Maple Leafs vs. Panthers live blog: Game 1 kicks off in Toronto at 8 p.m.

Hamilton Spectator

06-05-2025

The
Maple Leafs
host the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers tonight in Toronto to kick off the second round of the NHL playoffs.
Follow the Star's live updates and commentary throughout the game.
The Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena in the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. The rematch has been set.
The Maple Leafs, with new bench boss Craig Berube, finished first in the Atlantic Division this season, 10 points ahead of the third-place Panthers. They are in the post-season's second round for the second time in three years.
The Panthers, who added Boston Bruins' pest Brad Marchand to the roster at the trade deadline to help Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett get under their rivals' skin, have been to the Stanley Cup final two straight years — losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023 and beating the Edmonton Oilers last year.
The Panthers, who draw confidence from physically imposing their will on opponents, will find eager challengers in Toronto's Chris Tanev, Bobby McMann and Max Pacioretty, to name a few.
Read the full story from the Canadian Press
Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard (30) and Connor Brown (28) celebrate the win over the Los Angeles Kings during NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Thursday, May 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
The Maple Leafs will start their second-round NHL playoff series against the Florida Panthers on Monday night, as the victors of the Battle of Ontario face the victors of the Battle of Florida.
Given the Leafs earned home-ice advantage by winning the Atlantic Division, the first two games will be played at Scotiabank Arena. Game 1 will start at 8 p.m., while Game 2 goes Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The series then shifts to Florida for Games 3 and 4 — Friday and Sunday, respectively — with start times still to be determined.
Read the full story from the Star's Kevin McGran
Craig Berube didn't utter a word.
The Maple Leafs had just surrendered a lead late in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators.
Toronto's bench, however, remained calm. And 101 seconds later, the visitors restored their advantage before securing the Battle of Ontario to move on in the Stanley Cup tournament.
Read the full story from the Canadian Press
New father and birthday boy Mitch Marner says he's rested and ready to go for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 tonight (8 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet) against the Florida Panthers following the birth of his son, Miles.
Toronto forward's wife Stephanie gave birth to their first child, a boy.
'The birth of our son, such a special moment,' Marner said. 'Just incredible moments. Something that's hard to explain. As a parent, I think everyone feels it, but it's something really cool.'
Marner took to the ice at the Scotiabank Arena as part of an abbreviated morning skate as the Maple Leafs prepare for their second-round series.
Fans at Scotiabank Arena applaud Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz in an October game. Tickets are still available for tonight's playoff game vs. the Florida Panthers.
Good news: There are still, perhaps surprisingly, tickets available from the box office to tonight's Game 1 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers.
Bad news: The cheapest tickets will cost a hefty penny, you may not even have an actual seat and your view could be obstructed.
The Leafs have home ice advantage in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series, just like in 2023 when the Panthers eliminated Toronto from the playoffs, with the potential for as many as four games at Scotiabank Arena.
The playoffs experience certainly doesn't come cheap. By Monday morning, the Ticketmaster map still showed seats available both in the lower and upper bowls — in addition to plenty of resale tickets.
More from the Star's Gilbert Ngabo
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save on Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (34) in Toronto on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
The Maple Leafs just emerged — relatively intact (or at least bodily traumas are being kept on the down low) — from a hit-show bout with the Ottawa Senators.
They go from that frying pan into the gang-banging cauldron of the Florida Panthers, with an added side of nasty.
It's the modus operandi of the formidable defending Stanley Cup champions. Or as former Panther Steven Lorenz puts it: 'Take no prisoners in the playoffs.'
Read the full column from Rosie DiManno
The Maple Leafs are going from one Tkachuk to another.
The Leafs dispatched Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators in six games in the first round, only to be faced with his older, more experienced and bigger pain-in-the-rear brother, Matthew Tkachuk, and the Florida Panthers.
Throw in the NHL's rat of the decade, Brad Marchand, formerly of the Boston Bruins, and the Leafs will have their work cut out for them.
Here's how the two teams stack up.