The Florida Panthers are set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This marks their second postseason meeting after the Panthers eliminated the Leafs at the same stage in 2023. This time around, a unique storyline adds to the drama as former teammates Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz go head-to-head.
Bobrovsky and Stolarz shared the crease in Florida during the 2024 season, with Bobrovsky leading the Panthers to a Stanley Cup title. Following that championship run, Stolarz signed with Toronto in the offseason. Now, as they prepare to meet as rivals, Bobrovsky reflected on their past connection.
“We had a good relationship,” Bobrovsky told NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger on Friday. “It was a strong partnership last year, but this series should be fun. He’s a talented goalie and will be a tough challenge for us.”
Panthers’ Bobrovsky Notes Unpredictability of NHL
Former teammates squaring off in the playoffs is nothing new. A recent example came in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs when Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen helped eliminate his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, on Saturday night.
Sergei Bobrovsky acknowledged how the NHL’s unpredictability often leads to these kinds of reunions in high-stakes settings. He pointed to one within his own team: longtime Bruins captain Brad Marchand, who had faced the Panthers in past postseasons, was traded to Florida at the 2025 deadline and is now part of their playoff push.
“In our business, that happens a lot,” Bobrovsky told Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com. “You play with guys, and then you’re on opposite sides. Like with \[Marchand]—you’d never expect to end up on the same team, and now here we are, chasing the same goal.”
Bobrovsky added that he’s been fortunate to work alongside great teammates over the years. “It’s always been productive. I’ve learned a lot from them, and I try to support them however I can. At the end of the day, we’re all working toward the same dream.”
Maple Leafs’ Stolarz Addresses Bobrovsky Matchup
Anthony Stolarz has had an impressive first season with the Maple Leafs, appearing in a career-high 34 games and starting 33 of them. He posted an outstanding .926 save percentage, and his 31.2 Goals Saved Above Expected ranked second in the NHL behind only Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, per Evolving Hockey.
Stolarz is certainly eager to face his former team, the Florida Panthers, but he’s keeping things professional and refraining from giving them any extra motivation. For him, it’s just another playoff series.
“It’s the same no matter who you’re up against,” the former Panthers netminder said, via Zeisberger. “I’ve watched a lot of playoff hockey, and you see the trend—teams go low to high, defensemen get shots through, and they either get tipped or go in clean. That’s why defensemen tend to score more in the playoffs—winning those battles in front is key.”
Toronto is chasing its first Stanley Cup title since 1967, while Florida is aiming to repeat as champions and secure the second Cup in franchise history. Game 1 will be held Monday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
