Commentary: Because It’s The Cup

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It was quite a plot twist, in the end.

We went to Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday night in Sunrise, FL expecting two things: 1) Auston Matthews to potentially score his 70^th goal of the season, and 2) A playoff preview between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.

But a funny thing happened on the way to our expectations.

Neither happened.

The Leafs looked like a relaxed bunch, smiling and joking in warmup and from what I saw, a lot credit for that goes to Ryan Reaves.

But when I noticed Max Domi and Mark Giordano in the press box, I realized the Leafs weren’t totally taking this one seriously.

They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, but never scored again and the Panthers went on to a 5-2 laugher. Auston Matthews didn’t score his 70^th either despite being given every opportunity to do it. That chase will have to wait till tonight in Tampa.

And then lo and behold, on the Out Of Town Scoreboard, it was learned the Ottawa Senators upset the Boston Bruins 3-1 meaning, with the Panthers win, Florida clinched first-place in the Atlantic Division for the second time in three years and the playoff landscape shifted mightily.

Tuesday’s game was no playoff preview – although it would’ve been great if it was. No, the Leafs will now face the Boston Bruins in Round 1 while the Panthers are lined up against Tampa Bay in a Battle of Florida in Round 1!

What?

We went to the rink expecting the Leafs & Panthers to hook up in Round 1 because the standings looked that way since December.

We left the rink delirious with what we’d just seen, and busy making travel plans to attend games next week in both Tampa and Sunrise.

All because … It’s The Cup.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)