Both teams rolled through their first-round matchups — top-seeded Toronto advanced after dispatching the No. 4 Ottawa Senators in six games, while the third-seeded Panthers made quick work of the No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning, winning the series 4-1.

Sixteen teams in total make the NBA playoffs, eight teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The top six seeds in each conference advance based on the regular season record. The final two seeds in each conference are wild-card spots based on the best remaining records in each conference.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs saw some riveting action throughout the first round. Two of the Western Conference series went the full seven games. The Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets ultimately moved onto the next round despite both looking dead in the water late in Game 7.