They say lightning doesn’t strike twice and for the Tampa Bay Lightning that was certainly the case. Unable to capitalize on their one win in the series, they ultimately capitulated to the Florida Panthers 4-1. And now it’s time for the Panthers to take themselves and their dark arts out of state–out of country really–to continue their bid for back to back Cup wins. With players like Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk in the mix, the series promises to be as aggressive as ever. But are the Leafs planning to go the way of the Lightning? If words mean anything, then certainly not.

Now, the Leafs had a bit of a tough time in their series against the Ottawa Senators, pushing it to Game 6, though they managed to come out on top with a 4-2 series win. But, the Maple Leafs are no strangers to the on-ice antics of the Panthers in the NHL. As the Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons shared on X: “The first round difference maker, Simon Benoit, on facing the rough and tough Florida Panthers in Round 2: ‘They can play hard, they can play physical, we expect it. So it’s going to be fun. ‘If they’re going to bring it, I’m going to give it right back to them.'”

Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit, is all set to take on the tough challenge posed by the Florida Panthers in the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Known for his gritty and tough style of play, if there’s anyone on the Leafs roster ready to go toe to toe with the Panthers’ physicality, it’s Benoit. It was only a couple of months ago that Benoit made waves with a photo of him superman punching Utah Hockey Club’s Michael Kesselring.

It’s clear that he’s all in when it comes to playing a physical game. He doesn’t shy away from getting into it with opponents and making those big hits, which really shows why he’s such a key player for the team.”He tried to kind of hurt Bobby (McMann) there in the middle faceoff so I stepped up and protected my teammate,” he said of the Kesselring fight. One thing’s for certain and it’s that when the Panthers get aggressive, he’s not going to shy away from giving it right back to opponents. So perhaps the likes of Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk will find more resistance in round 2.

The Panthers are well-known for mixing skill with a tough style of play, often throwing off their opponents with hits and a bit of agitation. Marchand has openly talked about how important physicality is in the playoffs, saying, “Part of the playoffs is trying to hurt every player on the other team.”

That may be dirty play, but that’s just the way it is! Matthew Tkachuk has also really stepped up his physical game in the postseason, which definitely helps shift the momentum of the game. His hit on the Lightning’s Jake Guentzel in round 1 was really example enough. But with Brad Marchand on the team with his positive Maple Leafs juju, maybe they won’t just have to rely on their aggressive brand of hockey to get them through.

Brad Marchand is already looking scary against the Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up to take on the Florida Panthers in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and there’s quite a bit of history between the Maple Leafs and Brad Marchand. Back when Marchand was playing for the Boston Bruins, he really stepped up and played a crucial role in leading the team to victory in a bunch of playoff series, including those in 2013, 2018, 2019, and even 2024.

His blend of offensive skills and smart tactics has definitely shaken things up for Toronto, making him a crucial player in this ongoing rivalry. Remember what Toronto’s ex-coach Sheldon Keefe had to say about Marchand after his team was eliminated in Round 1? “He gets calls. It’s unbelievable, actually, how it goes. You’ve got to play through that stuff. I don’t think there’s another player in this series who gets away with taking out Bertuzzi’s legs the way that he does. It’s an art and he’s elite at it.”

Keefe expressed his frustration regarding Brad Marchand’s on-ice tactics, highlighting a moment when Marchand appeared to take out Tyler Bertuzzi’s legs, yet no penalty was called. This really shows Marchand’s play style, how he manages to get under his opponent’s skin without drawing any penalties for himself.