The series could have turned on a dime, or a four-leg parlay. Like this series, the entire 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been very exciting, with heroic performances and unlikely comebacks. Welcome back to our continued coverage here at Last Word on Hockey. Today, we bring your our mid-series recap between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers. Heading into Game 3 the question was, could the Leafs put the Panthers in a huge hole? Or, what ended up happening, and thanks to overtime hero Brad Marchand, the series is now 2-1. So, how did we get here and just what to expect for the rest of the series? One this is for certain, the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs have relatively quickly and promptly, begun a classic, NHL rivalry.
Toronto Maple Leafs Lead Panthers 2-0 and Being Powered by an NHL Veteran John Tavares
The Leafs and Panthers Playoff Series Bringing Thrilling Action
Game 3 began, from Sunrise, Florida, as the Panthers took on the Toronto Maple Leafs down two-games-to-nothing. You knew both teams knew it was all on the line. It was a wild game, with a couple momentum swings, that did similar significant shifts to the entire series. Now that Florida has come back on home ice, it’s once again, anybody’s series.
Starting with a quick recap of Game 3. It has repeated a common recipe for success for the Leafs in the playoffs. When all of their top players are producing, they win, more often than not. John Tavares, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies are all exceptional players, who have come to play for Toronto in this series. And the entire playoffs, for that matter. They’ve been dominating.
The Maple Leafs Stars Shining Bright
Sometimes, not unlike Auston Matthews, the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs is a dominant presence on the ice. His power and quick strike ability are largely unmatched throughout the game. Matthews had a pair of assists in Game 3. Furthermore, Tavares picked up a pair of markers. The Leafs top scorer in the playoffs, William Nylander, added two assists, and now has 15 points through ten games. Those guys helped Toronto build a 3-1 advantage after an early second-period goal in Game 3 on the power play by Tavares. Already up 2-0 in the series, the Leafs were feeling pretty confident and like they were in command.
However, Florida had dominated at stretches throughout this series. Case in point, after being down 3-1, they came back to score three unanswered in the second period to take the lead 4-3. They were back in the series. Morgan Rielly would eventually tie the game up in the third period to force overtime. In contrast, the damage was done. The Panthers had managed to claw their way back from the grips of defeat.
The Panthers Story in Game 3 vs the Leafs and for the Entire Series
For the Florida Panthers, their story can be told through the eyes of the two Sams. Uh, Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart are two Florida Panther star players during this era of organizational dominance. Both players came into the pivotal Game 3 with six points in the 2024-25 postseason. Reinhart added a goal and an assist to his totals. Meanwhile, Bennett had a big assist on Carter Verhaeghe’s goal that was the third Panther goal of the game. It seems like Florida’s big players are, like the Leafs, having big performances thus far.
What Will We Continue to See
For the Toronto Maple Leafs to this point in the series, the main storyline is Joseph Woll. You know, the Brick Woll! Dude is a machine. He has a skillset similar in style to Jake Oettinger. He’s had to step up as the injury to Anthony Stolarz, given the nature of it, we knew would be treated with care. Moreover, with three games of action now for Woll, he sports an .869 save percentage. Fortunately, he has a 2-1 record. He’s held his own to be sure, but would the Leafs benefit from Stolarz at this point? Time will tell if that is even a discussion worth having, as Stolarz’s short-term status going forward remains unknown.
Don’t forget Chris Tanev as a difference maker. He’s clearly banged up, as teams have identified him a player to go hard in on the forecheck on. His presence allows for someone like Rielly to succeed, with more space and easier matchups. For the Panthers, Aleksander Barkov is their major X-Factor. His power move to goal, that made it 2-1 in Game 3, was a turning point in the series so far. If Florida is to come back, he’s a big reason why.
As the series goes on to Game 4, it’s still anyone’s guess. Furthermore, the Leafs have proven they are constructed differently this campaign. The Panthers are no easy task, especially being the defending Stanley Cup champions. Whatever happens, we still anticipate a long series.
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The post With Game 3 in the Books, This is the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers Mid Playoff Series Recap appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.