Playoffs times 2: Panthers keep silencing doubters; Heat in good shape despite loss sans Butler | Opinion
Toronto Maple Leafs fans had been chanting, “We want Florida!”
Comes to mind now the phrase, “Be careful what you wish for, eh?”
The Miami Heat had to show it could win without sidelined star Jimmy Butler.
Almost ... but could not.
The Panthers won Game 1 of their second-round playoff series on the road Tuesday night, 4-2, on Carter Verhaeghe’s go-ahead goal and Brandon Montour’s insurance score.
The Heat fell in its Game 2 at Madison Square Garden with its best player in a ballcap on the bench to even that series at 1-1.
South Florida fans cheering both teams were going back and forth Tuesday night like eyeballs at a tennis match, toggling between the Panthers on ESPN and the Heat on TNT in concurrent games.
The playoffs continue Thursday night back in Toronto for the Cats, and not until Saturday in Miami for the Heat, with Florida proving its stunning advance past Boston was no fluke, and Miami still in good shape with the next two at home and Butler expected back from his ankle injury.
▪ “Let’s go Leafs!” rang in the arena in Toronto as home fans tried to will that franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship since 1967. This, in fact, was the club’s first advance past the first round since 2004.
Yet the Maple Leafs emerged from their ousting of Tampa Bay as the Stanley Cup betting favorite with eight teams left after finishing with the second best regular season record behind only the Bruins team whom the Panthers just eliminated.
“Not many people thought we’d beat Boston, now a lot of people don’t think we can win this one, either,” Cats star Matthew Tkachuk said earlier Tuesday. “We knew we were the crazy underdog story last series but it hasn’t changed much. I guess the prize for beating the best team in the league is to get the second best team in the league.”
Florida led 2-0 on goals by Nick Cousins and Aaron Ekblad, then was tied 2-2 in what could have been demoralizing fashion.
The Panthers gave up a score just nine seconds after taking a two-goal lead, and were tied when caught in a line change that left the Florida defense giving up too much space in their own end.
That made the regained lead at 3-2 all the sweeter as Verhaeghe’s scored off a turnover and a gorgeous pass from Anthony Duclair. It was Verhaeghe’s 11th career Cats postseason goal, a club record.
Insurance came at 4-2 on Montour’s sixth goal of the postseason --ending Florida’s bizarre streak of eight consecutive Game 1 losses in the playoffs.
Sergei Bobrovsky was terrific in goal for the Panthers, especially against Toronto’s late, desperate onslaught when the Maple Leafs had pulled their goaltender plus a Florida penalty gave the Leafs a 6-on-4 advantage in the frantic closing minutes.
“We become like a family every day,” said Bobrovsky. “A big win for us, but it is long series.”
“I think he was our best player tonight,” said Nick Cousins, who scored the first goal.
“It was all on him,” said coach Paul Maurice of his goalie. “The back half of that game he was brilliant. And we required him to be.”
Matthew Tkachuk had two assists Tuesday and a career-high in hits as his underdogs kept winning.
“A lot of doubters,” he said, “except for us.”
▪ The Heat was missing top scorer Playoff Jimmy (as well as fellow starter Tyler Herro and key reserve Victor Oladipo) to injuries. It proved too much as the Knicks were back at full strength with Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson both questionable but both playing.
Brunson and Randle combined for 55 points.
Said coach Erik Speolstra of sitting Butler: “At this point, we’re having very reasonable conversations. I know where his heart is. I know what he wants to do. This was not just a decision between Jimmy and I. We’re probably the worst people to rely on to make that kind of decision.”
Caleb Martin started for Butler and scored 22 to lead Miami, with Gabe Vincent adding 21 and Max Strus 17. Sans Butler, it was a night Bam Adebayo might have used as a stage for a defining night, but he scored a modest 15. With Butler in street clothes the team lacked a go-to force in crunch time.
Said Spoelstra afterward: “Obviously we feel a certain way right now that we weren’t able to find a way to get this win, but we’ll get over it. Our guys can’t wait for Saturday. It can’t come soon enough.”
The Knicks dominated on the boards especially on the offensive end and finished on a 24-12 run to take the game.
“It was physical under there. Lot of grappling, lot of pursuing,” said Spoelstra.. “Felt like three yards and a cloud of dust under there. Their second-chance opportunities gave them their kill shots. The things we take pride in, they pretty much dominated the last six minutes.”
Near the end., with Knicks fans howling, Butler looked into the crowd, smirked and nodded his head up and down.
No doubt Heat fans took the gesture as saying, “See you in Miami. And I’ll be back.”
This story was originally published May 2, 2023 at 10:40 PM.
