The Florida Panthers are headed back to the Sunshine State in a dark hole after falling to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on May 7, 2025. This loss puts the Panthers in a rare situation, trailing a playoff series by two games for the first time since the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
Mitchell Marner scored the game-winning goal just 17 seconds after the Panthers tied the score early in the third period, sealing the Maple Leafs’ victory and giving them a 2-0 lead in the second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series. The Panthers now find themselves in a must-win situation as they prepare for Game 3, scheduled for May 9 in Sunrise.
"It’s one day at a time," said Florida's Brad Marchand. "You can’t get too high, you can’t get too low. We’re OK in here. We have a lot of belief in our group and in our experience. Obviously, they’re fighting for their lives. They came to play in this round, and we see that, but these series can change on a dime and it’s all about that next one. We’re living for tomorrow and that’s how we’re going to prepare."
The game started with Aleksander Barkov opening the scoring for the Panthers with a quick wrist shot from the top of the face-off circle on the power play at 10:58 of the first period. However, the Maple Leafs quickly responded, with Max Pacioretty tying the game with a deflection on a Toronto power play just 1:41 before the end of the first period.
Florida regained the lead early in the second period when Marchand scored just 15 seconds in, burying a backhand shot from the slot off a feed from Anton Lundell. But the Maple Leafs were relentless, with William Nylander tying the game at 4:03 later in the period. Toronto then took the lead back with Max Domi scoring on an odd-man rush with 2:51 remaining in the second period.
In the third period, Anton Lundell tied the game again for the Panthers with a goal at 5:33, tapping home a cross-ice feed from Aaron Ekblad. But Marner quickly silenced the Florida crowd, firing a shot from the point that beat Sergei Bobrovsky through traffic just 17 seconds later.
Florida's defensive struggles were evident throughout the game, particularly in their rush defense. The Panthers allowed two quick goals off the rush that flipped a 2-1 lead into a 3-2 deficit. Ekblad acknowledged the challenge, stating, "They do a good job of stretching out the game and we’re all about pressure and being above it, so it’s just important we realize when guys are behind us."
Lack of discipline also caught up with Florida, as they had been successful in killing off the first seven Toronto power plays of the series. However, Dmitry Kulikov's delay of game penalty at 10:53 of the first period allowed the Maple Leafs to capitalize, with Pacioretty’s deflection giving Toronto the momentum they needed.
Despite the loss, the Panthers have shown resilience in the past. They came back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins last year. "That’s our mentality," Ekblad said. "Get home, get our crowd behind us and put together a good home game." The Panthers have not trailed a series by two games since the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, where they ultimately lost to the Vegas Golden Knights.
On the other side, the Maple Leafs are riding high on confidence, bolstered by the performance of goaltender Joseph Woll, who made 25 saves in his first start since April 17. Woll stepped in after Anthony Stolarz exited midway through the previous game due to an injury. "It’s been something I’ve had to focus on and come up with a plan to stay ready," Woll said. "It’s a different challenge than playing every night, but a challenge nonetheless."
Max Pacioretty and Max Domi each contributed with a goal and an assist for Toronto, while William Nylander also found the back of the net. Coach Craig Berube praised Woll’s performance, stating, "Calm and cool. On his toes and fighting through traffic. Very impressed."
As the series shifts to South Florida, the Panthers will need to tap into their past experiences and rally their home crowd to turn the tide. With the stakes higher than ever, both teams are preparing for a crucial Game 3 that could define the direction of this playoff series.
"Lots of stuff that we like about our game that we think we can improve," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. "We'll take a look at it and get better." The anticipation builds as fans eagerly await the next chapter in this intense playoff battle.
