SUNRISE, Fla. — In Sunrise, Florida, the difference between the Toronto Maple Leafs establishing a commanding 3-0 series lead and the Florida Panthers transforming this series into a significant challenge came down to one thing.
“A bounce,” remarked Jake McCabe, reflecting on Friday`s 5-4 overtime defeat at Amerant Bank Arena.
A squandered advantage, a commendable rally, a total of 108 hits, and over 75 minutes of fluctuating action were ultimately determined by a puck that deflected wildly. It came off Brad Marchand`s stick, bounced off Morgan Rielly`s torso, and sailed over the right shoulder of a screened Joseph Woll.
No sweep occurred.
“It happens,” Rielly said with a shrug. He was the last player to touch the puck on two of the Panthers` goals and scored one himself by deflecting it off an opposing defenceman. “That seems to be how pucks are finding the net lately. Not just in this series, but across the playoffs – that`s the way it`s going in.”
Regardless of how you feel about it, hockey will always involve a degree of pure chance.
