Schedule for the Maple Leafs-Panthers second-round playoff series revealed, featuring time settings for the initial four matches.
Down & Dirty with Kevin McGran's Sports Take:
The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up to face the Florida Panthers in the second round of the NHL playoffs, starting on Monday. This matchup sees the winners of Canada's Battle of Ontario taking on the victors of the Battle of Florida.
With home-ice advantage secured by the Leafs' win in the Atlantic Division, the first two games of the series will kick off at the Scotiabank Arena. Monday's game begins at 8 p.m., while Game 2 goes Wednesday at 7 p.m.
After moving the series to Florida for Games 3 and 4 - scheduled for Friday and Sunday, respectively - the start times are yet to be determined.
The Panthers, who conquered the Tampa Bay Lightning in five battles in the first round, are the reigning Stanley Cup champions. They also bested the Leafs in five games in the second round of the 2023 playoffs, an encounter memorably marked by former Panthers defenceman Radko Gudas berating Leafs goalie Joseph Woll after clinching the series.
"It's going to be another grueling series," captain Auston Matthews said after eliminating Ottawa in six games. "They're obviously the defending champs, back-to-back Cup finals. It's going to be tough. We have to reset, do our homework, and rest up, do what we can, and go in there with confidence and go in there with some pushback."
The Panthers triumphed in three of their four encounters against the Leafs in the regular season, outscoring them by a tally of 13-7. Sam Bennett (three goals, two assists) and Sam Reinhart (two goals, three assists) each amassed five points in these matches.
John Tavares led the Leafs in the season series with three goals, and Mitch Marner contributed two goals and an assist.
In the off-season, the Leafs signed three players off the Panthers' Cup-winning roster: goalie Anthony Stolarz, forward Steven Lorentz, and defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
"It's going to be tough," Stolarz said. "At this stage of the season, every game, every series is going to be tough. We're down to the final bit of teams here. Everyone wants the same goal. Everyone wants the Stanley Cup, so teams are going to lay it on the line."
Leafs-Panthers Second Round NHL Playoff Schedule
(Best-of-seven series)
Game 1 - Monday, May 5: Florida at Toronto, 8 p.m.
Game 2 - Wednesday, May 7: Florida at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Game 3 - Friday, May 9: Toronto at Florida, 7 p.m.
Game 4 - Sunday, May 11: Toronto at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5 - Wednesday, May 14: TBD - Florida at Toronto, TBD
*Game 6 - Friday, May 16: Toronto at Florida, TBD
*Game 7 - Sunday, May 18: Florida at Toronto, TBD
*If necessary.
Historically, playoff competition between the Maple Leafs and Panthers has been intense, with the Panthers holding a 3-5-0 advantage overall[1]. However, in the 2025 season, the Maple Leafs have managed to grab an early edge in the series, achieving a few victories after grappling with the Panthers in previous contests[2][3].
The Toronto Maple Leafs, a topic of interest in the Canadian media, are set to face the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, in the second round of the NHL playoffs. This rivalry, often called the Battle of Florida, promises intense sports actionThe news of the Leafs securing home-ice advantage has caused excitement in Toronto's sports-loving community, with two early games scheduled at the Scotiabank ArenaAs the series moves to Florida for Games 3 and 4, there's anticipation, given the Panthers' edge in their previous regular season encounters, particularly the performances of players like Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart. However, the Leafs have bolstered their team with off-season signings from the Panthers' roster, including goalie Anthony Stolarz, forward Steven Lorentz, and defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
