The Florida Panthers, defending champions, find themselves in a challenging position as they trail the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0 in their playoff series. Historically, the Panthers have shown resilience under pressure. In the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, they lost three consecutive games (Games 4-6) but ultimately rallied to win Game 7 for their first championship. Additionally, last year, they overcame similar odds, coming back from both 2-0 and 3-1 down to eliminate the record-setting Boston Bruins.
Coach Paul Maurice reflected on the Panthers’ current standing: “We went on the road and we lost two one-goal games. Our game’s not perfect. Neither is theirs.” With Game 3 scheduled for Friday night at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, the Panthers cannot afford to fall into a 3-0 deficit.
In a recap of the first two games in Toronto, the Maple Leafs struck first with Matthew Knies scoring just 23 seconds into Game 1, followed by John Tavares extending their lead with a wraparound goal during Game 2, creating an uphill battle for Florida.
Fans can catch Game 3 starting at 7 p.m. ET on May 9, available on TNT and truTV. The Panthers are also making adjustments to their lineup, incorporating Tomas Nosek, A.J. Greer, and Jonah Gadjovich while sitting Mackie Samoskevich, Nico Sturm, and Jesper Boqvist.
Despite the challenges faced, the Panthers remain confident in their goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky. Although he has allowed nine goals on 50 shots this series, forward Sam Reinhart emphasized, “Our confidence (in Bobrovsky) is never wavering. We feel we’ve got the best goalie in the world back there. Our job is to make it as easy as possible for him.”
This determination and belief in their abilities could be crucial as the Panthers look to turn the tide in their series against the Maple Leafs.