Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Live updates: 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs game 3 Latest

I was high for Max Paciorette's prospects in the playoffs. He was my choice to play with John Tavares and William Nylander in game 1 of the first round, a change that only happened after game 6.

I believed that Pacioretty would find a way with his big hockey brain, the remaining skills and the bubbling drive to influence the Leafs.

What he delivered is far beyond what I imagined. This is an impressive stuff from a 36-year-old who has not played for the last two months of the regular season.

In the three games, since he came to Tavares and Nylander in this line, Pacioretty has scored two goals, six points and 18 goals. He leads the team with 34 goals in the post -season and is with more points (six) than Tavares and Matthew Knies (five) with more points (six) than fourth gate. Memory: Pacioretty was a healthy scratch in games 1 and 2 against the Senators of Ottawa.

Pacioretty deserves these points. In the first period of game 2, he hurried against the Florida Panthers in front of the net before Morgan Rielly got the puck at that time. This made it possible for him to perfect his tip for the first goal of the Leafs.

It was a flash of instincts that led to so many goals earlier in his career.

Nylander's sixth goal of the playoffs on Wednesday evening does not happen if Pacioretty Seth Jones does not beat for a loose puck in the neutral zone. It also does not happen if Pacioretty is not perfect that his backhand pass shorts before Jones' rod in the ice in the hope of intercept.