Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 1: Toronto wins 5-4 following goalie Stolarz departure in second period

Hamilton Spectator

06-05-2025

The
Maple Leafs
beat the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers Monday night to go up 1-0 in the second round of the
NHL playoffs
.
This live blog is no longer being updated. Check out real-time commentary below from the Star's Bruce Arthur.
The Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena in the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. The rematch has been set.
The Maple Leafs, with new bench boss Craig Berube, finished first in the Atlantic Division this season, 10 points ahead of the third-place Panthers. They are in the post-season's second round for the second time in three years.
The Panthers, who added Boston Bruins' pest Brad Marchand to the roster at the trade deadline to help Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett get under their rivals' skin, have been to the Stanley Cup final two straight years — losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023 and beating the Edmonton Oilers last year.
The Panthers, who draw confidence from physically imposing their will on opponents, will find eager challengers in Toronto's Chris Tanev, Bobby McMann and Max Pacioretty, to name a few.
Read the full story from the Canadian Press
Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard (30) and Connor Brown (28) celebrate the win over the Los Angeles Kings during NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Thursday, May 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
The Maple Leafs will start their second-round NHL playoff series against the Florida Panthers on Monday night, as the victors of the Battle of Ontario face the victors of the Battle of Florida.
Given the Leafs earned home-ice advantage by winning the Atlantic Division, the first two games will be played at Scotiabank Arena. Game 1 will start at 8 p.m., while Game 2 goes Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The series then shifts to Florida for Games 3 and 4 — Friday and Sunday, respectively — with start times still to be determined.
Read the full story from the Star's Kevin McGran
Craig Berube didn't utter a word.
The Maple Leafs had just surrendered a lead late in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators.
Toronto's bench, however, remained calm. And 101 seconds later, the visitors restored their advantage before securing the Battle of Ontario to move on in the Stanley Cup tournament.
Read the full story from the Canadian Press
New father and birthday boy Mitch Marner says he's rested and ready to go for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 tonight (8 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet) against the Florida Panthers following the birth of his son, Miles.
Toronto forward's wife Stephanie gave birth to their first child, a boy.
'The birth of our son, such a special moment,' Marner said. 'Just incredible moments. Something that's hard to explain. As a parent, I think everyone feels it, but it's something really cool.'
Marner took to the ice at the Scotiabank Arena as part of an abbreviated morning skate as the Maple Leafs prepare for their second-round series.
Fans at Scotiabank Arena applaud Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz in an October game. Tickets are still available for tonight's playoff game vs. the Florida Panthers.
Good news: There are still, perhaps surprisingly, tickets available from the box office to tonight's Game 1 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers.
Bad news: The cheapest tickets will cost a hefty penny, you may not even have an actual seat and your view could be obstructed.
The Leafs have home ice advantage in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series, just like in 2023 when the Panthers eliminated Toronto from the playoffs, with the potential for as many as four games at Scotiabank Arena.
The playoffs experience certainly doesn't come cheap. By Monday morning, the Ticketmaster map still showed seats available both in the lower and upper bowls — in addition to plenty of resale tickets.
More from the Star's Gilbert Ngabo
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save on Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (34) in Toronto on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
The Maple Leafs just emerged — relatively intact (or at least bodily traumas are being kept on the down low) — from a hit-show bout with the Ottawa Senators.
They go from that frying pan into the gang-banging cauldron of the Florida Panthers, with an added side of nasty.
It's the modus operandi of the formidable defending Stanley Cup champions. Or as former Panther Steven Lorenz puts it: 'Take no prisoners in the playoffs.'
Read the full column from Rosie DiManno
The Maple Leafs are going from one Tkachuk to another.
The Leafs dispatched Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators in six games in the first round, only to be faced with his older, more experienced and bigger pain-in-the-rear brother, Matthew Tkachuk, and the Florida Panthers.
Throw in the NHL's rat of the decade, Brad Marchand, formerly of the Boston Bruins, and the Leafs will have their work cut out for them.
Here's how the two teams stack up.
Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz still has a lot of close friends on the Florida Panthers.
He mentioned players like Matthews Tkachuk, Aaron Ekblad and Sam Reinhart.
