Maple Leafs Defeat Panthers in Game 2, Take 2-0 Series Lead to Sunrise

The Toronto Maple Leafs took a 2-0 series lead after defeating the Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 2 of their second-round matchup on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena.

Mitch Marner scored the game-winning goal and Joseph Woll stopped 26 of 29 shots faced as the Leafs won both of their home games to open the series.

The Leafs handled business in Toronto and now have the reigning champions on their heels as the series moves to South Florida.

Opposite to their Game 1 start, where they conceded on the first shot of the night just 33 seconds into the first period, Florida scored first on Wednesday night.

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov opened the scoring with a power-play goal 10:58 into the game. After killing off two penalties to begin the game, the Panthers scored five seconds into their first man-advantage of the game after Barkov ripped a shot from the circle past Joseph Woll for a 1-0 lead.

Toronto tied the game at 1-1 with 1:41 left in the opening period after MAx Pacioretty scored on the Leaf’s third power play of the game.

Brad Marchand retook the lead for the Panthers just 15 seconds into the second period.

The Leafs once again tied the game a few minutes later after Pacioretty hit William Nylander off the rush for his third goal of the series 4:18 into the second.

Max Domi gave the Leafs their first lead of the night with 2:51 left to play in the second period. Steven Lorentz slipped a backhand pass to Domi who beat Bobrovsky, putting the Leafs up 3-2 before the second intermission.

Searching for an equalizer in the final period of regulation, Florida’s third-line found the tying goal after Anton Lundell tapped in a backdoor rebound to make it a 3-3 game.

The Panthers’ excitement would last mere moments after Mitch Marner gave the Leafs a 4-3 lead just 17 seconds after Lundell’s tying goal with an unprovoking shot from the point to beat Bobrovsky.

Marner’s goal would be the last as the Leafs handled business in Toronto, coming out on top of two consecutive one-goal contests.

The series will transition to Sunrise for Games 2 and 3 as the defending Stanley Cup champions will try and get their first win of the series.