PREVIEW: Panthers look to extend playoff win streak in Game 3 vs. Toronto

SUNRISE, Fla. --The Panthers are ready for some home cooking.

Hitting the ice at FLA Live Arena for the first time since a win over the Bruins in Game 6 of Round 1, the Panthers will play host to the Maple Leafs for Game 3 of Round 2 on Sunday.

Coming in hot, the Panthers have won a franchise-record five straight playoff games.

"It's going to be awesome to play in front of our fans," Panthers forward Nick Cousins said. "We were on the road there for a bit. A really emotional, physical series against the Bruins, and then right into Toronto. It'll be nice to get in front of our fans and feel their energy."

When they last left Sunrise, the Panthers were heading up to Boston to play a decisive Game 7 against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Bruins. After slaying that historic giant, they carried that confidence right into Toronto and quickly claimed the first two games of Round 2 on the round.

After jumping out to an early lead in Game 1 on a goal from Cousins, the Panthers held on to open the series with a 4-2 win. In that win, Sam Bennett earned first-star honors with a goal and an assist, while Matthew Tkachuk tallied three assists and Sergei Bobrovsky made 34 saves.

Doing it the hard way in Game 2, the Panthers erased an early 2-0 deficit to come from behind and steal another win. After Anton Lundell cut the deficit to 2-1 in the first period, Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling lit the lamp within the first 1:06 of the second period to make it 3-2.

After that, Bobrovsky, who has been Florida's X-factor in the series, shut the door on Toronto.

Finishing with 35 saves in Game 2 -- including stopping all 22 shots he faced in the second and third periods -- Bobrovsky extended his playoff winning streak to a franchise-record five games. During that run, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner has posted a spectacular .959 save percentage at even strength.

"It's all about one moment, one game a time, one shift at a time," Bobrovsky said. "Our opponent is really good and it's going to be a good game. … I'm really happy to play playoff hockey. I'm really fortunate for the opportunity and really happy to be a part of it. It's a great atmosphere."

Owning a 5-1 record on the road in the playoffs, the challenge now for the Panthers will be taking all of that magic they've accrued in their travels and bringing it back to their own barn.

When asked about the perks of playing at home, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said it doesn't really come down to the X's and O's. With both teams being so deep, the benefit of having last change isn't really that important, and the mentality of both teams won't waver.

But there is something that can give the Panthers the edge.

Their fans.

"You have a tendency to get a little more positive feedback at home," Maurice said. "When you crack a bar or you get a chance, you don't feel possibly as under siege as you do on the road sometimes. They cross the red line and everybody's losing their mind.

"It almost feels like now in the NHL, possibly the only advantage [of playing at home versus on the road] is the juice and maybe even a bit of momentum that after something good happens you have the opportunity to sustain it to the next shift."

While Maurice once again confidently confirmed that he'd be rolling with the same line up in Game 3 -- the same setup that he's been using dating back to Game 5 in Boston -- Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe didn't reveal anything about his lineup to the media this morning.

That being said, at least one change will have to be made after it was announced that Maple Leafs rookie Matthew Knies will miss at least Games 3 and 4 after suffering a concussion in Game 2. In his place, veteran Zach Aston-Reese potentially could slide into Toronto's lineup.

Regardless, the Maple Leafs know they'll need to get more out of their star players if they hope to climb out of this hole against the Panthers. Through the first two games of the series, the team's leading scorers from the regular season -- Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander -- have combined for just three assists and a -6 rating.

That lack of production isn't from lack of trying, however. Over the last two games, those three players have combined for 32 shots on goal. So why have they come up empty? Like all things in hockey, it's part goaltending, part defense and, of course, a little bit of luck at times.

For the Panthers, continuing to contain those three players will be paramount.

"Those two are obviously two of the best players in the league," Cousins said of Matthews and Marner. "Those two generate their offense off the rush. If we can keep the puck in their end of the ice, it's going to be really beneficial for us as a team. Make them play them defense."

If the Panthers can find a way to take Game 3, they'll be in a prime position to advance.

In the history of the NHL, teams that have taken a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series hold an all-time series record of 199-4.

THEY SAID IT

"Those two have taken their game to another level. Those two obviously play with tremendous speed and skill and see the ice really well. I'm just on that line to play my game and not overcomplicate things, keep it simple and get in on the forecheck." - Nick Cousins on playing with Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett

"In the playoffs there's lots of highs and lows. It's a bit of a roller coaster. I think we've found peace with our gameplan. That's what we're doing, trying to stick with it through the highs and lows and through anything." - Carter Verhaeghe on the Panthers getting into a groove

"In sixth grade I shaved for the first time. It wasn't much of a beard, more of a mustache. …. The last few weeks I haven't been able to touch it, so it's getting a little out of control. … It's fun. It's a great part of the playoffs." - Radko Gudas on his impressive playoff beard

PLAYOFF LEADERS

Panthers

Goals:Montour (6)

Assists:Tkachuk (10)

Points:Tkachuk (15)

Maple Leafs

Goals: Matthews (5)

Assists:Marner (10)

Points:Marner (12)

PANTHERS PROJECTED LINEUP (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Forwards

Carter Verhaeghe - Aleksander Barkov - Anthony Duclair

Nick Cousins - Sam Bennett - Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen - Anton Lundell - Sam Reinhart

Colin White - Eric Staal - Zac Dalpe

Defensemen

Gustav Forsling - Aaron Ekblad

Marc Staal - Brandon Montour

Josh Mahura - Radko Gudas

Goaltenders

Sergei Bobrovsky

Alex Lyon

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

- April 25:D Lucas Carlsson loaned to Charlotte (AHL)

- April 22:D Lucas Carlsson recalled from Charlotte (AHL)

HOW TO WATCH

When:Sunday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. ET

Where: FLA Live Arena - Sunrise, FL

TV & Streaming:TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS

Radio:560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 92.1 WZZR (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM Streaming Channel 932; NHL App

Tickets:Click Here

PREGAME LISTEN

Hear from playoff hero Carter Verhaeghe on this week's episode of Territory Talk.