It Might Just Be Time For The Toronto Maple Leafs To Play The Dirtiest Game Of Their Existence
Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.The Florida Panthers have clearly cracked the code on how to win in the playoffs. It's not dumping the puck in and winning battles along the boards. It's not getting pucks on net. It's not winning the first and last 5 minutes of the period.
The Panthers' cheat code to winning in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is to just continue weakening their opponents throughout the series.
This is vintage Sam Bennett. He always finds a way to strike when you least expect it. Let's not forget that this is the same Sam Bennett who couldn't do a single pull-up during the draft combine. So naturally he needs to wait until you're not expecting it to deliver a quick cheapshot to the head.
And I'll give Sam Bennett some credit here--if headshots are an art, he has found a way to perfect his craft. He does it in a way that goes unnoticed in real time. We've seen it with the rabbit punch to Brad Marchand in last year's playoffs, and we've seen it countless other times from him throughout the past couple of years. But unfortunately for Sam Bennett, this is pro hockey and there are cameras to capture every angle. So it's as clear as the day is long that he gave a little forearm shiver to Stolarz's skull on his way through the crease.
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And just like that, the Panthers' plan has worked out to perfection. Sure, they ended up losing game 1 last night. But now they've taken out the Leafs' starting goalie. They didn't need to win game 1. They just needed to weaken Toronto enough to win 4 out of the next 6. And do we think the NHL Department of Player Safety is going to do anything besides maybe give Sam Bennett a $5K fine? Not a chance.
Which means it's up to the Toronto Maple Leafs to handle it themselves. The Florida Panthers have made it pretty clear at this point that this is their brand of hockey. If they have a chance to injure somebody, they are going to take it. The refs aren't going to get them to stop. The Department of Player Safety isn't going to get them to stop. Scoring a bunch of goals isn't going to get them to stop. The only way to stop them is to give it right back to them. The Toronto Maple Leafs need to dig deep and play the dirtiest brand of hockey they can get away with now. Either Toronto finds a way to become maniacal scumbags overnight, or the Florida Panthers are going to cheap shot their way to another Stanley Cup Final. And if the Leafs don't have anyone on their roster who can handle that assignment, then maybe let Chief suit up for a night.