Series Breakdown: The key five-on-five matchups to watch in the Leafs vs. Panthers matchup
Briefly

In Game 1 of the playoffs, lineup projections for both the Panthers and Maple Leafs reveal the strategic strength of their top lines. The Panthers' unit, led by Barkov and Reinhart, excels defensively, limiting goals against and dominating possession metrics. Contrastingly, while the Maple Leafs' top line boasts higher goal production, they are also susceptible defensively, having allowed significantly more goals. This matchup presents a critical challenge, emphasizing the importance of performance from their star players in the playoff series.
The Panthers' top line is one of the best two-way units in the league, giving up only 10 goals at five-on-five and controlling over 60% shot attempts.
The Leafs' top line, while prolific with 36 goals, has been scored on 23 times at a much higher rate, presenting a challenge for their playoff strategy.
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
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