Panthers look to keep Maple Leafs fans out with ticket sales tactic

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers look to keep Maple Leafs fans out with curious ticket sales tactic

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/1/23

With their recent lack of playoff success, plenty of people didn't have the Toronto Maple Leafs advancing past the Tampa Bay Lightning in the postseason this spring.

Almost nobody though, had the Florida Panthers ousting the historically great 2022-2023 Boston Bruins squad in the opening round.

Now, with the Panthers preparing to host the Maple Leafs at least a couple of times in the Eastern Conference semifinals in Games 3 and 4, Florida is rolling out an interesting tactic to try and limit Toronto fans' presence in their building.

.@FlaPanthers trying to keep #Leafs fans out of Sunrise. @TSNJR @TSNSimmer pic.twitter.com/LuUZqnX6jK
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) May 1, 2023

As of one of the NHL's seven teams based in Canada -- and two left in the playoffs (along with the Edmonton Oilers) -- the strategy isn't likely to stop all Maple Leafs die-hards from getting to the game.

Toronto's fandom is widespread, and with the other Florida NHL team now being eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, Lightning fans may find themselves pulling for the team that just sent them packing, rather than the instate-rival Panthers.

According to an ESPN and Reuters report, tickets to the Maple Leafs-Panthers second-round series went on sale on Monday.

Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday in Toronto, with Game 2 (also in Toronto) happening on Thursday.

More must-reads: