In a thrilling encounter on May 7, 2025, the Toronto Maple Leafs edged the Florida Panthers 4-3 at Scotiabank Arena, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series. Mitch Marner emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the third period, while Joseph Woll stepped up in goal, making 25 saves in place of the injured Anthony Stolarz.
Marner's winning goal came just 17 seconds after Anton Lundell had tied the game for Florida early in the third. The 28-year-old winger, who became a father for the first time over the weekend, described his recent life changes as a "whirlwind." He noted, "It’s a really exciting time in my house … pretty special feeling tonight."
Woll, who was called into action after Stolarz suffered an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett during Game 1, was making his first start since April 17. He had previously recorded a .950 save percentage in his playoff appearances. "It’s been something I’ve had to focus on and come up with a plan to stay ready," Woll said. Leafs head coach Craig Berube praised his performance, stating he was "calm and cool" under pressure.
The game began with an electric atmosphere, and the Leafs quickly took control. Max Pacioretty and Max Domi each contributed a goal and an assist, while William Nylander also found the back of the net. Morgan Rielly played a crucial role as well, providing two assists.
Florida's offense was not to be overlooked, however. Anton Lundell scored a goal and added an assist, while Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand also tallied for the Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 16 shots in a losing effort.
After a tightly contested first period where the Leafs jumped out to an early lead, the Panthers managed to equalize and even take a brief lead in the second. The first period saw Nylander score just 30 seconds in, followed by another goal from him twelve minutes later, putting Toronto ahead 2-1. Seth Jones responded for Florida, but Rielly quickly restored a two-goal lead for the Leafs.
As the second period progressed, Chris Tanev added another goal for Toronto, extending their lead to 4-1. However, Florida fought back in the third, with Eetu Luostarinen and Uvis Balinskis scoring to narrow the gap to 4-3. The Panthers were relentless, with Marchand scoring early in the second period to bring the game to 2-1.
Despite the pressure, the Leafs held on, with Woll making key saves down the stretch, including a crucial stop on Mackie Samoskevich with just under ten minutes left. Jake McCabe also helped preserve the lead by clearing a loose puck from the crease.
Marner's goal was a testament to his skill and resilience. He reflected on his new role as a father, saying, "Just calmness. I try to stay calm as much as I can throughout games. It’s always a roller-coaster ride. There’s always stuff going on, stuff you can’t predict happening. I’m trying to play for him."
Nylander echoed Marner's sentiments, stating, "Incredible moment in your life. To be doing that and playing unbelievable hockey, it’s just really special." The Leafs now look ahead to Game 3, set for Friday, May 9, in South Florida, where they will seek to extend their series lead against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
As the series shifts to Florida, both teams will aim to capitalize on their respective strengths. The Panthers, trailing by two games for the first time since the 2023 finals, will need to regroup and adapt. Head coach Paul Maurice hinted at improvements, saying, "Lots of stuff that we like about our game that we think we can improve. We’ll take a look at it and get better."
With the stakes high and emotions running even higher, fans can expect an intense showdown as the Leafs and Panthers continue their battle for playoff supremacy.
