The Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights defeated their current opponents during the second round of the 2023 playoffs on their way to the Stanley Cup Final.
But now the 2023 champion Golden Knights and the 2024 champion Panthers are down 2-0 in their 2025 playoff series.
The Edmonton Oilers picked up their second victory in Las Vegas on Thursday night with a 5-4 overtime win against the Golden Knights. The Toronto Maple Leafs had won both of their home games.
The Panthers will be at home against the Maple Leafs Friday night as they try to get back into their series. The Golden Knights will try to do the same when they visit the Oilers on Saturday night.
Are the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights in trouble? USA TODAY takes a look at their situations:
Are the Florida Panthers in trouble?
Their situation isn’t ideal, but they are at home and they overcame a 2-0 series deficit in the first round in 2023.
Adjustments will need to be made, including limiting Toronto’s chances off the rush.
‘I think we need to play a little bit inside of them,’ forward Anton Lundell told reporters. ‘We know they want to stretch out, play quick. We need to be aware of that and know where they are at all times.’
The Maple Leafs also have had quick responses to Panthers goals. In Game 1, Morgan Rielly scored 19 seconds after Seth Jones cut Florida’s deficit to 2-1. In Game 2, Mitch Marner restored Toronto’s lead 17 seconds after Lundell had tied the game.
Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky uncharacteristically has given up nine goals on 50 shots in the series.
‘Our confidence (in Bobrovsky) is never wavering,’ forward Sam Reinhart said. ‘We feel we’ve got the best goalie in the world back there. Our job is to make it as easy as possible for him. I think we can do a better job of that.’
Are the Vegas Golden Knights in trouble?
Their situation is more difficult because they’re playing in Edmonton, where the Oilers are 3-0 this postseason.
Edmonton is also confident. The Oilers have six consecutive comeback wins, setting an NHL record.
The Golden Knights did overcome a 2-0 deficit in the 2021 playoffs.
Their situation looked ideal in Game 2 because they had Alex Pietrangelo back in the lineup after an illness and were controlling play early. Goalie Calvin Pickard, though, limited Vegas to one goal before the Oilers struck for three goals in less than six minutes.
The Golden Knights eventually tied the game 4-4 and killed off a five-minute major penalty in overtime after Nicolas Roy cross-checked Trent Frederic in the face.
But the Oilers won in overtime when Connor McDavid fed Leon Draisaitl for a goal at 15:20. It was their first points of the game. The Oilers’ depth players contributed the rest, another issue because the Golden Knights were supposed to be the deeper team.
Also troubling: Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb went hard into the boards and left the game after he was tripped in overtime.
Coach Bruce Cassidy, who was upset about the lack of call on the ‘dangerous play,’ had no postgame update on McNabb’s status.
But the Golden Knights likely will be without Roy, who will have a hearing with NHL Player Safety.