube would trust Reaves to play his usual role and not provide Florida something magnanimous? Like an untimely, five–minute powerplay? And, how will the Maple Leafs respond once the Panthers, inevitably, begin to poke and prod Nylander, Matthews and Marner; softening up the Toronto nucleus as they did two springs ago? Is Tie Domi expected to hop the glass in civvies and hunt down the Florida agitators?

We haven’t even mentioned Brad Marchand. Yet.

All of this said, the early pressure has shifted to the Panthers. If they lose again on Wednesday, it will be extremely difficult to repeat as Stanley Cup champs. It’s the reason I pounded away here and on social media that the Leafs must prevail in both games on Bay St. Otherwise, what good is home–ice “advantage?” A split for the champs — leaving with momentum — will likely extend Toronto’s Stanley Cup drought. Remember, Florida must earn at least one triumph at Scotiabank Arena. It didn’t happen in the opener. And, these Leafs don’t often fail in four out of five games; the pace Florida will need to adopt if it loses again before flying home. Neither am I suggesting the local lads are “chicken.” If they elect to man up against the Panthers, there could be an upset.

It’s just that the Leafs are built to skate, pass and shoot.

Florida is built to bludgeon.

Again, wait until Marchand re–introduces himself. If he’s healthy. At 36, Bad Brad may not be quite the factor as in his prime years with Boston. But, few NHL skaters are as scientifically adept at annoying the Maple Leafs.

That’s why Game 2 is so important. If the Leafs prevail once more, fans can actually start dreaming of something bigger. Neither will Washington nor Carolina be pushovers in the 2025 East final. But, knocking off the Panthers would provide the Maple Leafs their biggest playoff triumph since rebounding from an 0–2 series deficit and kayoing Detroit in 1993 (on Nik Borschevsky’s overtime goal in Game 7).

Strap on your shoulder harnesses. We’ve only just begun.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM