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Florida’s Bruising Blueprint: By the Numbers - Dark Side Deep Dive
Let’s dig in. If we’re talking about the Florida Panthers’ physical dominance, it’s not just vibes — it’s in the stat sheet, the penalty box, and the injury reports of every team they’ve played. Here's a deeper look at the numbers and the edge they bring:
🔍 Florida’s Bruising Blueprint: By the Numbers
🚨 Hits Per Game
Florida leads the playoffs in total hits — averaging over 41 hits per game, with players like Sam Bennett, Nick Cousins, and Aaron Ekblad dishing it out like it’s the ‘90s again. In Game 1 alone vs. Edmonton, Florida registered 48 hits, nearly doubling the Oilers' total.
Compare that to the Leafs series, where Toronto averaged just 27 hits per game, often reacting to physicality instead of dictating it.
😤 Penalty Minutes
Here’s the kicker: Florida isn’t afraid to take penalties — and they make it work.
Average PIM per game this postseason: 13.2 (Top 3 among playoff teams)
Brad Marchand, true to form, has drawn more penalties than he's taken, baiting opponents into emotional responses.
Sam Bennett alone has racked up 30+ PIM in the playoffs — but his forecheck sets the tone.
Despite the box time, they’ve allowed just 6 power play goals in 15 games. Their PK unit — led by Ekblad, Forsling, and Montour — is aggressive and fast.
💪 Forecheck Metrics
Florida leads in Offensive Zone Pressure Time, disrupting breakout plays with a heavy 2-1-2 forecheck. In the Leafs series, that forced 30+ turnovers per game, many in dangerous spots. They did the same to Edmonton in Game 1 — smothering the McDavid line and forcing Draisaitl into bad zone exits.
🧊 Blocked Shots & Defensive Commitment
Blocking shots is a sign of sacrifice, and Florida leads all teams with:
287 blocked shots this postseason
Gustav Forsling alone has 40+ blocks, sacrificing the body without hesitation
Sergei Bobrovsky has benefited from that commitment, seeing fewer clean shots than most goalies
🧠 Why It Matters
The Oilers are a finesse team with finishers — McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, and Nugent-Hopkins. When they’re allowed to move the puck freely, they can embarrass defenders. But Florida doesn’t let you feel comfortable.
And when teams lose their cool? That’s when guys like Marchand go to work. Just ask Toronto — Game 4 of that series unraveled on one bad penalty and a five-minute major where the Leafs completely lost momentum.
The Panthers aren’t just playing hockey — they’re playing mind games. And unless Edmonton stays composed, out-skates their forecheck, and capitalizes on Florida’s aggression, the story might end the same way it did for the Leafs:
A short summer and a long list of bruises.
🏒 Stanley Cup Final 2025: Canada’s Last Shot, Two Games In
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE JAYS?
As I write this here today, the Blue Jays sit 7.5 games back of the AL East Lead, with a pathetic 5-13 record so far in this young season. For a team coming off back-to-back ALCS appearances, this is pretty concerning. Baseball is tough to analyze and react because of its inherently long, tiring season and whatever stretch we look at is ultimately a very small sample size. So take whatever is being written with a grain of salt, or just full well knowing that I’m aware that there’s still 9 / 10 of the season that remains.
Hitting
The team ranks 25th overall in average (.223), 27th in RBI (60), and 28th in OPS (.639). When you’re in the bottom dwelling of those categories, it’s no surprise that the team’s record is what it is. I’m not going to cast blame on Kendrys Morales because he’s been one of the very few Jays that have performed so far. And the team has been ravaged in injuries, but certain players really aren’t earning their paycheque so far. Jose Bautista is hitting just .132, with 1 home run and 4 rbi… At the current rate he is on pace for 9 home runs and 36 RBI. He’s a streaky player and I don’t think that will be the case, but as our leader and a guy battling for a contract next year he simply isn’t doing enough. With Donaldson and Tulo out, if we don’t have our biggest bats performing then we can expect more of the same. The main issue, however, is that the jays poor bats didn’t come out of nowhere- this is an issue that arose in the last 2 months of last season. Failing to get timely runs, especially with runners in scoring position was a problem that was prevalent back on August 1st, 2016. The frustrating part is that management did very little to address those red flags, save for letting one of the best sluggers in the game leave for Cleveland.
Pitching
ERA 4.11 (20th)
OPP AVG: .250 (22ND)
WHIP: 1.30 (20TH)
STRIKEOUTS: 151 (16TH)
I find these stats to be somewhat predictable as there was no way all of our pitchers would continue at the level they were at last year. You knew that Happ and Estrada would regress somewhat, and conversely that Stroman would bounce back. The pitching should slightly improve once we Sanchez and Happ back from the DL.
