FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers find themselves in a critical situation as they prepare for Game 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After dropping the first two games of the best-of-seven series, the defending champions are looking to turn their fortunes around at home, where they have historically thrived.
Game 3 is set to take place at Amerant Bank Arena on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET. While it’s not technically a must-win game, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Panthers, who risk falling into a deep hole if they lose again. "Every game is a big one, for sure," said Florida captain Aleksander Barkov. "We didn't get the job done in Toronto. We had some good moments in the games, but we also had bad moments. So we'll learn from those. Now we have a great opportunity and challenge to beat them on home ice and be a little better than we were in Toronto."
Head coach Paul Maurice echoed Barkov's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of the home crowd in providing an energy boost. "You always feel good. We have been a good home team. You get a little action around the other team’s net, and the crowd gives you that instant feedback. You start feeling good about where your game is at," Maurice said. He also noted that the pressure of being down 2-0 should be channeled into excitement rather than fear. "You just don’t want to be trying to hit a home run every time you get to the plate," he advised.
Despite their offensive struggles in the first two games, where they allowed nine goals to the Maple Leafs, Maurice remains confident in his team's scoring ability. "We're really not particularly concerned about our offense. We went out on the road, scored four [in Game 1] and scored three [in Game 2]. We would expect to win both of those games on those numbers, based on the way that we play the game. Offense is not where our focus needs to be," he stated.
The Maple Leafs, on the other hand, are riding high after achieving their first 2-0 series lead since the 1987 Norris Division Final. If they can secure a victory in Game 3, it would mark the first time since 1948 that they have taken multiple best-of-7 series leads of 3-0 in the same postseason. Toronto forward Matthew Knies acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, "One hundred percent. Obviously, it's a challenge taking a game on [Florida's] home ice. It's going to be a huge pushback. It's going to be the hardest game we've played so far. I think we're up for the challenge."
Historically, teams that take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-7 playoff series boast an impressive record of 208-4 (.981). The Maple Leafs are well aware of the stakes, and they will need to be prepared for a fierce response from the Panthers. In their previous encounters, the Leafs have scored most of their goals at even strength, with only one power-play goal in Game 2 after a 0-for-5 performance in Game 1.
As the Panthers gear up for Game 3, they will look to their defense as the cornerstone of their identity. Maurice's strategy will hinge on his players maintaining composure and executing their game plan effectively. He has faith in goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who despite allowing nine goals in the series, has proven his ability to bounce back in high-pressure situations. "He has just trained for it his whole life. He is not an emotional player. I don’t think you can play as long as he has if you ride that rollercoaster up and down," Maurice said.
Bobrovsky’s performance will be crucial, especially against the high-powered Maple Leafs attack. The Panthers will also rely on their offensive lines to step up, particularly the combination of Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, who have yet to find their rhythm in the series. Maurice expressed confidence in Bennett, noting he was the leading goal scorer going into the series. "I am not particularly concerned about our offense," he reiterated.
In terms of lineup changes, the Panthers have made some adjustments, bringing in Tomas Nosek, A.J. Greer, and Jonah Gadjovich while moving Evan Rodrigues to the top line and Carter Verhaeghe to the second line. Nosek, who scored his first goal of the playoffs in Game 3, has provided a much-needed spark. The Panthers were able to tie the game at 3-3 after Verhaeghe's goal, showcasing their potential to strike back quickly.
Despite a rocky start, where the Panthers allowed a goal just 23 seconds into the game, they managed to regain control and even took a 4-3 lead at one point. However, the Maple Leafs have proven to be resilient, with John Tavares scoring on a power play to give Toronto a 3-1 lead. The back-and-forth nature of the game has kept fans on the edge of their seats.
As the series progresses, the intensity is only expected to rise. Both teams understand the importance of this matchup, and the Panthers are determined to leverage their home-ice advantage to avoid falling into a 3-0 series deficit. With the crowd behind them and the lessons learned from their previous games, the Panthers hope to shift the momentum in their favor. The outcome of Game 3 could very well define the trajectory of this playoff series.
