Now, for the second time in three postseasons, the Cats will open the second round at Scotiabank Arena against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto is fresh off a six-game series win over the Ottawa Senators, and like Florida, should be good and rested heading into the series.

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with center Carter Verhaeghe (23) and center Aleksander Barkov (16) during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

The Panthers’ second-round playoff opponent, the Toronto Maple Leafs, feature several members of Florida’s Stanley Cup-winning team last year. Toronto also still has several of the