Former Seattle Kraken coach Dan Bylsma thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs have a good chance to take down the Florida Panthers in the second round.
Going into this highly anticipated matchup, the majority consensus seems to be that the Panthers are the favourites going into the series, and a Leafs win would be considered somewhat of an upset. After all, the former is the reigning Stanley Cup champions while the latter has made it out of the first round for only the second time since 2004.
Bylsma made an appearance on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Carter Hutton on Monday, where he challenged the notion that the Leafs have no chance in this series.
“ Well, most of what I hear from you guys in the morning is that the Leafs have no chance. And I totally disagree with that assessment,” he said. “ Yes, the Florida Panthers, they’re Stanley Cup Champs. They have a great team. Maybe it’s just long overdue, but the Maple Leafs are poised, with that roster, with that group of guys, the defence improved. I think they got a great chance to come away in this series with the win.”
Part of the reason why Bylsma thinks the Leafs have a chance to emerge victorious in the series is that their play style has evolved a lot this season. He noted that in the past, they would play more of a run-and-gun type of game, but it has since evolved to more of a tight, low-event brand of hockey, which he felt was noticeable during the most recent matchup between the Leafs and Kraken.
Instead of pushing for offence all the time, Bylsma feels that the Leafs are instead playing a more patient game where they look to pounce on any mistake the opponent makes, which he concludes makes them more dangerous to play against.
“ I feel like it just comes down to a war of attrition,” he said on what it will take for the Leafs to get to the next level in the playoffs. “That means just getting in the war, getting in the battle, getting in the game. They’ve got onto the second round, they’ve got it. They’ve got seven more games to punch it out with the Florida Panthers, and allow their skill, allow their talent that they have to be difference makers. And it’s not gonna come with just one guy.”
In terms of which goalie Bylsma would lean on going into Round 2, he felt that the Leafs are in a ride-or-die situation with Anthony Stolarz. He knows that it’s the one area in the playoffs that a coach is most prone to mess up in, and he thinks Craig Berube does not need to think too hard about who he starts.
Bylsma also said it can be disruptive to chase a more favourable matchup, especially for the top guys on your team, when, instead, maintaining the flow is most important.
“ You look for opportunities to get a matchup that you know is going to be coming in the game,” he said. “ Potentially, if you have a line you really trust in the defensive zone and you can throw them out there in the defensive zone all the time, that allows you to get a matchup with your top guys, that may be beneficial for you. Whether it be an offensive zone start or against a line that you may want.”
Above all else, he feels that the Leafs’ stars are hungry to make the most of the opportunity presented to them and are well equipped to deal with the pressures that come at this time of year. As for his prediction for the series, he could see it going the distance with the Leafs emerging victorious.
You can watch the full segment with Bylsma down below:
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