With the Florida Panthers losing their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 of the playoff series, fans and the NHL community are concerned with the chances of their team making it to another Stanley Cup win this year. However, their back-to-back losses with the Leafs narrate a different tale now. After losing 3-4 in the previous match, coach Paul Maurice didn’t just express the loss but addressed the issues about the Leafs struggling to build speed through the neutral zone. While this might start from their offensive zone setup, how are the Panthers looking forward to fixing it?

Sam Reinhart stepped up to answer in an interview with the Panthers’ media. Keeping it very simple yet straight, he said, “Hopefully you see it tomorrow.” Meanwhile, highlight the team’s performance, which seems to be so strong that it can speak for itself! “And we don’t have to lay it out for you,” he didn’t stop there but further continued while preferring to let their game prove it rather than go into tactical detail in interviews! But what did Maurice say exactly?

Well, something that highlighted the root cause of the problem that’s mostly been a recurring one now. “It’s not starting in the neutral zone; it starts in the far end (offensive zone),” Maurice said. After all, the Panthers, now down 0-2 in the series, highlight a situation they’ve never recovered from in franchise history! Despite the coach’s words sounding harsh while pointing out the flaws, let’s say that the Florida Panthers are simply setting themselves up for failure much earlier. Hence, to say that the moment they lose control near Toronto’s net, the just Leafs pounce while racing through the neutral zone.

And he didn’t just stop there but went further, admitting the Panthers’ inability to control their own chances. “We put pucks to the net that we couldn’t get a handle on and they’ve got a fast team, a quick team,” he continued. However, the concern lies in whether they can reclaim control before the fast and relentless Leafs turn another breakdown into a game-changing rush. Hence, Maurice further warned them, pointing, “It’s not off transition from the neutral zone; it’s off offensive zone to the other end, which is consistent with the way they play and the way they generated offense in their last series and in this one.” Now with Game 3 approaching soon and two already lost in the playoff race, will the Panthers move ahead to win their Stanley Cup hopes?

Florida Panthers are at a concerning rate of winning

While the Maple Leafs stay at the top with a 77.8% chance to make it to Round 3, they sit pretty with a 20.9% chance to take home the ultimate prize. And the Panthers just trail behind with a 22.2% chance to make it to Round 3 and a 7% chance to win the Cup. While the prediction and stats are declared online by a platform called Moneypuck.com, fans and spectators think otherwise. And with Reinhart being pretty confident to show a stunning performance in Game 3, it isn’t only him but the rest of the Panthers too who are ready to prove their prowess.

Despite their falling odds, the veteran players like Aaron Ekblad are staying calm but collected. “There’s a decision to be made in the room to understand that teams are going to win games at home, and we’re fine; there’s no panic in our group,” Ekbald stated while reflecting on the locker room preps that seem to be in 100% beast mode now, right? Perhaps he is aware of what veteran leadership means and hence further pointed out, “A lot of guys have been in this situation. So, we’re not worried. It’s playoff hockey. Home-ice advantage—they won two at home, so what?’’

Well, it’s all about resilience now , and with the Panthers’ strong mindset, it looks like they’re still in it to win it. Because when we look at the odds, the Panthers seem to be on the edge of a cliff, but with their will to bounce back, let’s admit that it’s not over yet but just started. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts.