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FHN Today: Panthers Can Get Back into Leafs Series on Home Ice

Published

5 days ago

May 9, 2025

Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise is all dressed up for Game 3 of the playoff series between the Panthers and Maple Leafs. // Photo @GeorgeRichards

The Panthers are back in South Florida and really need to make sure home is where the wins are when it comes to Toronto Maple Leafs.

Down 2-0 in their second-round playoff series to the Leafs, the Panthers have to make a statement in Sunrise if they’re going to get back in this thing.

They believe they will.

And sort of have to.

“We have been a good home team this year for sure,” Paul Maurice said before the Panthers left for Fort Lauderdale on Thursday.

“You get the positive feedback of good things that you do. … You start feeling better about yourself and better about your game just on that. It will be good to get home.”

The Panthers know a series can change on a dime, and a win tonight would get things trending in the right direction.

History, however, paints a different picture: The Panthers are winless in five playoff series in which they started 0-2 starting in 2000 with a sweep at the hands of the Devils.

The Panthers are not thinking about ancient history, nor looking down the road.

They need a win tonight, and then move on to Game 4.

“You win one game, or you lose one game, and it can kind of change anything,” Sam Reinhart said. “We want to put the best foot forward to play our best game [tonight] and get back in this thing.’’

FLORIDA PANTHERS / FHN

The Panthers need Sergei Bobrovsky to be ‘Big Game Bob’ again if they want to win this series.
Anthony Stolarz did not make the trip to Fort Lauderdale, so Joseph Woll it is.
Joel Quenneville will be back behind an NHL bench; the former Panthers coach lands with the Ducks.
Toronto took Game 2 and come to Sunrise up 2-0 in the series.
So, what’s ‘embellishment?’ It’s certainly not anything Evan Rodrigues did Wednesday.
Mitch Marner’s goal stood as the difference, thanks to an excellent game from Joseph Woll.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the FHN YouTube channel to watch video interviews with the Florida Panthers throughout the postseason. Thursday brought us Maurice, Reinhart, and Anton Lundell. More today, both pre- and postgame.

NHL LINKS / NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW

The Capitals hold off Carolina to even their series at 1.
The Vegas Golden Knights are in troubbble after losing Game 2 to the visiting Oilers in OT last night.
Former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan says he is excited to coach a “very talented’’ Rangers team.
The Winnipeg Jets have to find a way to contain Mikko Rantanen.
A Colorado Avalanche mailbag where Rantanen gets mentioned a few times.
A Philadelphia Flyers mock draft.
Change may be coming to the New Jersey Devils.
The Detroit Red Wings will be making some changes to their broadcasts.

2025 NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: GAME 3

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS @ FLORIDA PANTHERS

Toronto Leads Best-of-7 Series 2-0

When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
National TV: TNT/truTV
National Streaming: MAX
Radio: WQAM 560-AM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
Series Schedule — Game 1: @Toronto 5, Florida 4; Game 2: @Toronto 4, Panthers 3; Game 3: Friday @Florida, 7 (TNT/truTV); Game 4: Sunday @Florida, 7:30 (TBS/truTV); Game 5*: Wednesday May 14 @Toronto TBA (ESPN); Game 6*:Friday May 16 @Florida TBA (TNT/truTV); Game 7*: Sunday May 18 @Toronto TBA (TNT/truTV).
How They Got Here: Toronto d. Ottawa 4-2; Florida d. Tampa Bay 4-1
This Regular Season: Panthers Won 3-1; Last Regular Season: Tied 2-2
All-time Regular Season Series: Toronto leads 51-40-7, 7 ties
All-time Postseason: Panthers d. Toronto 4-1 (2023 ECS)