“We don’t mind it,” the Florida Panthers’ Evan Rodrigues claimed after learning that the Cats would start their Round 2 campaign against the Leafs on the road. However, so far, it seems like Rodrigues’ confidence was misplaced. Toronto has trounced the reigning Stanley Cup champs in both of the first two games of Round 2 at Scotiabank Arena. With the shambolic display on the ice, the Florida Panthers have many pundits convinced: their title defense ends here.
In 2025, the Panthers met arch-rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight time. The Battle of Florida heated up, and the Miami team emerged victorious with a sonorous 4-1 series win over the in-state foes. However, seeing how things are panning out in the Atlantic Division postseason final, NHL experts don’t see a similar result panning out this time.
Just hours ago, the Washington Capitals defeated the Carolina Hurricanes by 3-1 at the Capital One Arena. After a pitiful performance last Thursday against the Canes in the first game of Round 2, Alex Ovechkin & Co. are finally on level terms. However, despite the scoreline, the Caps’ didn’t impress the NHL community, and Spittin’ Chiclets’ Ryan Whitney took to X on May 8 to explain why whoever wins the Caps-Canes series has a storm brewing for them in the Atlantic Division.
“The Capitals look horrible…Toronto gonna smoke whoever wins this series,” Whitney wrote in his social media post, underscoring that he predicts the Leafs to trample over the Florida Panthers in the best-of-seven series.
The Capitals look horrible. 19 shots in 4 periods of this series. Toronto gonna smoke whoever wins this series
— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) May 8, 2025
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