Preview, Schedule, and Prediction for Round 2 Series between Panthers and Leafs

• The Toronto Maple Leafs face the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers in round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

• Toronto has home-ice advantage but enters the series as underdogs to reach their first conference final since 2002

• Below, see the my Panthers vs Leafs prediction, schedule, and series preview

It’s current Stanley Cup champions against the team with the longest drought when the Florida Panthers take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the NHL playoff bracket.

After a five-game dismantling of rival Tampa Bay in the first round, Florida now has the second-best odds to win the Stanley Cup.

Who’s favored in the Panthers vs Leafs odds? When is Game 1? I have all the answers including my Leafs vs Panthers series prediction, below.

Panthers vs Leafs Round 2 Schedule

Here’s the schedule for the best-of-seven series for Panthers vs Leafs (all times Eastern).

Game 1: Monday, May 5 at Scotiabank Arena, 8 pm

Game 2: Wednesday, May 7 at Scotiabank Arena, 7 pm

Game 3: Friday, May 9 at Amerant Bank Arena, TBA

Game 4: Sunday, May 11 at Amerant Bank Arena, TBA

Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 14 at Scotiabank Arena, TBA

Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 16 at Amerant Bank Arena, TBA

Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 18 at Scotiabank Arena, TBA

Florida went 28-13-2 at home this season, while Toronto was 29-14-1.

Panthers vs Leafs Series Preview

Led by Selke Trophy finalists Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, the Panthers take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on their quest to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

This will be the second time in three years these two teams have met in the conference semifinals. Florida won 4-1 in 2023, but all but one of those games was decided by one goal.

Both teams had to overcome neighborhood rivals in the first round. Special teams were big for both teams. Toronto’s power play saved them in its series win over Ottawa, scoring at 35.3 percent, while the Panthers penalty kill was on point against Tampa, with 16 stops in a row. The Panthers took the most penalties in the NHL in the regular season (340).

Home teams have dominated the NHL playoffs so far. Home teams are 29-15 (not counting the Game 7s) which gives Toronto an immediate advantage.

On the ice, there’s plenty of star power to go around. For Toronto it’s Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, part of what they’re calling the Core Five. Florida answers with Barkov, Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk, with Tkachuk still coming back after an injury.

History is way on the side of Florida. Toronto hasn’t been to the conference finals since 2002. Florida has more depth and swagger. The Panthers also won three of the four regular season meetings.

Panthers vs Leafs Prediction

I’m going with a Panthers series win, but it won’t be easy. Toronto has a lot to prove. Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz was Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky’s back-up last year. Stolarz actually had better numbers than Bobrovsky, but in the playoffs, it was Bobrovsky skating around with the Stanley Cup.

Stolarz and Bobrovsky turned in identical numbers in the first round of the playoffs, both a 2.21 goals against average, both with a .901 save percentage.

The Panthers bolstered their depth by picking up Bruins legend Brad Marchand at the trade deadline. Marchand isn’t the player he was, but he strikes fear in the Leafs heart. He’s never been on a team that has lost a series to Toronto and has 29 points in 28 playoff games against Toronto.

I see Toronto winning the first two games at home and then Florida winning the next four to close things out as their depth and defense prevail.

Prediction: Panthers 4-2 (+360 at FanDuel)

The second round of the NHL playoffs is set to kick off with an exciting matchup between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both teams are coming off impressive first-round victories and are looking to continue their success in this highly anticipated series.

The Panthers, led by star players Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, are coming off a dominant series win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Their high-powered offense and solid defensive play have been key factors in their success so far this postseason. The Panthers will look to continue their strong play and take advantage of home-ice advantage in this series.

On the other side, the Maple Leafs are coming off a hard-fought series win over the Boston Bruins. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have been leading the charge for Toronto, with their dynamic offensive skills causing problems for opposing defenses. The Maple Leafs will look to carry their momentum into this series and continue their quest for a Stanley Cup.

The schedule for this series is as follows:

Game 1: Thursday, May 13th at Florida
Game 2: Saturday, May 15th at Florida
Game 3: Monday, May 17th at Toronto
Game 4: Wednesday, May 19th at Toronto
Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, May 21st at Florida
Game 6 (if necessary): Sunday, May 23rd at Toronto
Game 7 (if necessary): Tuesday, May 25th at Florida

Prediction:

This series is shaping up to be a highly competitive one, with both teams boasting strong offensive firepower and solid goaltending. The Panthers have the advantage of home ice, but the Maple Leafs have shown they can win on the road as well. Ultimately, I believe this series will come down to goaltending and special teams play.

In the end, I predict that the Florida Panthers will come out on top in a hard-fought seven-game series. Their depth and experience will be key factors in overcoming the young and talented Maple Leafs. However, this series has the potential to go either way, and fans can expect some thrilling hockey as these two teams battle it out for a spot in the conference finals.