NHL 2ND ROUND PREDICTIONS
PENS vs CAPS – Penguins in 6
The one takeaway I took from the Capitals having to beat the Leafs in 6 games, with 5 of those games going into Overtime…is that the Capitals just aren’t that good. Let me phrase that actually, they just aren’t that good -- in the postseason. The team has a ton of depth and on paper should likely be the favourites to win the Cup this year. But considering they’ve never made it past the 2nd round in the Ovechkin era… and that they’re going up against a Pens team that has done it before, I’ve changed my tune on them. All it takes is an explosion from Ovi or Backstrom to change my mind, but here’s the thing: I don’t know if that will happen. The Capitals tend to disappear for stretches of games this time of year. What I do know is that Crosby, Malkin and Kessel will continue their offensive dominance from the 1st round. So I’m going to go with what I know…Pittsburgh in 6 games.
SENATORS vs RANGERS – Senators in 6
This is a tricky matchup as I really didn’t have a lot of faith in the Sens in the 1st round against the Bruins. I didn’t expect Bobby Ryan to completely redeem his nightmare of a regular season, to transform into being a playoff hero. I didn’t expect Clarke MacArthur to ever play hockey again, never mind score game winning, and series clinching goals. I didn’t expect Erik Karlsson to dominate the series with 2 hairline fractures, or Craig Anderson to be able to only focus on hockey, despite what is going on with his personal life. I underestimated the Sens and I won’t be doing that again (in this series at least).
DUCKS vs OILERS – Ducks in 7
The Edmonton Oilers have been the feel good story so far in this postseason. Everyone wants them to advance and ultimately face the Penguins in the finals to have that Crosby vs McDavid narrative. I Hope it happens…but I just don’t see it this year. The Ducks are a powerful, explosive team with a lot of depth. They have the experience and the skill, whereas the Oilers only have half that equation.
BLUES vs PREDS – Preds in 6
Jake Allen surely can’t continue this pace that he’s on. Goalies have gotten hot in the postseason before but I just can’t see him carrying over his .956 SAVE% against the same team who just swept the Blackhawks. The Preds are my pick to come out of the West after seeing what they did in the first round. Their weapons are scary good.
NBA WEST CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND
WARRIORS vs TRAIL BLAZERS – Warriors in 5
The Warriors are obviously looking ahead to bigger and tougher matchups, so it will be difficult to keep focus on the games at hand. That’s why I’m giving Portland a game, well… that and Damian Lillard who is one of the best young talents in the game. However, we all know the Warriors are headed to the Finals for a trilogy rematch with the Cavs so let’s just skip right ahead.
SPURS vs GRIZZLIES – Spurs in 4
The Spurs should make quick work of the Grizzlies who just barely made it over .500 this season. Kawhi Leonard has been overshadowed for MVP this season, with the Westbrook and Harden battle all year long. Leonard is guaranteed to make a huge impact. And if there’s one constant in all of sports, it’s that the Spurs will go deep into the playoffs.
ROCKETS vs THUNDER – Rockets in 7
This is a sexy matchup for obvious reasons – Westbrook vs Harden. Yes the MVP award is decided in the regular season but I wish this year they would extend it into the playoffs for this very reason. This should be the best series and an exciting one at that, although probably predictable. The Rockets are focused on winning, and Russell is focused on his stats, despite whatever he says otherwise. It should go back and forth with the better team pulling out, especially at home.
CLIPPERS vs JAZZ – CLIPPERS in 7
So long as everyone on the Clippers stay healthy, then LA should come out the victors here. Bu that is a huge asterisks on the phrase, “so long.” Lob City always seem to suffer injuries to their integral players at this time of the year for whatever reason. If Griffin and Paul and battle through, then look for the Clippers to advance to the next round….where they will probably lose to whoever they’re facing at that point.
NBA EAST CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND
RAPTORS vs BUCKS – Raps in 6
Hometown bias aside, the Raptors are genuinely the better team in this matchup, despite the Bucks having the best player between the 2 teams. Giannis Antetokoumpo is a beast that can do everything on both Offence and Defence, but he can’t do it alone. Brogdon and Middleton should help, but if those 2 are your 2nd and 3rd best player than the Raptors should be able to handle them with ease. The only reason I don’t give the Raps less games to get through is because they always seem to struggle out of the gate. Game 1’s are not friendly to the Raptors, but they usually seem to pull it together at some point.
CAVALIERS vs PACERS – Cavs in 5
Lebron James hasn’t lost a 1st round playoff game since 2012, and I find it hard to believe that trend can continue…I mean, he has to lose 1, right? This matchup should go quickly as the Cavaliers are a substantially better team, despite struggling down the stretch like they have.
CELTICS vs BULLS – Celtics in 6
This would be a much more one-sided affair, if the tragic news of Isaiah Thomas’ sister suddenly passing wouldn’t play such an obvious factor. I’m not sure what the emotional and mental state of the Celtic’s best player is in, and how it will affect the series going forward, but if we’re playing this game on paper: the Celtics win easily.
WIZARDS vs HAWKS – Wizards in 6
The Wizards backcourt can’t be denied with Beal and Wall doing what they do every year. It should be a back and forth series with the home team winning most games until the Wizards eventually pull ahead. Washington was just a victory shy of a 50-win season, something that is terribly overshadowed in the East.