Stanley Cup playoffs live updates: Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 3
By definition, Friday night is not a 'must-win' game for the Florida Panthers.
But for all intents and purposes, Game 3 of their Stanley Cup playoffs second-round series is as close to 'must-win' as it can get without officially being one after the Panthers dropped the first two contests in the best-of-7 series.
A Florida win makes the series competitive again, while a loss puts the Panthers down 0-3 and needing to win each of the final four games to keep their hopes of repeating as Stanley Cup champions alive.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Sunrise's Amerant Bank Arena. The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT and truTV, while also available to be streamed on Max.
Follow along throughout the game for live updates, news, analysis and commentary.
Gary Bettman speaks in South Florida
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman did a general media availability at Amernat Bank Arena prior to the Panthers-Maple Leafs game. A couple notables:
▪ On the upcoming Winter Classic (at Miami's loanDepot park) and Stadium Series (at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium): 'It's bold. It's audacious. It's an attempt to do something special for the fans in Florida.'
▪ He said he hopes a new collective bargaining agreement for the NHL gets done 'sooner than later.' Talks are progressing. The deal currently expires at the end of next season.
▪ On the Panthers' growing popularity in South Florida: 'It starts with two words: Vinnie Viola.'
Series schedule
▪ Game 1 — Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 4: The Panthers nearly rallied from a three-goal deficit, getting to within one goal twice in the third, but ultimately couldn't overcome their slow start in a series-opening loss. William Nylander scored twice for Toronto.
▪ Game 2 — Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 3: Florida blew a pair of two-goal leads and then fell behind for good 17 seconds after tying the game early in the third period to fall into an 0-2 hole in the series.
▪ Game 3: Tonight
▪ Game 4: Sunday, May 11, 7:30 p.m., TBS, truTV, Max, Sunrise's Amerant Bank Arena
▪ Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 14, TBD time, ESPN, Toronto's Scotiabank Arena
▪ Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 16, TBD time, TNT, truTV, Max, Sunrise's Amerant Bank Arena
▪ Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 18, TBD time, TNT, Max, Toronto's Scotiabank Arena
Pregame reading
Need to catch up ahead of Game 3? Here are the highlights of the Miami Herald's coverage over the past few days.
▪ If the Panthers weren't the underdogs before, they are now — and need to embrace it
▪ Why the Panthers have confidence Sergei Bobrovsky can turn things around against Toronto
▪ Brad Marchand has excelled so far in the playoffs. Can he spark a turnaround against Toronto?
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