Panthers Locked into Atlantic Division Third Seed, Will Start 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Road

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers’ quest to become back-to-back Stanley Cup champions will officially begin on the road.

Following a 5-3 regulation loss to the New York Rangers on Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena, the Panthers locked into the 3-seed in the Atlantic Division. They will begin their title defense against whoever finishes second in the division between the Tampa Bay Lightning or Toronto Maple Leafs.

 What we know

The Panthers (47-30-4) will play its final game of the regular season in Tampa on Tuesday night against the Lightning.

While the Atlantic Divisions’s 2-seed vs 3-seed first-round playoff matchup is likely to be the Battle of Florida, Tuesday’s contest — which will be the Lightning’s second to last game of the regular season — holds little value to the Panthers as they are confirmed the No. 3 seed.

What can change is who finishes second in the Atlantic between the Maple Leafs and Lightning.

Toronto needs just one point in its final two games — at Buffalo on Tuesday and home vs Detroit on Thursday — to clinch the Atlantic Division title and set up a Battle of Ontario first round matchup against the Ottawa Senators (wild card 1).

For Tampa, they’ll need Toronto to go pointless in the final two games of the regular season and win out its remaining two games — at home against Florida on Tuesday and away against the New York Rangers Thursday. One of those wins will also need to come in regulation as Toronto holds the second tie breaker (ROW).

What we don’t know

On the Panthers side, seeding is set for the first round and they know they’ll be starting on the road. Playoff matchups can be official as soon as Tuesday night if the Panthers — who are expected to rest most of their top players — defeat the Lightning in Tampa.

No playoff start dates or times have been confirmed but we do know that the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin on Saturday, April 19.