Given the Leafs earned home-ice advantage by winning the Atlantic Division,聽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 鈥 Friday and Sunday, respectively 鈥 with start times still to be determined.聽
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The Panthers, who beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the first round, are the reigning Stanley Cup champions. They also beat the Leafs in five games in the second round of the 2023 playoffs. The lasting image of that series was former聽Panthers defenceman Radko Gudas standing over and screaming at Leafs goalie Joseph Woll after the Panthers scored to clinch the series.
鈥淚t’s going to be another hard series,” captain Auston Matthews said after the Leafs eliminated Ottawa in six games. 鈥淭hey’re obviously the defending champs, back-to-back Cup finals. It’s going to be hard. We have to reset, do our homework and rest up, do what we can and go in there with confidence and go in there with some pushback.鈥
The Panthers won three of four meetings against the Leafs in the regular season, outscoring them 13-7. Sam Bennett (three goals, two assists) and Sam Reinhart (two goals, three assists) had five points each.
John Tavares led the Leafs in the season series with three goals and Mitch Marner had two goals and an assist.
鈥淚t’s going to be hard,鈥 Stolarz said. 鈥淎t this stage of the season, every game, every series is going to be hard. We’re down to the final bit of teams here. Everyone wants the same goal. Everyone wants the Stanley Cup, so teams are going to lay it on the line.鈥
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LEAFS-PANTHERS SECOND ROUND NHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
(Best-of-seven series)
Game 1 鈥聽Monday, May 5: Florida at Toronto,聽8 p.m.聽
Game 2 鈥聽Wednesday, May 7: Florida at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Game 3 鈥聽Friday, May 9: 海角社区官网at Florida, TBD
Game 4 鈥聽Sunday, May 11: 海角社区官网at Florida, TBD
*Game 5 鈥聽Wednesday, May 14: TBD Florida at Toronto, TBD
*Game 6 鈥聽Friday, May 16: 海角社区官网at Florida, TBD
*Game 7 鈥聽Sunday, May 18: Florida at Toronto, TBD
*If necessary.
Kevin McGran is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow
him on Bluesky聽@kevinmcgran
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