Key Takeaways:
– Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers predicted that the Toronto Maple Leafs would lose in the playoffs to the Boston Bruins.
– The Bruins won the game in overtime, subsequently advancing to the second round to face the Panthers.
– Tkachuk looked forward to a ‘great series’ with the Bruins who upset Florida in last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs.
Matthew Tkachuk, forward for the Florida Panthers, subtly took a swipe at the recently ousted Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs were eliminated from the first-round playoffs after a grueling Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins. This defeat came as no surprise to Tkachuk, who apparently predicted this outcome earlier.
Playoff Drama Unfolded
Toronto’s hopes of advancing past the first round were dashed despite their spirited rally from being down 3-1 in the series, forcing Game 7 against the Bruins. In this decisive matchup, Toronto initially led 1-0 in the third period. However, Boston tied the game in less than two minutes, before ultimately securing their victory in overtime. The triumphant Bruins subsequently progressed to the second round, setting the stage for a collision with the Panthers.
“Our team had a feeling that the Bruins would be the winners of that series,” Tkachuk shared with the media on May 5. “The playoffs are unpredictable, but we thought, considering how the series evolved, the Bruins would emerge victorious.”
Tkachuk’s remark was a veiled dig at the Leafs, highlighting their recurrent disappointing track record in the playoffs.
An Anticipated Matchup with Boston
As Boston prepares to face Florida in the second round of the playoffs, Tkachuk looks forward to a ‘great series’. The Bruins shocked Florida last season in Game 7 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, creating a riveting backdrop for their imminent clash.
“I expect this to be a stellar series,” Tkachuk said via NHL.com. “Boston is strong in every aspect of the game. They have exceptional special teams, remarkable 5-on-5 performance, amazing goaltending and strong team defense.”
Florida’s history with Boston paints an exciting picture for the forthcoming series. Despite losing to Boston in last season’s playoffs, Florida won all four regular-season games against Boston, two of which occurred in overtime.
“We know they’re very similar to last year’s team,” Tkachuk noted. “I think last year’s high-scoring games won’t dominate this series. Both teams like to play a more defensive game, so we’re prepared for a significant challenge.”
What’s Next
Both teams are geared up to play in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with the following schedule fixed:
May 6 – Game 1 in Florida — 8:00 p.m. ET
May 8 – Game 2 in Florida — 7:30 p.m. ET
May 10 – Game 3 in Boston — 7 p.m. ET
May 12 – Game 4 in Boston — Time to be announced
If required, further games will be scheduled on May 14, 17 and 19 at times to be confirmed.
Matthew Tkachuk’s predictions come on the heels of another playoff disappoint for the Maple Leafs. Whether his premonition of a ‘great series’ with the Boston Bruins comes true will soon be seen, kicking off on May 6th.