Wild Conspiracy Theory Has Panthers Tanking on Purpose for 1st Round Matchup with Leafs
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski - USA Today Sports
The Florida Panthers might be playing for a Wild Card spot in the next couple of weeks, but according to one analyst, it might be a plan to set up a matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
For the last few weeks, a lot of our attention has been primarily focused on the top-3 teams currently in the Atlantic Division and which one out of Toronto, Florida, or Tampa Bay is going to come out on top with the division crown.
While the Toronto Maple Leafs keep racking up wins, the possibility of a first round matchup against the Ottawa Senators is now in jeopardy due to the Florida Panthers' recent slide.
Things are really tight atop the division, but the Leafs are currently in first with 98 points. Tampa Bay has 94 points and the same amount of games played, while the Panthers are now 6 points back and have played one more game than both clubs.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators have 90 points in 77 games played and are within striking distance of the Panthers for third place and just 4 points back of Tampa Bay for home ice advantage in the first round.
The Panthers' recent loss to the Detroit Red Wings was their 5th straight defeat and their 7th loss over of the last 10 games. They are currently dealing with injuries to Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and a suspension to Aaron Ekblad, while also handing out rest to players like Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart in the hopes that they recover from varying ailments.
TV personality and avid Maple Leafs fan Paul Bissonnette thinks something is going on behind closed doors and that perhaps the Panthers could be trying to force a first round matchup against the Leafs:
"I think Boston gave up Brad Marchand for nothing, he somehow ends up in Florida and somehow Florida - a great team - is going to keep losing down the stretch. $49 million dollars right now is sitting in a press box, this is an inside job, Gary Bettman needs to look into it.
The great chase is over, that's behind us, he needs to do his job and look into what Paul Maurice and his Panthers are trying to do to my Toronto Maple Leafs. We want the Battle of Ontario and the Battle of Florida. Let's stick to the script. I don't want Brad Marchand in the first round."
The great chase is over, that's behind us, he needs to do his job and look into what Paul Maurice and his Panthers are trying to do to my Toronto Maple Leafs. We want the Battle of Ontario and the Battle of Florida. Let's stick to the script. I don't want Brad Marchand in the first round."
Now, of course, it's mostly tongue-in-cheek, but the reality of the situation is that they could still manage to find themselves playing Florida in the first round despite winning the division.
Not that Ottawa is an easy matchup, but Florida are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, they acquired Brad Marchand at the deadline, and are expected to be fully healthy come playoff time, which includes the return of the aforementioned Tkachuk.
Florida has games against Toronto, Detroit, Buffalo, New York Rangers, and Tampa Bay remaining on the schedule compared to Ottawa who has Columbus, Montreal, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Carolina. The Senators have a slightly more favourable schedule, which will have serious implications for the Round 1 matchups.
As for now, as things stands, the Leafs are still sitting pretty atop the division, but their hope of avoiding a Florida team in the first round is in jeopardy and it will be worth monitoring over the next two weeks.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 7 | 2242 ANSWERS Wild Conspiracy Theory Has Panthers Tanking on Purpose for 1st Round Matchup with Leafs How would you rather the standings shake out at the end of the season? | ||
| Leafs don't win the division, play Tampa Bay | 193 | 8.6 % |
| Leafs don't win the division, play Ottawa | 127 | 5.7 % |
| Leafs win the division, play Ottawa | 1453 | 64.8 % |
| Leafs win the division, play Florida | 469 | 20.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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