Maple Leafs Edge Panthers 5-4 in Thrilling Game 1 Victory

The Toronto Maple Leafs secured a 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of their playoff series, despite a late surge from Florida.

The Toronto Maple Leafs secured a thrilling 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs' second round. However, the victory might be overshadowed by concerns over Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz's health, who exited the game in the second period with a possible concussion.

LEAFS WWWWWIN!!! pic.twitter.com/cFAstt06bs

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 6, 2025

Game Highlights:

William Nylander got the Maple Leafs off to a strong start, scoring two goals in the first period, including one just 33 seconds into the game.

Nylander added an assist later in the period, helping the Leafs build a 3-1 lead.

Chris Tanev extended the lead to 4-1 with a shot from the point that bounced over Sergei Bobrovsky's pad in the second period.

Matthew Knies sealed the win with a breakaway goal in the third period, deking to the backhand and shooting over Bobrovsky's glove.

Stats from Game 1:

Goals:

Toronto: William Nylander (2), Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Matthew Knies

Florida: Seth Jones, Eetu Luostarinen, Uvis Balinskis, Sam Bennett

Saves:

Anthony Stolarz (Toronto): 8 saves before leaving the game

Joseph Woll (Toronto): 17 saves in relief

 Sergei Bobrovsky (Florida): 24 saves

The Maple Leafs will look to build on their momentum in Game 2, scheduled for Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena.

1st Period Highlights

The period began with an explosive start as William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs just 33 seconds into the game. Nylander doubled the lead with another goal minutes after Florida's power play failed to convert. The Panthers finally capitalized on a power play, with Seth Jones scoring to cut the deficit to one goal, following a flurry of penalties.

Morgan Rielly quickly extended the Maple Leafs' lead to 3-1, scoring on a 2-on-1 breakaway just 19 seconds after the Panthers' goal. William Nylander assisted on the play, earning his third point of the game.

The Maple Leafs outshot the Panthers 12-4 in the first period, but Florida had more overall hits, outpacing Toronto 23-13.

2nd Period Developments

The second period saw a slower pace, but Toronto added another goal, with Chris Tanev scoring his first playoff goal of the season to make it 4-1. However, the period took a concerning turn when Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was removed from the game with just over nine minutes left due to a collision in front of the net.

3rd Period Comeback

The Panthers quickly mounted a comeback in the third period. Eetu Luostarinen scored within the first two minutes, and Uvis Balinskis added another goal, forcing Toronto to call a timeout as the Panthers narrowed the deficit to one goal, making it 4-3.

Game-Winning Effort

Matthew Knies restored the Maple Leafs' two-goal lead with a beautiful breakaway backhand goal with six minutes remaining. However, the Panthers' persistence paid off when Sam Bennett scored with under two minutes left, narrowing the gap to 5-4. Despite their best efforts, Florida couldn't find the equalizer, and the Maple Leafs secured the win.

The physical battle was intense, with the Panthers outhitting Toronto 51-24, but both teams matched each other in shots, with 29 each. Ultimately, the scoreboard favored the Maple Leafs. Game 2 is set for Wednesday, May 7th, in Toronto.