On Sunday, Leafs captain Auston Matthews spoke to the media ahead of Game 1 and insisted that this group is different and ready to go against the Panthers. “We’re a prepared group, we’re ready to go,” Matthews said. “We know the challenge that lies ahead, and it's just taking it one step at a time.”

The Florida Panthers are coming in red-hot into the Eastern Conference Semis matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, prompting a powerful statement from Matthew Tkachuk, warning Auston Matthews and the rest of the team in Toronto.

The Toronto Maple Leafs open their second-round playoff series tonight on home ice against the Florida Panthers. While the two teams are alike in many ways, the series could become a clash of contrasting styles: elite skill versus punishing grit and high-octane power play versus shutdown penalty kill.