ZITO DID IT AGAIN: BRAD MARCHAND SCORES WINNER, PANTHERS SPOIL TOCCHET’S FLYERS DEBUT

Let’s just say it!

Bill Zito is f**king HIM!

First and foremost thank you Zito for being the architect, the South Florida mastermind, behind this Panthers dynasty. That’s exactly what this Panthers team is, the new dynasty in the NHL, and South Florida for that matter.

The Florida Panthers’ very own Danny Ocean — if Ocean rocked a Panthers bomber and scouted left wingers instead of casinos.

This man finessed Brad f**king Marchand out of Boston, dropped him right into Sunrise like it was a Marvel crossover event, and what a genius move last season that keeps paying dividends.

Because now?

Florida’s 2-0 and looking like a team that’s still allergic to losing.

DEFENSE FIRST & CHAOS SECOND

Let’s be honest, this win wasn’t pretty but then again who cares? A win is a win. This is exactly what the epitome of Panthers hockey is. It’s nasty, calculated and tough.

This is exactly how Just how Zito drew it up when he robbed Boston blind and brought Marchand to the swamp.

Head coach Paul Maurice summed it up with zen master clarity:

“I think we’re generating enough. That’s kind of the expectation, that we’ll probably score a little less right now and hopefully we don’t have to give up less.”

Translation: tighten up, let the offense come.

Florida’s defense has been stout only allowing 39 total shots through two games. Keep in mind that’s less than most NHL teams in a Tuesday night shootaround. They’re not just surviving these close games, they’re strangling them.

And that’s by design.

“That’s the right way to win,” said Brad Marchand postgame. “It means they’re playing your game… I think we’re more concerned about the defensive side of it and making sure we don’t allow many.”

Marchand’s only been here for five minutes and he’s already preaching the gospel of Sunrise.

He might still be on Boston’s group chat, but make no mistake, he’s all Florida now.

RUN that s**t BACK

Anton Lundell continued being the monster that he is by scoring with a silky PPG that made us all proud at 5:29 in the second period.

Meanwhile, Evan Rodrigues served up the apple like it was plated by a Michelin chef. Lundell? One-time snipe. Stick side. 1–0 Panthers.

The kid’s still growing, but don’t tell him that — he knows what he brings to this squad:

“I feel like I’ve got so much experience, and now it’s just trying to get out everything I’ve learned.”

Everyone in damn building can see the confidence that he’s playing with this year. He’s stepped up ina big way with the injuries that this team is going through.

Gotta give props up to Noah Cates for his rebound goal at 17:48 in the second. The fact he hustled off the faceoff, found the loose puck, and then managed to pop it over Bobrovsky’s shoulder. Tied this game up 1-1.

Flyers fans got a little taste of hope.

And then here came our mercenary as Marchand did what Marchand does, killed it at 2:19 into the third.

Marchand corrals the puck on the left point and fires a laser through traffic — bar down, over Vladar’s glove like it owed him money.

The crowd lost its damn mind.

“We’re getting a lot of opportunities and we can score more goals,” Marchand said. “But… we’re more concerned about the defensive side of it.”

Of course he is. That’s why Zito signed him. The villain everyone hated is now Florida’s silent assassin.

Oh, and Boston? F**k Boston, we’re glad they’re still sobbing drinking their Sam Adams.

Even when the Cats were down to five defenseman, they still were locked in.

Bobrovsky stayed cold-blooded. 19 saves. No rebounds. No drama. Just vibes and violence.

Luke Kunin picked up his first assist with the Panthers on Marchand’s goal, and the squad closed out the final two minutes like a team that’s been here before.

Because they have.

ZITO cooked with this one

Bill Zito is cooking with grease and chaos. This Panthers roster? It’s the NHL’s version of Ocean’s Eleven — except everyone can score, scrap, and survive sudden death overtime.

Marchand looks reborn. Lundell looks grown. Bobrovsky looks nuclear.

And the East?

The East looks nervous.