Be careful what you wish for Toronto. During their Round 1 win over Ottawa, Maple Leafs fans broke into a familiar chant: “We want Florida!” It echoed through Scotiabank Arena with defiant energy — the same chant that rang out in 2023 before the Panthers quickly silenced the city in a five-game second-round series win.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will open their second-round series Monday night in Toronto, setting the stage for a rematch just two years removed from Florida’s emphatic playoff victory over the Leafs. And this time, both teams bring momentum, storylines, and championship-level expectations.
The Panthers are trying to reach their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final — a rare feat in today’s parity-filled NHL. Since the start of the 2023 postseason, Florida has played 20 road playoff games and won 13 of them, including four Game 1 victories. For the seventh time in this three-year run, they’ll begin a series away from Sunrise, Florida.
They’re built for the moment. Florida has more wins than any NHL team over the past three seasons and carries a 3-1 regular season edge over Toronto into this series, outscoring the Leafs 13-7 and dominating puck possession in those matchups. Perhaps most tellingly, Florida capitalized on Toronto mistakes, going 5-for-11 on the power play — while also scoring a short-handed goal.
This isn’t the same Toronto team that crumbled in five games last spring. The Leafs have 56 total wins this season (including playoffs), second only to Winnipeg. They lead the NHL in road wins with 27 and just dispatched provincial rival Ottawa — and Brady Tkachuk — in a physical, emotional six-game series.
Now they face Matthew Tkachuk, Brady’s older brother and one of the NHL’s premier playoff performers.
Toronto’s offense has been relentless, and their power play — which faltered late in the regular season — rediscovered its bite in Round 1, going 6-for-17 against the Senators. The Leafs have leaned into a bold five-forward setup featuring Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies, designed to maximize their star power and overwhelm defenses.
There’s another wildcard in this series — and it’s not a Panther by birth. Trade-deadline acquisition Brad Marchand brings a haunted history for Toronto fans. No active player has tormented the Maple Leafs more in the playoffs. In 28 career postseason games against them, Marchand has 10 goals, 19 assists, and 29 points — all highs among active skaters. With the Bruins, he faced Toronto in four playoff series, all going the distance, and all ending with Boston victories in Game 7.
Marchand’s postseason poise — and ability to stir the pot — could be a difference-maker yet again.
There’s no shortage of crossover. Three current Leafs — Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz, and goalie Anthony Stolarz — were part of Florida’s Stanley Cup Final run last season. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, who once led the Leafs, is one of just three coaches to have helmed both franchises.
The Leafs haven’t been to the Stanley Cup Final since 1967, the longest active drought in professional hockey. And they haven’t advanced past the second round since 2002 — this marks just their third trip to this stage since then. They lost to Philadelphia in 2004 and to Florida in 2023.
This time, they believe they’re better prepared. The Leafs wanted Florida. Now, they get Florida — rested, road-tested, and battle-hardened. The Panthers have already proven they can handle the heat of playoff hockey. The question now is: can Toronto prove it’s finally ready to join them?
Game 1 drops Monday night in Toronto. The chant has been answered. Now the battle begins.
