It probably doesn’t feel like it, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are in a good position heading back home for Game 5 against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.

Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period in Game 3 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series, Friday, May 9, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla against the Toronto Maple Leafs. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) AP

But for all intents and purposes, Game 3 of their Stanley Cup playoffs second-round series is as close to “must-win” as it can get without officially being one after the Panthers dropped the first two contests in the best-of-7 series.