The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking smoking hot, holding a 2–0 series lead over the Florida Panthers. On Thursday, NHL analyst and podcast host Ryan Whitney watched Game 2 between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes—and stunned fans with a bold take about the Maple Leafs that will have all of Toronto cheering.
The Leafs have had a tough time performing in the playoffs—their last Stanley Cup win came back in the 1960s. But everyone seems to agree that something is different this year: they’re looking like a serious contender for the Cup.
They eliminated the Ottawa Senators in the Battle of Ontario in the first round, and now they’re facing the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. So far, they’ve managed to overcome Florida’s physical style of play and currently hold a commanding 2–0 series lead.
Ryan Whitney’s take on Toronto
If Toronto advances, they’ll face the winner of the Capitals–Hurricanes series. On Thursday, Washington won Game 2 to even the series at 1–1, and Ryan Whitney took to social media with a bold prediction. The NHL analyst and co-host of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast said—after just one period—that the Maple Leafs will “smoke” whichever team advances.
“The Capitals look horrible. 19 shots in 4 periods of this series. Toronto gonna smoke whoever wins this series,” he wrote.
After the Leafs went up 2–0 on Florida, Whitney added that they look “nasty,” while also praising their goaltending. Both Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll have outplayed Sergei Bobrovsky so far. The series continues Friday night in Florida, where the Panthers will be desperate for a win to keep their hopes of back-to-back Stanley Cups alive.
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