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Panthers’ Evan Rodrigues Likely To Return For Game 7

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Panthers winger Evan Rodrigues will be back in the lineup for tonight’s Game 7 after missing the last two contests with an undisclosed injury, relays Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. He’ll replace Jesper Boqvist, who had directly filled Rodrigues’ spot on the top line alongside Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart in his absence.

Florida’s offense is back at full strength to counter the Maple Leafs’ top unit of Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner, who are collectively coming off their best performance of the series in Game 6 while facing elimination. Knies was questionable for tonight’s do-or-die contest after getting banged up in the first period, but Toronto head coach Craig Berube confirmed this morning he’ll be in the lineup without any minutes restrictions.

Even before exiting the lineup, Rodrigues’ minutes were limited at times earlier in the series. He played a season-low 8:48 in Game 2 after a hit from behind by Toronto forward Scott Laughton that earned him a controversial embellishment call, and he left the Cats’ Game 4 win in the third period after a hard hit from Leafs defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Rodrigues has two points in four games in the series, both in Florida’s Game 3 overtime win. He combined with linemates Barkov and Reinhart to assist on the Panthers’ first two goals of the game and logged nearly 19 minutes of ice time, his most of any game so far in the playoffs.

The 31-year-old only has three assists in nine postseason outings this year but was an indispensable depth piece in the Panthers’ Cup win last year, scoring 7-8–15 in 24 games – including four goals and seven points in seven Stanley Cup Final games. The versatile top-nine forward hit 30 points for the fourth year in a row in the regular season, mostly playing a supporting role on Florida’s top two lines.

Poll: Who Will Win Maple Leafs/Panthers Game 7?

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Any playoff series featuring the defending Stanley Cup champions, especially when matched up against a similarly equipped opponent on paper, is usually bound to be an entertaining one. That’s what we’ve gotten in the second round between the Maple Leafs and Panthers, with a couple of wild momentum shifts resulting in a Game 7 on Sunday night.

The series didn’t start as evenly matched as most would have predicted. Some underwhelming play from Florida netminder Sergei Bobrovsky meant the Leafs, doubling their win total past the first round in the Auston Matthews era, took a 2-0 series lead into Sunrise. But the Panthers, who have controlled the majority of quality chances at 5-on-5 throughout the series, got more support from their All-Star netminder in Games 3 through 5 as they countered with three straight wins of their own to push Toronto to the brink in Game 6. The Leafs, perhaps taking a vital step to erase their underwhelming postseason reputation, put their best performance of the series forward with their backs against the wall with a 2-0 shutout win on the road to send the series home for a do-or-die Game 7.

Bobrovsky and Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll, who entered Game 1 in relief of starter Anthony Stolarz when he exited with apparent concussion symptoms and has started every game since, have had similar showings here in Round 2. The latter’s Game 6 shutout upped his save percentage to .893 with 0.42 goals saved above expected, while Bobrovsky’s posted a .895 SV% and 0.76 GSAx, per Natural Stat Trick.

Regarding the skaters, Florida’s best player hasn’t even played every game in the series. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been dominant after missing Game 1 due to suspension, serving as the Cats’ only point-per-game player in the series while averaging 22:34 per game. Depth has been the name of the game for Florida – every player to suit up in at least half of the series has registered a point.

It’s no surprise to see now-established playoff performer William Nylander atop the Leafs’ scoring chart with six points through six games, but the player he’s tied with is quite eye-raising. Depth veteran Max Pacioretty has turned back the clock after scoring the series-clinching goal against the Senators in the first round, rattling off two goals and four assists with a team-high plus-three rating through Game 6 of the Florida series. Averaging just 12:58 per game against the Panthers, he’s among the most efficient scorers in the league this postseason.

As for Toronto’s first-line triumvirate of Matthews, Matthew Knies, and Mitch Marner, they played their best game in Game 6. Matthews’ game-winner was his first of the series, but Knies is the only one with multiple goals in Round 2. On a highly concerning note for Toronto, he’s questionable for Game 7 after sustaining an apparent shoulder injury early in Game 6 and playing through it, head coach Craig Berube said.

