Florida Panthers Headed to Toronto, Dates for Games 1 & 2 Set

The Florida Panthers packed as if they were going away for a long road trip when they left South Florida for Game 7 in Boston. They are headed to Toronto.

On Monday morning, the NHL announced that the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Panthers and Maple Leafs will open in Toronto on Tuesday night.

Game 1 will be at 7 p.m. on ESPN; Game 2 will also be on Thursday at 7 on TNT.

Rumor has it Game 3 in Sunrise will be Saturday for the Hockey Night in Canada.

Florida stunned the Bruins by rallying from a 3-1 series deficit in winning the final three games of the series to advance.

On Sunday, the Panthers got a second goal from Brandon Montour with 59.3 seconds left to force overtime where Carter Verhaeghe won it 4-3.

Toronto won its first opening-round series since 2004 on Saturday night when the Maple Leafs beat the host Tampa Bay Lighting 2-1 in overtime.

This will be the first postseason meeting between the two teams.

Florida lost three of four games against the Maple Leafs this season — although its 3-2 overtime win in Toronto on April 10 may have saved its season.

FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (ATL2) VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS (WC2)

GAME 1

• When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
• Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto 
• TV/Streaming: ESPN, ESPN+
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932
• First Round Schedule — Game 1: Tuesday at Toronto, 7 (ESPN); Game 2: Thursday at Toronto, 7 (TNT); Remainder of Schedule: TBA
• How They Got Here: Toronto d. Tampa Bay 4-2; Florida d. Boston 4-3
• Season Series (Toronto won 3-1): Maple Leafs 5, @Panthers 4 OT (Jan. 17); @Maple Leafs 6, Panthers 2 (Mar. 23); Panthers 3, @Maple Leafs 2 OT (March 29); Maple Leafs 2, @Panthers 1 OT (April 10)
• Last season: Florida won 2-1
  
• All-time Regular Season Series: Toronto leads 48-36-7, 7 ties
• Postseason History: First Meeting