Pacioretty’s tale is one of endurance. He signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with Toronto prior to the season following a pair of Achilles injuries that limited him to five games during the 2022-23 season and kept him out until Jan. 3, 2024, when he returned to play 47 games with the Washington Capitals.

Brady Tkachuk’s long-awaited NHL postseason debut ended in disappointment following the elimination of the Ottawa Senators at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs. His older brother Matthew, who is still competing for the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, took time to recognize the fight Brady showed in the first-round series.

The Florida Panthers will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs for a spot in the Eastern Conference final. Game 1 of the best-of-7 series is set for 8 p.m. Monday at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.