Fort Lauderdale – “Genuine.”
That’s how Florida Panthers defender Gustav Fallsling described the work his team’s penalty kills put in during a heated first-round series with state rival Tampa Bay Lightning.
After taking care of the business in five games, the defending Stanley Cup champion was almost perfect on penalty kills, coming 18-16 against Tampa Bay’s regular elite power play.
A great thing in the series, they were perfect with penalty kills in games 2, 3 and 4.
“That’s how you win the series,” Forsling said. “You need to make the PK right.”
Heading into the second round, the statement must once again sound the truth.
Set to drop the pack in Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday at Scottia Bank Arena, the Panthers will face another tough on penalty kills, and this time a unique test.
In six matches of round one, cashing in at 35.3% of trips to power play during the series victory of the series, the Maple Leafs will deploy five forwards to the top unit.
Essentially all the best eggs in one basket, the unit features Toronto’s top five scorers in the regular season: Mitch Marner (102 points), William Nyland (84 points), Auston Matthew (78 points), John Tavares (74 points), Matthew Neys (58 points).
In Round 1, these players combined 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) in power plays.
Outside of those players, no other maple leaf skaters recorded a single power play point.
When facing the top unit, the Panthers know they need to be on their toes.
“It allows for interchangeability,” coach Paul Maurice said of the five forward approaches of the power play. “You don’t see the power play above the defensive man defined at the top of the defensive man defined as being very spinning. He may move left and right and descend to his sides, but there are no more interchanges in a five-man power play.
With no defenders on the ice, the maple leaves will remain a little vulnerable.
Heading towards round two, they have already allowed two shorthand goals.
Always trying to take advantage of the mistake, the Panthers ranked second in the NHL during the regular season with 12 short-mand goals, including 2025 Serke Trophy finalist Sam Reinhardt’s team high 5.
Defence always comes first, but penalty kills can also show teeth this series.
“They’re confident in that now,” Reinhart said of his execution with the Toronto man’s advantage. “They have a huge amount of skills and talent. Try to make them as uncomfortable as possible.”
Step up
Nico Sturm knew his job the moment he arrived in South Florida.
Kill penalty.
Coming from San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline, the veteran forward did the exceptional job of doing it through a one-round playoff with the Panthers.
He won a 13:56 stenographic ice time against round one lightning, the second-most minutes among Florida forwards.
In those minutes, Tampa Bay registered just six points chances.
“He’s amazing,” Forsling said of Sturm. “Big, strong guy. He’s working really hard. He was the perfect fit for us.”
Before dealing with it, after winning 62.7% of the showdown with the Shark this season, Sturm continues to be impressed with the dots, earning 51.1% of his draw in the first round.
Throughout the first round, he has eight more shorthand showdowns than the next Panther.
Sturm, the 2022 Stanley Cup champion of the Colorado Avalanches, said.
Merchand and Maple Leafs
Brad Marchand has also contributed to penalty kills since his deal with the Panthers, but the former Boston Bruins captain also killed the Maple Leafs during his playoff career.
Historically, Toronto has never beaten Merchand over Game 82, making it 0-4 in four direct playoff series.
In 27 playoff games, he scored 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) against the Maple Leafs.
Of these goals, four have won Game Awards.
Since his debut in 2009-10, no player has recorded more playoff points against Toronto.
With a hot start, Marchand posted four assists, including a pair of primary helpers from the series Cleansing Game 5, as well as a +5 plus/negative rating for Lightning in Round 1.
Tampa Bay led 4-0 when it was deployed 5-5 with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, Marchand and his two Fantastic Finnish linemates.
Heading into Round 2, hope is his experience with the Maple Leafs, and more than anything, benefits his linemates.
“These forwards will learn their tendencies, little things we don’t teach them on the ice if they’re spending enough time on the defensive guys,” Maurice said. “It’s experiential. And then they share it. That’s what we’re excited about on that line. We have two young guys who have spent years in the league.”
