Maple Leafs fans are haunted by recent playoff disappointments, notably the 2023 second-round loss to the Florida Panthers, where the image of Radko Gudas intimidating Joseph Woll starkly reflected perceptions of the team's toughness. This loss stings even more as the Panthers went on to reach the Stanley Cup Final. As Toronto prepares for a critical matchup against Florida, the focus shifts to whether their star players—Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander—can rise to the occasion and match the Panthers' competitive intensity. The Leafs must translate their regular-season prowess into playoff grit to shake off their underwhelming postseason history. The Panthers, though currently facing challenges, set the benchmark for playoff performance, and Toronto must demonstrate their capability to rise above in Wednesday's encounter.