While the Panthers are the road team, betting odds and most prediction sites give them the slight edge. Most betting sites have the implied odds of a Florida win around 55%, while MoneyPuck has it at just 50.2%. Of course, Toronto is 2-1 at home against the Panthers in this series and 4-2 at home so far in the playoffs.

One storyline to watch: after the first three games in the series were decided by one goal, including Florida’s come-from-behind overtime win in Game 3, the last three have been decided by two or more. Will we get more of a nail-biter Sunday night?

Let us know which team you think will win Game 7 and advance to the Eastern Conference Final – potentially the Panthers’ third straight ECF appearance or the Leafs’ first since 2002. Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thinking!

If you can’t see the poll, click here to vote.

Panthers/Maple Leafs Notes: Stolarz, Rodrigues, Ekman-Larsson

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Mark Masters from TSN reported that Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was seen back on the ice this morning before the team’s practice. While there is no specific timeline for his return, this development is a positive sign.

Without sacrificing his long-term well-being, the Maple Leafs should want Stolarz back in the crease sooner rather than later, given the mixed results they’ve received from backup Joseph Woll. Despite winning the first two games of the series he appeared in, Woll only mustered a .875 SV% on 48 shots. Still, in the two most recent games that ended up in losses, Woll had a much improved .904 SV% on 73 shots.

Although anything can change this time of year, there’s little hope Stolarz will return to the Maple Leafs for Game 5. It’ll give Woll another opportunity to prove his worth, and could give Toronto more confidence in not rushing Stolarz back too early.

More notes from the Panthers and Maple Leafs series:

  • According to Jameson Olive of the Panthers organization, forward Evan Rodrigues has not been cleared for Game 5. Still, Olive noted that the team has time to decide tomorrow, but the odds aren’t in Rodrigues’ favor after leaving Game 4 early in the third period. Rodrigues left Sunday’s contest after being interfered with by Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a few games after being hit from behind by Toronto forward Scott Laughton, a play in which Rodrigues was given a two-minute embellishment penalty.
  • Meanwhile, Ekman-Larsson is expected to play Game 5, despite missing practice today (Tweet Link). Masters followed up his initial report, indicating Ekman-Larsson is dealing with a mild illness, and head coach Craig Berube wanted to prioritize his rest rather than pushing him too far in practice.

Rodrigues Not Ruled Out Of Tuesday's Game Yet

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  • It appears a decision on Evan Rodrigues’ availability will come closer to game time on Tuesday. Team reporter Rob Darragh mentions that Panthers head coach Paul Maurice indicated that the winger hasn’t been cleared to play in the fifth game against Toronto but hasn’t been ruled out yet either.  Rodrigues left Sunday’s game early in the third period following a hit from Oliver Ekman-Larsson and did not return.  He has three assists in nine games so far this postseason.

Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Ruled Out For Game 2

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May 7th: According to a report from Sportsnet, Stolarz will unfortunately be absent from the Maple Leafs’ lineup in Game 2. There’s reportedly no timeline for his recovery, but this could be purposefully vague gamesmanship from Toronto.

May 6th: Anthony Stolarz’s status for Game 2 of the Maple Leafs’ series against the Panthers is uncertain, David Alter of The Hockey News relays from head coach Craig Berube.

That’s better news than most everyone was expecting after reports surfaced last night that Stolarz was taken to the hospital after leaving the game in the second period following multiple instances of head contact. Berube confirmed he was taken to the hospital but is doing well and had breakfast with the team after being discharged overnight. Stolarz was seen vomiting on the Leafs’ bench before being relieved by Joseph Woll, exiting the eventual 5-4 win after taking a puck to the mask in the first and an elbow/forearm from Panthers center Sam Bennett shortly before his departure. Bennett won’t face a suspension for the play, Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic relayed this morning.

