In Toronto, coach Craig Berube paused with a smile before responding.
After the Maple Leafs` final practice before their playoff series against the Florida Panthers, a reporter questioned Berube about his strategy for handling the Panthers` perceived “mean” style of play.
Berube, known for his physical playing career, smirked at the description.
He mused, “Are they mean?”, adding a shrug.
“They play a tough game,” he explained. “They forecheck aggressively, they`re physical, and they challenge you constantly. I wouldn`t call it `mean` exactly; it`s just how they play.”
This straightforward, aggressive approach has been key to Paul Maurice`s team reaching two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals.
Their strategy involves dumping pucks behind the opponent`s net, relentlessly pressuring defensemen retrieving them, and overwhelming players receiving passes under duress. They also activate defensemen at the offensive blue line to prolong time in the attacking zone, aiming for scoring chances or simply wearing down the opposition.
Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly noted, “We`ll definitely need to address their forecheck; it`s a major component of their game. They`re tenacious on the puck, and their defense is aggressive.”
Knowing their strategy doesn`t make it easy to counter.
Star forward Matthew Tkachuk famously described the Panthers` early approach as playing “like there`s no puck,” aiming to establish physical dominance and force opponents into errors through intimidation.
Sam Reinhart commented that while Florida`s forecheck tires out the opponent, it`s also taxing for the Panthers themselves, which can lead to inconsistent play during the regular season compared to teams like the Maple Leafs.
He added that sustaining this demanding forecheck style requires effectively using all four forward lines, similar to a continuous relay race.
Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (recently acquired from Chicago according to the report) explained their system to Florida reporters, “Our system relies heavily on trust, knowing that your teammates on the ice will execute their roles, particularly because we play such an aggressive game.”
He elaborated, “It`s very much a man-on-man approach across the rink, maintaining tight coverage on your assignment to deny time and space. If your four linemates aren`t doing their part, it becomes difficult, and you might be forced to concede space while anticipating other threats.”
He highlighted the forecheck as the main factor in Florida`s quick five-game series victory over a strong Tampa Bay team.
Constantly under pressure and worn down in their own end, Tampa Bay defensemen struggled to transition play and contribute offensively. In that series, Tampa Bay defensemen scored only one goal.
Jones stated, “Their defense wasn`t able to get heavily involved because we were hitting them hard and our forwards were applying quick pressure. This enabled our defensemen to pinch effectively. That`s when our forechecking game really flourishes – when their defensemen are trying to make plays under duress.”
He concluded, “It`s consistent across all lines, whether it`s the highly responsible first line led by Aleksander Barkov, or the fourth line with players like Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and A.J. Greer, who are just as accountable despite fewer minutes. Being able to maintain the same style regardless of who`s on the ice is crucial.”
