On Sunday, Leafs captain Auston Matthews spoke to the media ahead of Game 1 and insisted that this group is different and ready to go against the Panthers. “We’re a prepared group, we’re ready to go,” Matthews said. “We know the challenge that lies ahead, and it's just taking it one step at a time.”

The Florida Panthers will face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in three years.

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with center Carter Verhaeghe (23) and center Aleksander Barkov (16) during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)