The Toronto Maple Leafs have proven to be a wagon in the NHL, dismantling the Florida Panthers in the opening games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals. As the Cats return home to Sunrise with a 0-2 deficit in the series, Brad Marchand dropped a stark, six-word reminder to his teammates, included Matthew Tkachuk.
The Panthers are down two games to none in a Stanley Cup playoff series for the first time since the 2022-23 Stanley Cup Final, when they fell in the opening games on the road to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Cats ultimately lost the Final in five games, and are now determined to avoid a similar ending to their 2024-25 postseason run.
However, Marchand, Tkachuk, and the Panthers have ran into an unstoppable force in the Maple Leafs. Florida has no answers for Toronto so far, whenever the Cats score, the Leafs answer right back, killing any hope for the Panthers to build momentum.
As the series shifts south to warm, tropical Florida, the Panthers will look to right the ship at Amerant Bank Arena. Marchand and the Cats need to take both home games to avoid facing elimination territory too early. It starts with one—and building from there—but right now, they just can’t seem to escape the relentless pressure from the Leafs.
Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers yells at a Carolina Hurricanes player in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena on May 22, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida.
There is a silver lining, nevertheless: the Panthers likely can’t play much worse than they did in Game 1—and they’ve already shown signs of improvement in Game 2. Third time’s the charm, or so Marchand hopes, as he reminded Tkachuk and the rest of the team with a pointed six-word comment.
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Panthers’ Brad Marchand issues stark warning to teammates after Game 2 tough loss vs Maple Leafs
“We have our work cut out,” Brad Marchand admitted after the 4-3 loss in Game 2, via Sportsnet. “We knew it was going to be a really tough battle. We didn’t expect to roll over them, by any means.“
Keep the streak alive
It seems Marchand and the Maple Leafs’ journey have always been destined to cross paths. The former Boston Bruins captain is perhaps the most despised player in the NHL by the fanbase in Toronto, and it’s mainly because he has handed them some of their most deflating losses.
Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal against the Ottawa Senators during the third period of Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on April 24, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Marchand is facing Toronto for the fifth time in his career during the 2024–25 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He holds a perfect 4–0 series record against the Maple Leafs, with each win coming in dramatic fashion as his Bruins eliminated them in seven games every time they met since the 2012–13 playoffs.
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Florida Panthers: A deep dive into their Stanley Cup pursuit
If Marchand wants to keep his personal streak alive—this time with the Panthers—Tkachuk and the Cats will need to turn the tide, As they can’t close out the series in fewer than six games, it could very well mean Marchand and Florida would have to win in a winner-takes-all Game 7.
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However, that’s looking too far ahead for Marchand and the reigning champs, who, first and foremost, must focus on getting one back and leveling the series during their homestand in Sunrise.
