Panthers’ Marchand has excelled so far in playoffs. Can he spark a turnaround against Toronto?
If there’s anyone on this Florida Panthers team that has an extensive track record of facing — and beating — the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s Brad Marchand.
The veteran winger, acquired by the Panthers at the trade deadline, faced the Maple Leafs on four separate occasions in the postseason while with the Boston Bruins. Boston won all four of those series — in 2013, 2018 2019 and 2024 — in seven games.
So when Marchand says this Maple Leafs team is different — better, to be specific — than the ones he has faced in postseasons past, the statement holds weight.
And it provides insight into what the Panthers have to do if they want to dig themselves out of an early hole in the series.
“They’re continuing to grow, get better as a group,’’ Marchand said following Florida’s eventual 4-3 loss to Toronto in Game 2 on Wednesday to go down 0-2 in the best-of-7 series. “They brought a lot of good pieces in at the deadline and in the offseason to address their back end. They are heavy back there. Their coaching has changed, and their structure is very good especially in the d-zone. They don’t give up a lot around the net.”
Marchand, for his part, has capitalized on his opportunities against Toronto in the first two game to help Florida stay competitive in the series. He has three points in the series — two assists in the 5-4 Game 1 loss Monday and a goal in the second period on Wednesday — to bring his career postseason total against the Maple Leafs to 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 30 games. The Panthers’ line of Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell and Marchand has excelled all postseason. Florida has outscored opponents 8-1 when the trio is on the ice at 5-on-5, including 4-1 so far through two games against the Maple Leafs, while controlling 56.35% of shot attempts and a 31-19 edge in shots on goal.
“We read off each other well,” said Marchand, who has seven points and is a plus-8 in seven games this postseason entering Game 3 against Toronto on Friday (7 p.m., TNT, truTV, Max). “We support each other well all over the ice and able to create sometimes. Sometimes it’s just the luck of the bounces and how the game goes. Still feel like we can be a little bit better, but we definitely have chemistry right now.”
It’s what coach Paul Maurice was hoping would happen when he put Marchand on the line with Luostarinen and Lundell. Marchand is a 16-year NHL veteran who has established himself as a feisty, offensively gifted forward who is also strong defensively. Lundell and Luostarinen both have some offensive pop in their game, but their focus has always been on the defensive end. Marchand’s presence has helped elevate their scoring chances.
“He’s learned to play the game right,” Maurice said. “He’s the perfect compliment for those two young men. They have a defensive background, but we’re always kind of wondering ‘How much offense do they have? Is there more there?’ Brad’s not a point producer from cheating the game. He’s got respect for the game, and these two guys just flourish with him.”
After facing Marchand for years, including two contentious playoff series the past two years in which Florida knocked out Boston, the Panthers certainly have welcomed his addition.
“Those guys, when you play against them, you hate them for the reasons they get under your skin,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. “And then at the same time, they’re an unbelievable player. So now that he’s on our side, it’s just — I don’t want to say a relief, but it’s really fun to watch him work so hard. He works really hard on and off the ice. That’s one part that I’m really excited to see about him and learning from him — how he works, how hard he prepares for every single practice, every single game. And now I really see why he’s been such an elite player for a long time. He does everything he can to be the best version of himself every single day.”
They are looking for more of the same from Marchand as they try to rally out of this early deficit against Toronto.
“We knew it was going to be a really tough battle,” Marchand said. “We didn’t expect to roll over them by any means. We have our work cut out. They’re playing really well.”
This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 12:47 PM.
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