Anthony Stolarz Sends Key Message to Leafs on How to Beat his Former Panthers Team

It is going to be a tough series for the Maple Leafs against the Florida Panthers, no doubt about it. Starting on Monday night, we're going to see the best possible rosters take each other on in a game that's going to be gritty, hard-fought, and both physically and mentally taxing.

There's a lot to take away from things ahead of the series. Matthew Tkachuk is trying to get some last minute intel from his brother to see how he can take care of Toronto, but the Maple Leafs have some insider information of their own.

Three of their players were part of Florida's Cup winning run last season, and now when they flipped sides, it gave Toronto a bit of knowledge on how to approach things. Does it mean they are guaranteed a win? Absolutely not, but the improvements made, plus the resume of their veterans; they have a great chance.

One of those players is Anthony Stolarz, who signed on to be Joseph Woll's backup this season, but instead too the reins and became the starter for not only the regular season, but the playoffs as well. He's been fantastic and arguably one of the best free agent signings in Maple Leafs history.

So ahead of the first game of the series on Monday night, the goaltender had a message to his teammates regarding how to best approach their second round opponents:

It's certainly going to take a collective effort to dispatch of the Panthers, and with the adjustments and acquisitions they've made; not to mention a fully healthy roster, things are going to be rocky for Toronto.

Which is why they need to set the pace early and often this series. While it's a bit rare to see blowouts in the playoffs, the Leafs have to ensure they give Anthony Stolarz as much insurance as possible heading into the later frames.

Florida isn't going to back away from any physicality either, and it's going to be up to the bigger guys to keep pace and show the Panthers they mean just as much business. Guys like Steven Lorentz and Simon Benoit; the team's two leading hitters, need to throw their weight around at any given opportunity.

It's the blocks like Laughton had too that will give Toronto some help, and while they have already improved drastically in that category, at times you need to put literally everything on the line in order to win; a necessary evil.

We won't know how things will turn out though until the puck is dropped and the first game is played. Does that dictate the rest of the series? Absolutely not, but if Toronto can heed Stolarz's advice?

They'll have a pretty good chance at making it through in the end.