The Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs will meet on May 16, 2025, for a pivotal Game 6 in their Eastern Conference Semifinal series at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, with the Panthers holding a 3-2 series lead and looking to close out the Maple Leafs on home ice. Florida has surged back into control after dropping the first two games of the series in Toronto, winning three straight behind a combination of suffocating defense, opportunistic scoring, and stellar goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky. Game 5 was particularly lopsided, with the Panthers dominating 6-1, outshooting and outworking a Toronto team that looked flat, disjointed, and visibly affected by the absence of starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who remains sidelined with an injury. Joseph Woll has stepped in as the Leafs’ starter but has struggled to contain Florida’s multi-layered offensive attack, which has been spearheaded by Sam Reinhart—now the team’s leading scorer in the postseason—and fueled by the return of Aaron Ekblad on defense, who has brought balance and leadership to the blue line. The Panthers’ strength in 5-on-5 play, especially their ability to clog the neutral zone and prevent clean zone entries, has significantly neutralized Toronto’s transition-heavy offense and limited the impact of key players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, who have been unable to consistently break through Florida’s defensive structure. Toronto has shown they can win when they dictate the pace and get production from their top six, but their current three-game slide has exposed flaws in depth, defensive coverage, and overall cohesion—issues that must be corrected quickly to avoid elimination. Florida, meanwhile, returns to Sunrise with a golden opportunity to close out the series at home, where they’ve won four of their last five playoff games and fed off the energy of a raucous crowd that has helped them maintain composure and intensity in close games. Head coach Paul Maurice has effectively rolled four lines and leveraged Florida’s physicality to wear down Toronto’s top stars, while players like Carter Verhaeghe, Matthew Tkachuk, and Brandon Montour have provided critical secondary scoring and game-changing moments throughout the series.

Bobrovsky has been rock-solid in net, turning aside high-danger chances and playing with the kind of confidence that not only anchors the defense but allows Florida’s skaters to play aggressively without fear of being caught in transition. Special teams have also tilted in the Panthers’ favor, with timely power-play goals and near-flawless penalty killing that has frustrated a Toronto man-advantage unit that once looked unstoppable. The Panthers understand the importance of closing out the series in Game 6 and avoiding a return trip to Toronto for a dangerous Game 7, and if they bring the same discipline, physicality, and pace that has defined their last three wins, they’ll be well-positioned to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in three years. For Toronto, Game 6 is a must-win and a defining moment for this group, particularly for Matthews and Marner, who face growing scrutiny as the team’s offensive leaders and must now deliver under pressure to extend the season. The Leafs need to get back to their speed game—activating defensemen, creating traffic in front of Bobrovsky, and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities—while also getting more from their bottom six, which has been largely ineffective in this series. Coach Craig Berube will also need to manage matchups more carefully, especially on the road, where Florida will dictate last change and likely continue to shadow Matthews with their top defensive pairing. Toronto’s chances rest on their stars showing up, Woll rebounding in goal, and the defense tightening up to limit costly turnovers and odd-man rushes that Florida has repeatedly turned into goals. If the Leafs can get an early lead, establish a physical forecheck, and keep the game tight into the third period, they’ll give themselves a shot to force Game 7 back in Toronto. But if Florida continues to assert its forecheck, control the puck, and get timely saves from Bobrovsky, this game—and Toronto’s playoff run—could come to a sudden and bitter end.