Florida Panthers Forward Anton Lundell Exposes Fundamental Flaw in Maple Leafs' Game
Photo credit: Jim Rassol | Imagn Images
Florida Panthers forward Anton Lundell has revealed the Maple Leafs' biggest fundamental flaw while discussing the Panthers' run to a second Stanley Cup with Sportsnet.
In what ended up being an emotional final game for Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, the Leafs put together a horrendeous effort against the Florida Panthers to close out the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Leafs have tortured their fans over the past 12 years with post-season collapses. There is debate about which is the most notable, however, between the 2013 Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins or failing to close out the Montreal Canadiens during the 'Covid Bubble' when being up 3-1 in the series. I'd argue that the loss to Florida trumps both of them.
Anton Lundell Identifies the Maple Leafs' Biggest Fundamental Flaw
Changes on the roster, behind the bench and upper management have yet to yield different results in the post-season with many pointing to inner demons that haunt the franchise and they are unable to shed.
After capturing his second consecutive Stanley Cup with the Panthers, 24-year-old Anton Lundell joined other NHLers, including William Nylander, in Milan as part of a media tour with the NHL, NHLPA and soccer league Serie A, announcing a new partnership ahead of the 2026 Olympics.
While in Milan, Lundell sat down with Sportsnent's Elliotte Friedman where he discussed the Panthers' Stanley Cup run as well as the series with the Leafs and the mentality of being down 2-0 heading into Game 3.
"There was some pressure," said Lundell about Game 3. "But somehow we were so confident we were going to turn that series over because we felt like we were the better team in every game but we lost. We believed that in seven games we should win four. It was a tough series. They were up 3-1 in the second in Game 3 and when we won that game, that was the game changer. We were like now it's our time to push the gas."
Lundell appeared to insinuate that the Leafs still don't hold a ton of confidence when being in control of a series or game, and that is what ultimately led to their downfall; mental weakness.
Belief and perseverence is something that Mike Babcock, Sheldon Keefe and so far, Craig Berube have failed to bring out in their players, and it has ultimately cost them a star forward in Mitch Marner.
An off-season of change in management and on the roster has Leafs Nation looking forward to the season, but once again, the spotlight will be not on what they do in the regular season, but what they can accomplish next spring.
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