Berube wouldn’t confirm when asked if Stolarz had been diagnosed with a concussion. While Stolarz may be healthy enough to dress for Game 2, rushing him back from an otherwise exhausting ordeal to start seems unlikely. Woll is among the more formidable backups still alive in the postseason. He allowed three goals on 20 shots in relief but still has a sparkling .924 SV% in eight career playoff appearances for Toronto, including four starts. Woll started 41 of Toronto’s 82 regular-season games and, while his numbers weren’t in Stolarz’s stratosphere, still managed a .909 SV% and saved 16.8 goals above expected, per MoneyPuck.

In any event, simple news of Stolarz’s discharge and a long-term absence not guaranteed is great news after last night’s concern. The 31-year-old has a .901 SV% and a 2.19 GAA through seven games for Toronto in his first postseason (and regular season) as a No. 1 option.

Panthers, Ludvig Jansson Agree To Entry-Level Contract

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The Panthers announced they’ve agreed to terms with defense prospect Ludvig Jansson on a three-year, entry-level contract starting next season.

Florida selected Jansson, 21, with their fourth-round pick back in 2022. The smooth-skating right-shot defenseman has spent the better part of the past five seasons playing professionally in his native Sweden. He started out with Södertälje SK of the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan in 2020 before moving to the top-flight Swedish Hockey League with Luleå HF for the last two years.

The 6’0″, 181-lb rearguard hasn’t gotten much playing time, though, averaging just over 10 minutes per game since the 2023-24 campaign. That’s meant he’s only posted a goal and six assists with a minus-nine rating in 100 regular-season SHL contests, a far cry from the point production he’s flashed as a two-way piece against junior competition. Jansson was on Sweden’s World Juniors teams in 2022 and 2023, posting 10 points in 11 games across the pair of tournaments. He also had two assists in 17 postseason games this year as Luleå captured the SHL championship.

Since Jansson is under 24 and wasn’t a first-round pick, the Panthers will have to offer Jansson back to Luleå on loan in the likely event he doesn’t make the team out of camp. Given the limited role he’s played there, though, it stands to reason they’ll be able to get him extended playing time stateside with AHL Charlotte.

Jansson’s signing rights were still a year away from expiring. He’s too old to be slide-eligible, so his deal goes into effect next year regardless of how many NHL games he plays. He’ll be a restricted free agent upon expiry in 2028.

Florida Panthers Win The Battle Of Florida

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  • Over the last several years, the ’Battle of Florida’ between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers has been a must-see matchup since either team has represented the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final since the 2020 postseason. In the past two years, the Panthers have bested the Bolts, beating them in back-to-back opening-round matchups. In a quote from Josh Yohe of The Athletic, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper conceded the battle, saying, “It was our turn. Now it’s theirs.”

    [SOURCE LINK]

Aleksander Barkov, Anthony Cirelli, Sam Reinhart Named Selke Trophy Finalists

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Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, Lightning center Anthony Cirelli, and Panthers winger Sam Reinhart have been named Selke Trophy finalists for the 2024-25 season, the NHL announced.

According to the league, the award is given “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.” It’s voted on at the end of the regular season by media members, like most other major NHL honors, and has been in circulation since the 1977-78 campaign, with former Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron holding the record with six wins.

Despite the verbiage, the Selke is almost never given out to a pure shutdown forward, at least not anymore. More of a “best two-way forward” than “best defensive forward” honor in reality, Barkov headlines the list as he looks to take home the hardware in back-to-back years and for the third time in his career.

Now a four-time finalist, Barkov’s boxcar stats actually point toward a down year for the Stanley Cup champion Finn. His 1.06 points per game and plus-one rating were both post-COVID lows for the 29-year-old, but he still added 54 blocks, 87 hits, and a 56.5% win rate in the faceoff dot. A look at his possession numbers makes it easy to see why he’s continuously regarded as the game’s best two-way center, though. His 60.8% Corsi share at even strength this year was a career-high and led the team.

Stepping into the finalist’s circle for the first time is Barkov’s cross-state counterpart in Cirelli. The 27-year-old finished fourth in Selke voting in 2019-20 and fifth in 2021-22 but never cracked the top three. That changes this year on the heels of a season full of career-highs for Cirelli, who scored 27 goals, 32 assists, 59 points, and logged a +30 rating in 80 appearances. His 18:41 of ice time per game was also a career-high. While he doesn’t receive Barkov’s 5-on-5 deployment, Cirelli is Tampa’s top penalty-killing forward and finished seventh among forwards in plus-minus this season.

