Maple Leafs Face Panthers in Round 2 Showdown

The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in a highly anticipated second-round playoff series, with Toronto holding home-ice advantage but entering as underdogs due to Florida's playoff experience and strong goaltending. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, a standout in the first round, provides Florida with a major edge in net, while Toronto relies on the less proven Anthony Stolarz. The Maple Leafs' defensive depth, especially across all three pairings, is seen as a potential x-factor, with notable contributions from Jake McCabe, Chris Tanev, Morgan Reilly, Brandon Carlo, Simon Benoit, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Coach Craig Berube emphasizes the need for physicality to counter Florida's aggressive forechecking and highlights the challenge posed by the Panthers' well-rounded lines. Both teams are expected to bring intensity, with the outcome hinging on Toronto's ability to match Florida's playoff-tested style and leverage their improved defense. Game 1 is anticipated to set the tone for what promises to be a closely contested series.