Maple Leafs Fend Off Late Panthers Comeback, Take 1-0 Series Lead

The Toronto Maple Leafs took a 1-0 series lead in its second round series over the Florida Panthers after coming out on top of a nail-biting, 5-4 win at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Florida nearly pulled off an improbable comeback after trailing 4-1 in the third period. The defending Stanley Cup champions scored three times in the final period of regulation after a poor showing to start the game.

22-year-old Leafs forward Matthew Knies scored the game-winning goal with six minutes to go in the third with his fourth goal of the playoffs.

William Nylander scored twice in the first period, with his first goal coming on the Leaf’s first shot just 33 seconds into the game.

Panthers defenseman Seth Jones scored on the power play to stop the bleeding after Nylander’s second goal, cutting the Leafs lead to 2-1.

Toronto immediately retook a two-goal lead after Morgan Rielly buried a shot off the rush 19 seconds following Jones’ goal, putting the home team up 3-1.

Chris Tanev also scored for Toronto, giving them a three-goal cushion in the second.

Former Panthers backup goaltender turned No. 1 for the Maple Leafs Anthony Stolarz started his seventh game of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday for Toronto.

Stolarz allowed one goal on nine shots before leaving the game midway through the second.

Earlier in the game, Stolarz caught an elbow to the head/neck area from Panthers’ forward Sam Bennett. Stolarz also had his mask knocked off earlier in the game from a Sam Reinhart wrist shot.

ESPN’s broadcast showed Stolarz leaning over the Leafs bench as he appeared to be throwing up into a bucket before eventually leaving the game.

Joseph Woll, who played three games for Toronto in the 2023 second round against Florida, took over the net for Stolarz. Woll allowed three goals on 17 shots, all in the third period.

Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky allowed five goals on 29 shots in the loss.

Trailing 4-1 to start the third, the Panthers made what looked like to be a blowout into a close game after scoring twice less than five minutes into period with goals from Eetu Luostarinen and Uvis Balinskis.

With a Panthers comeback looming, a botched line change that saw just four Florida players on the ice  — only one of those being a defenseman — allowed Knies to spring forward on the breakaway, where he scored the eventual game winner.

Sam Bennett once again made it a one-goal game with 1:55 to go in the third, however the Panthers’ push ended there and the Leafs came away with the victory.

Following Monday night’s loss, the Panthers find themselves in a similar situation to last year; they fell in Game 1 of the 2024 second round to the Boston Bruins before winning the series in six games.

Florida will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday night. Puck drop will be at 7 p.m. ET from Toronto