Reinhart is the unlikeliest candidate to win, although it’s not really in his control. A winger hasn’t won the award in over 20 years – the Stars’ Jere Lehtinen was the last to do it in 2003. The 29-year-old finished just outside of being a finalist last year during his career-defining 57-goal campaign, and his nomination means the Panthers are the first team with two Selke finalists in a season since the Red Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in 2007-08. He finished 2024-25 with a 39-42–81 scoring line, a plus-six rating, 103 hits, and a 59.2 CF% in 79 games.

Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad Receives Two Game Suspension

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6:32 p.m.: Ekblad will miss Game 5 and Game 6 of Florida’s series against the Lightning or Game 5 against Tampa and Game 1 against their Round Two opponent. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced they have suspended Ekblad for two games for elbowing.

10:43 a.m.: Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad is facing another suspension after knocking Lightning winger Brandon Hagel out of last night’s Game 4 with a high hit, Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet was first to report. It’s a phone hearing with the Department of Player Safety, so he’s ineligible to be suspended for longer than five games.

Midway through the second period, Ekblad came down the halfwall to deliver a check to Hagel. Instead of making body-on-body contact, Ekblad raised his forearm to contact Hagel’s head, forcing the latter into concussion protocol. He did not return to the game, nor was Ekblad penalized on the play, in what many chastised as a missed call. Florida scored three goals in the final four minutes of the game to win 4-2 and take a 3-1 series lead, with Ekblad scoring the game-tying goal.

While the hit itself likely warrants a second look for supplemental discipline regardless of the context, the length of Ekblad’s likely pending suspension could be increased if DoPS determines it was a retaliatory hit. Hagel had just returned to the lineup after serving a one-game suspension for interference against Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.

Ekblad wasn’t the only Panthers defenseman to lay a controversial hit in Game 4. Niko Mikkola was ejected from the game early in the third period and given a major penalty for boarding Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons. He won’t face a suspension, though. DoPS announced Tuesday he’s been fined $5,000 for the play but won’t have a hearing.

The 29-year-old Ekblad had just returned from a 20-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances rules in Game 3 of the series. His goal was his first point since returning. He posted a minus-three rating across Games 3 and 4 while averaging 21:16 of ice time.

Lightning’s Brandon Hagel To Miss Game 5

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Lightning top-six winger Brandon Hagel has been ruled out for Wednesday’s Game 5 matchup against the Panthers as he remains in suspected concussion protocol, head coach Jon Cooper said (per the team).

Tampa Bay now faces elimination without its second-leading point getter from the regular season. Even if they manage a win at home to stay alive in the series, there’s no timeline yet for Hagel’s return.

“He’s not playing tomorrow, and you know why,” Cooper said (per the team’s Benjamin Pierce). The reason Cooper’s referring to is a high hit from Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad midway through the second period of last night’s Game 4 loss that earned him a hearing with the Department of Player Safety today. Ekblad will presumably miss Game 5 as well, if not longer, due to his pending suspension.

“There’s that catchy word called adversity, so the script doesn’t always go as planned,” Cooper said (via Pierce). “But I tell the players, let’s be the ones that write our own story.” The Lightning are trying to avoid their third straight first-round exit after making three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals from 2020 to 2022. Last year’s defeat also came at the hands of the eventual champion Panthers in five games.

Hagel, who erupted for a career-high 35 goals and 90 points in the regular season while playing in all 82 games, has only been available for two and a half games of this series. He was suspended for Game 3 after delivering an illegal hit to Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2 and was limited to 11 minutes of ice time in Game 4 before the Ekblad hit. He’s been held without a point, only managing three shots on goal and a minus-four rating.

Nick Paul hopped up to Hagel’s spot on Anthony Cirelli’s wing in Game 3 when Hagel was unavailable. It’s unclear if he’ll do so again. Cooper has opted to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the majority of the series, with the Hagel and Cirelli duo routinely going without a consistent winger as a result.

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