The defending champion Florida Panthers will try to take the next step toward a repeat Friday night in Game 6 of their second-round series while the Toronto Maple Leafs will try to avoid a major collapse.
A victory would move the Panthers into the Eastern Conference final for the third year in a row, where they would face the Carolina Hurricanes in a rematch of the 2023 series won by Florida.
A loss would mean another disappointing postseason for the Maple Leafs. Even though they reached the second round for the second time since 2004, they had won the first two games of this series. The Panthers won the next three, including a blowout 6-1 win in Game 5 in Toronto.
“There’s confidence in this group,” Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews told reporters after Game 5. “We’ve been able to push back and been able to bounce back all year. It’s no different than now. Just look in the mirror and all of us be better.”
USA TODAY is providing live updates for Game 6 between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs. Follow along:
Game 6 of the Panthers-Maple Leafs series will be at 8 p.m. ET in Sunrise, Florida.
Joseph Woll will be back in Toronto’s net Friday after being pulled after Florida’s fifth goal on Wednesday.
“He’s been a good goalie for us all year,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “So I’m not worried about him.”
Woll has been in net since No. 1 goalie Anthony Stolarz was injured in Game 1 of the series.
Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said Friday morning he would keep forwards Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews together for Game 6.
“I split them up at times this year and I felt like it didn’t really do anything, to be honest with you,” he told reporters. “These guys have been a combo for a long time and they’ve had a lot of success. I trust them. I believe in them.”
Forwards David Kampf and Nick Robertson are expected to sit out after playing in Game 5. Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok will go back in the lineup. Robertson scored the Maple Leafs’ lone goal in Game 5. Kampf was a minus-2.
The Panthers lineup will remain the same as it was for Game 5, coach Paul Maurice said.
Injured Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues skated Friday but remains day-to-day.
“He had a pretty good push,” Maurice said. “We’re monitor him tomorrow and see where he’s at.”
