Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Game 1 Preview

Matchup Notes

Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 1

Oddsmakers have listed the Panthers as the series favorites at -175, with the Maple Leafs at +150 to win the series against the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

In the regular season, the Panthers took the series 3-1, outscoring the Leafs 13-7 overall. A significant factor in these four games was Florida`s power play, which converted five out of 11 opportunities (45.5%). In contrast, Toronto`s power play managed only one goal from nine chances (11.1%).

This marks the second postseason meeting between these clubs; their only previous encounter was also in the second round in 2023. Florida eliminated Toronto in five games, clinching the series with an overtime victory in Game 5 (scored by Nick Cousins).

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz, and Anthony Stolarz were members of the 2024 Stanley Cup-winning Panthers team. According to research, the only previous NHL playoff series where three players dressed against a team they had won a Cup with the previous season was in 1989 when former Los Angeles Kings teammates Wayne Gretzky, Mike Krushelnyski, and Marty McSorley played against the Edmonton Oilers.

The Panthers have accumulated more playoff wins (39) since 2021 than they did in their franchise`s first 26 seasons combined (19). Their 39 wins and 66 postseason games played since 2021 lead the entire NHL.

Florida`s leading playoff goal scorers among current players hold the top four spots: Carter Verhaeghe (28), Sam Reinhart (23), Aleksander Barkov (20), and Matthew Tkachuk (20).

For the Maple Leafs, this is their ninth consecutive postseason appearance, the longest active streak in the NHL and tied for the second longest in franchise history. The other nine-year streak ended in 1967 with a Stanley Cup championship.

Toronto`s captain, Auston Matthews, is tied with Darryl Sittler for seventh place in franchise history for playoff goals, with 25. His next goal will move him into a tie for fifth alongside Steve Thomas and George Armstrong. Wendel Clark holds the top spot with 34 goals.

Arda`s Three Stars from Round 1

1. Mikko Rantanen
RW, Dallas Stars

Rantanen recorded 12 points in the first round, helping the Stars eliminate the Avalanche. He achieved several playoff firsts along the way, including the first Game 7 hat trick in the third period.

2. Connor McDavid
C, Edmonton Oilers

McDavid significantly impacted the series against the Kings, particularly early on. He finished with 11 points, as the Oilers eliminated the Kings in the first round for the fourth consecutive season.

3. Logan Thompson
G, Washington Capitals

The goaltender allowed two goals or fewer in four of the Capitals` five games against the Canadiens, finishing the series with a .922 save percentage.

Sunday`s Final Score

Winnipeg Jets 4, St. Louis Blues 3 (2OT)
Winnipeg wins series 4-3, will play Dallas in Round 2

The Blues quickly established a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Jordan Kyrou and Mathieu Joseph, leading many to anticipate another difficult playoff outcome for Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Although the Jets got a goal back in the second period from Cole Perfetti, Blues center Radek Faksa scored with less than a minute remaining in the frame, giving St. Louis a 3-1 advantage heading into the third.

St. Louis maintained that lead until the final two minutes, when the Jets mounted a furious comeback. Vladislav Namestnikov scored at 18:04, and Perfetti deflected the game-tying goal into the net with just three seconds left. The teams battled intensely through the first 36 minutes of overtime before Adam Lowry tipped Neal Pionk`s shot from the point past Jordan Binnington, securing the series-clinching victory.