Both teams rolled through their first-round matchups — top-seeded Toronto advanced after dispatching the No. 4 Ottawa Senators in six games, while the third-seeded Panthers made quick work of the No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning, winning the series 4-1.

The Florida Panthers stumbled out of the gate in Toronto on May 5 and now find themselves trailing their second-round series of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. William Nylander scored twice in the first 12:51 to lead the Maple Leafs to a 5-4 Game 1 victory.

The Toronto Maple Leafs took a 1-0 series lead over the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Monday, but the story of the game was an incident that happened in the second period. Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz left the game in the second period after taking an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett in the crease.