Latest news with #StanleyCupChamps
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers and Maple Leafs Fire Loaded Messages Before Second-Round Series
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers will meet again in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, now with home-ice advantage flipped and several familiar faces in new jerseys. Toronto advanced after a 4-2 series win over the Ottawa Senators, while the Panthers eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. Game 1 is set for Monday night in Toronto at 8 p.m. ET. Advertisement Leafs head coach Craig Berube acknowledged the challenge ahead as his team prepares to face the defending champions. 'They're obviously the Stanley Cup Champs, so they're a very good team,' Berube said. 'They've got a lot of good pieces, they're hard to play against. You know, I could keep going on and on, but it's not the time right now.' Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) fights with Toronto Maple Leafs center Max Domi (11) during a game at Scotiabank Turchiaro-Imagn Images Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, who once coached the Leafs from 2006 to 2008, praised Toronto's high-end talent during a radio interview on "The Joe Rose Show" on Friday. 'They've got four or five of these world-class guys that [their] hands aren't like anybody else's,' Maurice said. 'So there's a skill level that these guys possess that they're just dangerous all the time.' Although he praised his rival, Maurice also spoke broadly about the level of competition remaining in the playoffs, making it clear there's no easy opponent left in contention. Advertisement 'You're going to get down to the top eight teams in the NHL," Maurice said. "I don't think there's a Cinderella story left here. These are all elite teams. They've all got guys that can score, can skate, can battle. 'So it will be a very, very hard-fought, tight series.' Florida won three of four regular-season meetings between Panthers and Leafs this campaign, and defeated the Leafs in five games during their 2023 second-round matchup. The Panthers have won five straight playoff series and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in each of the past two years, winning it last season. Toronto, meanwhile, advanced past the first round for only the second time in 20 years following a trip to the conference semifinals in 2004. Advertisement Related: NHL Delivers First Official Update on Maple Leafs-Panthers Series Related: Matthew Tkachuk's First Message to Brady Tkachuk After Senators-Maple Leafs
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NHL Delivers First Official Update on Maple Leafs-Panthers Series
The NHL has officially announced the date for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second-round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. The game will be played on Monday, May 5, at 8 p.m. ET in Toronto. The rest of the series schedule has yet to be announced. Advertisement Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun reported the update on X, writing, 'NHL officially announces Game 1 of #Leafs/Panthers on Monday night at 8 p.m. in Toronto. Remainder of schedule to be announced.' Meanwhile, David Alter of The Hockey News also confirmed the date and timing with a screenshot of a Sportsnet's on-air graphic, adding, 'Leafs and Panthers Game 1 set for 8pm Monday. Going to be a late one.' Toronto advanced after defeating the Ottawa Senators in six games, while the Panthers eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five. Toronto enters as Atlantic Division champions with home-ice advantage. Florida, however, dominated the Leafs in the regular season, taking three of four games between both teams. Advertisement This matchup marks the second playoff meeting between the two franchises in the past three years. Florida won the 2023 series in five games on their way to the Stanley Cup Final. Monday's opener will see several familiar faces on both benches following pre-season transactions involving both franchises. Toronto's Anthony Stolarz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Steven Lorentz were all part of Florida's Cup-winning roster last season before signing with the Leafs in free agency. Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) takes up a position in front of Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov (35).Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images 'They have played very, very well,' Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. 'Those guys were a big part of it, and that story gets to endure in our locker room for the men who played. So, they still are a big part of that story.' Advertisement Meanwhile, Leafs coach Craig Berube weighed in on the challenge ahead of his team. 'They're obviously the Stanley Cup Champs, so they're a very good team,' Berube said. 'They've got a lot of good pieces, they're hard to play against. You know, I could keep going on and on, but it's not the time right now.' Related: Brady Tkachuk's 'Devastating' Message After Maple Leafs Eliminate Senators Related: Auston Matthews Reveals Handshake Line Words To Brady Tkachuk
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maple Leafs Fans Send Wild Message to Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers
The Toronto Maple Leafs eliminated the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and will now meet the Florida Panthers in the second round. It was a little touch-and-go for Toronto against Ottawa, but the team found a way to close the series out in six games. Now heading into this series with the defending champions, it seems that the fans of the Maple Leafs are feeling very good about themselves. Many of them spoke with Sportsnet following the team clinching against Ottawa. Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Max Pachioretty (67) celebrates with team his goal scored in game six of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup DesRosiers-Imagn Images Here are some of the better fan reactions to the Maple Leafs clinching the series against the Senators. Advertisement "I'm all jacked up on Mountain Dew, the boys came out tonight. The boys came out to play." "Florida Panthers, Black Panther, it don't matter" "We've taken one Tkachuk brother, we can take another" "Leafs in The Toronto fans seem to be very excited about the chance to face off against the Panthers, even if many see Florida as the favorite. The Maple Leafs have a very talented team that could take down the Panthers, but the franchise has fallen short of expectations in recent years. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berbe weighed in on the challenge ahead of his team. "They're obviously the Stanley Cup Champs, so they're a very good team," Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said. "They've got a lot of good pieces, they're hard to play against. You know, I could keep going on and on, but it's not the time right now." Advertisement This series is a rematch from two years ago when the Panthers dispatched the Maple Leafs in five games. These Toronto fans seem to be feeling very confident heading into this series even though the Panthers took three of four games in the regular season. Related: Oilers Savagely Troll Kings After Fourth Straight Playoff Series Victory
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Panthers drop off Stanley Cup Ring at Hockey Hall of Fame
The Florida Panthers paid a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Wednesday. There was a special reason for the visit. Members of the Panthers, including Captain Sasha Barkov, Head Coach Paul Maurice and forwards Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk, dropped off a very fancy and unique piece of jewelry. The Panthers brought a Stanley Cup Championship ring to be added to the Hall of Fame. Forever a part of place in the @HockeyHallFame 🏆 — Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 12, 2025 First, it will reside inside Florida's special display as the current Stanley Cup Champs, which has prominent placement inside the HHOF. It was actually Barkov that physically placed the ring into the display, which was met by a round of applause for those lucky enough to be at the Hall of Fame to witness the affair. Eventually, the ring will likely end up inside Lord Stanley's Vault, a special room inside the Hall of Fame's Great Hall, that houses an expansive collection of Stanley Cup rings from throughout the years and decades, in addition to the original Stanley Cup and the historic trophy's retired rings. The timing of the delivery makes sense as the Panthers are making their first visit to Toronto this season. Florida will face the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night, the second game on a six-game road trip that doesn't end until next weekend in Washington. Matthew Tkachuk admiring the cup. As he always says, 'It never gets old.' — Randy Moller (@HeyRedDeer) March 12, 2025 LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA WATCH: Footage of Brad Marchand skating with Florida Panthers in Boston Three takeaways: Panthers burn themselves in Boston collapse Panthers blow 2-goal third period lead, lose in Boston 3-2 Brad Marchand joins Panthers for morning skate in Boston, skates on Florida's top line Panthers begin extended road trip with rivalry matchup in Boston
