Former NHLer and analyst Paul Bissonnette sarcastically prompt that the Florida Panthers is likely to be deliberately shedding video games to face the Toronto Maple Leafs within the first spherical of the NHL playoffs.
His feedback adopted the Florida Panthers’ 2-1 loss to the Detroit Purple Wings on Sunday, marking their fifth consecutive defeat. Within the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Maple Leafs, with 98 factors, are adopted by Tampa Bay Lighting (94), whereas the Panthers have slipped to 3rd, with 92 factors.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions are two factors forward of the wild-card-leading Ottawa Senators. Throughout a section on NHL on TNT, Bissonnette jokingly claimed that the Panthers’ latest struggles may very well be a ploy to face the Leafs within the opening spherical.
Biz playfully argued that Gary Bettman wants to make sure that the Panthers aren’t manipulating matchups.
“Boston gave up Brad Marchand for nothing. He one way or the other leads to Florida, and now — one way or the other — Florida, an awesome workforce, goes to maintain shedding down the stretch. $49 million proper now could be sitting in a press field. That is an inside job. Gary Bettman must look into it,” Bissonnette mentioned.
He continued:
“The good chase is over — that is behind us. He must do his job and examine what Paul Maurice and the Panthers are attempting to tug towards my Toronto Maple Leafs. We would like the Battle of Ontario. We would like the Battle of Florida. Let’s follow the script. I do not need Brad Marchand within the first spherical.”
He concluded with a lighthearted plea to maintain Brad Marchand out of his workforce’s playoff image, at the very least for the opening spherical, urging Bettman to take motion.
The Toronto Maple Leafs may face the Florida Panthers in Spherical 1
Paul Bissonnette has lengthy been a loyal Toronto Maple Leafs fan. If the playoffs start as we speak, the Leafs would face the Ottawa Senators in a first-round Battle of Ontario.
Nonetheless, if the Florida Panthers proceed to lose factors in upcoming video games whereas the Senators preserve successful, the Cats may slip to a wild-card place, doubtlessly resulting in a Spherical 1 matchup towards the Maple Leafs.
The Florida Panthers knocked out the Maple Leafs within the second spherical of the 2023 playoffs. That sequence marked the primary time since 2004 that the 13-time Stanley Cup winners superior past the primary spherical of the postseason.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers face off for the ultimate time within the common season at Amerant Financial institution Area on Tuesday.
