Dave Feschuk

Toronto

Sports Columnist at The (Toronto) Star

Contributor at Freelance

Toronto Star sports columnist

Articles

Maple Leafs vs. Panthers: Toronto look to bounce back in Game 5 after two straight losses to Florida

1 day ago | thespec.com | Bruce Arthur |Dave Feschuk |Hayden Godfrey |Andrew Wallace

After conceding an early series lead, the Leafs look to break the 2-2 tie as they take on the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of this series of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. Follow live commentary from the Star’s Bruce Arthur. What you need to knowIn Game 4, the Panthers won 2-0 at their home rink in Sunrise, Fla.
It’s harder to score in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is Exhibit A

2 days ago | thespec.com | Dave Feschuk

And where does Matthews sit on that esteemed list? Spoiler alert: It’s not third. That’d be Barry Pederson. It’s not fourth, fifth nor sixth. That’s Maurice Richard, Cam Neely and Wayne Gretzky. Matthews does not rank first among active players. That’d be Nathan MacKinnon. He does not rank first among historic Leafs: Rick Vaive. He does not rank first among active Leafs: William Nylander. Matthews is tied for 81st in career goals per game in the playoffs, according to Hockey-Reference.com.
The Maple Leafs didn’t just lose two games in Florida, they let the Panthers rediscover their game

3 days ago | thespec.com | Dave Feschuk

SUNRISE, FLA. – They were staying at an oceanside hotel and some among the group spoke of the restorative value of a dose of sun and sand, but to a man the Maple Leafs characterized their long weekend by the Atlantic seaside as strictly a business trip. Considering how they turned a 2-0 series lead into a 2-2 series deadlock in their best-of-seven second-round matchup with the Florida Panthers, let’s just say Toronto’s once-bustling playoff-hockey business went bust on the beach.
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers: Toronto can’t overcome slow start as Florida takes Game 4 to even series

3 days ago | thespec.com | Bruce Arthur |Rosie DiManno |Dave Feschuk |Graeme Bayliss

The Maple Leafs lost Game 4 to the Florida Panthers, who tied the best-of-seven second-round Stanley Cup playoff series at two games apiece with a 2-0 win on Sunday night. Toronto will look to bounce back in Game 5 at home on Wednesday. This live blog is no longer being updated.
History still favours the Leafs in second-round series. Now if they can only get Auston Matthews to join in

4 days ago | wellandtribune.ca | Dave Feschuk

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—There were at least a couple of ways to look at the Maple Leafs’ 5-4 overtime loss in Game 3 of their second-round series with the Florida Panthers. You could spin it as a blown chance to bury the reigning Stanley Cup champs deep in a 3-0 series hole. Handing a team as accomplished as Florida the gift of renewed life is never optimal, especially in a game in which the Leafs carved out two separate two-goal leads.
History still favours the Leafs in second-round series. Now if they can only get Auston Matthews to join in

4 days ago | thespec.com | Dave Feschuk

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—There were at least a couple of ways to look at the Maple Leafs’ 5-4 overtime loss in Game 3 of their second-round series with the Florida Panthers. You could spin it as a blown chance to bury the reigning Stanley Cup champs deep in a 3-0 series hole. Handing a team as accomplished as Florida the gift of renewed life is never optimal, especially in a game in which the Leafs carved out two separate two-goal leads.
The Panthers find some momentum with a bank shot off the Leafs’ Mo Rielly

5 days ago | hamiltonnews.com | Dave Feschuk

SUNRISE, FLA. – In the lead-up to Friday’s Game 3 of a Maple Leafs-Panthers second-round series that just got a lot more interesting, Florida coach Paul Maurice considered the unpredictable knife’s edge on which a team’s playoff fate can teeter. Maurice referenced a pivotal Game 4 of Florida’s first-round series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers were leading the series 2-1 when Tampa had an extraordinary run of play in Game 4.
The Panthers find some momentum with a bank shot off the Leafs’ Mo Rielly

5 days ago | thespec.com | Dave Feschuk

SUNRISE, FLA. – In the lead-up to Friday’s Game 3 of a Maple Leafs-Panthers second-round series that just got a lot more interesting, Florida coach Paul Maurice considered the unpredictable knife’s edge on which a team’s playoff fate can teeter. Maurice referenced a pivotal Game 4 of Florida’s first-round series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers were leading the series 2-1 when Tampa had an extraordinary run of play in Game 4.
The Maple Leafs have blown several leads in these playoffs. So far, it hasn’t hurt them

6 days ago | thespec.com | Dave Feschuk

Six wins into what’s already the best playoff run of the Shanaplan era, it couldn’t be going much better for the Maple Leafs. But there’ve been moments when fans will be forgiven for imagining a handful of those wins taking a turn for the worst. For all their success, including a 2-0 series lead over the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Maple Leafs have been watching third-period leads disappear on the regular.
Florida Panther Sam Bennett thought he didn’t hit Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz’s head with ‘a lot of force.’ Here’s what the concussion experts think

1 week ago | thespec.com | Dave Feschuk

Bennett, in his telling, made it seem like an inadvertent love tap between old teammates. “It was just a bump,” Bennett said. “When it happened, I didn’t even realize I had made contact.”You’d like to take Bennett, a Team Canada stalwart, at his word. But let’s be clear: Given the nature of cutthroat gamesmanship, you can’t. Not that anyone’s suggesting Bennett ventured into the Leafs crease to injure Stolarz.

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Dave Feschuk @dfeschuk

5 Mar 25

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Dave Feschuk

Articles

Maple Leafs vs. Panthers: Toronto look to bounce back in Game 5 after two straight losses to Florida

It’s harder to score in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is Exhibit A

The Maple Leafs didn’t just lose two games in Florida, they let the Panthers rediscover their game

Maple Leafs vs. Panthers: Toronto can’t overcome slow start as Florida takes Game 4 to even series

History still favours the Leafs in second-round series. Now if they can only get Auston Matthews to join in

History still favours the Leafs in second-round series. Now if they can only get Auston Matthews to join in

The Panthers find some momentum with a bank shot off the Leafs’ Mo Rielly

The Panthers find some momentum with a bank shot off the Leafs’ Mo Rielly

The Maple Leafs have blown several leads in these playoffs. So far, it hasn’t hurt them

Florida Panther Sam Bennett thought he didn’t hit Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz’s head with ‘a lot of force.’ Here’s what the concussion experts think

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