'He gave me my cat,' Stolarz said of Reinhart, and a tabby named Sunny. 'He fostered him for a bit. He was just walking home one night and he I guess the cat followed him and his wife home. They were looking for a family. And my wife and I just decided it would be best to take it in, and the rest is history.'
Read the full story from Kevin McGran here
This isn't 2023. The Leafs were favoured in that second-round series; they were a 111-point team playing a 92-point Florida squad. In the Leafs front office, they hoped that the long-awaited first-round win over Tampa Bay would free Toronto's players from the ghosts, the demons, whatever haunted them in the biggest moments.
But there was a worry, too: that the Leafs might relax, and that was the right worry. None of the core four scored until after the Leafs had already fallen behind 3-0 in the series, including an inexcusable Game 3 from Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Yes, the Leafs lost two OT games in the series, but that's playoff hockey. Yes, the Panthers reached the Cup final, and went on to win it the next year, but that's what the Leafs are aiming for. The loss blew apart the Leafs front office, and cemented their core.
Now? The Leafs are not favourites in this series, home-ice advantage and all; this Panthers team is the favourite to win another Stanley Cup. So now the Leafs have to face a team that is almost built to take Toronto apart: two Selke nominees on their top line, elite defensive forwards through the lineup, heavy physicality and a monster forecheck, and a goalie who stoned the Leafs last time these teams met in the playoffs. This isn't 2023, but it's no easier, it appears. Welcome to Game 1.
Prediction: this series will be much more intense than Leafs-Senators. Leafs-Sens was fine, but when you switched to other playoff series, especially in the west, all of a sudden Toronto and Ottawa looked like a regular season game by comparison, a lot of the time. It was relatively tame.
The Leafs did a great job early mucking up Florida in the neutral zone and limiting clean zone entries, and you could see why that was important when Florida got in clean, Sam Reinhart got that chance, and he knocked Anthony Stolarz's mask clean off.
The Leafs open with their own forecheck work, and Max Pacioretty took a hit to make a play: it's hard to dislodge Max, and he held onto the puck to find William Nylander. And William Nylander can shoot a puck, boy. Not the kind of shot Sergei Bobrovsky wants to get beat by. Leafs 1, Panthers 0, 33 seconds in.
WILLIAM NYLANDER OPENS THE SCORING 33 SECONDS INTO THE SERIES‼️
pic.twitter.com/CeqsugcSux
I'll say this: I am not sure I expected Toronto to look like the better team in the first seven minutes of this game, but they've been the better team.
Hard forecheck, neutral zone speed, a real seriousness and urgency. Letting Brad Marchand bait you into a so-so penalty was not the best idea, though.
(Also, that was a very, very so-so penalty. Excited to see 40 more cross-checking penalties tonight!)
Go ahead, leave William Nylander alone in front with time and space, Panthers. We all make choices. 2-0, Leafs. What a fabulous, fabulous start.
Max Pacioretty with two assists already, and that hit on Aleksander Barkov that Barkov really felt. Pacioretty is playing playoff hockey.
Annnnnnnd, that too many men call came back to absolutely bite the Leafs. Smart play by Matthew Tkachuk to pass up Barkov on the near boards to find Seth Jones for the Panthers goal. 2-1.
The Panthers almost seem shocked that this is the game they're in.
In the neutral zone the Leafs almost resemble like Craig Berube's prime St. Louis Blues, hassling and attacking. The Leafs are the ones dictating the forecheck, throwing hits, getting to the crease. They just screwed up that power play with a too many men call, but as of right now there's a decent chance Paul Maurice peels the paint off the walls in the intermission.
Toronto only allowed four shots, outshot the Panthers 10-2 at even strength, were at 67 per cent of shot attempts for, and 65 per cent of expected goals, per Natural Stat Trick.
The Matthews line was better than the Sasha Barkov line head to head, which is so critical for this Leafs team, and William Nylander had three points in the period. Meanwile, Morgan Rielly, John Tavares and Max Pacioretty were on the ice for every goal.
All told, that was probably the best period the Leafs have played this season. The Panthers are going to have to go up more than one notch, and they're going to have to do it in just about every area of the game.
Morgan Rielly absolutely rocketed into the rush there, and playoff Morgan Rielly is back, as is the Leafs two-goal lead. This first period is a fireworks show, and, uh, has anyone considered that this is not a good Sergei Bobrovsky game?
This season, it was like Rielly was caught between gears: trying to figure out when to go
It was earlier this year that Morgan went and talked with Craig Berube, and Berube gave him a much-needed vote of confidence. Rielly had been struggling with the balance between risk and attacking, and as Berube said, 'He can be just more aggressive, you know? On the offensive side of things.'
So my easy guess is that the Panthers come out trying to hit everything that moves, right? But really, what they need is that plus cleaner zone entries, better puck management, and a higher level of urgency. Because the Leafs out-competed them in that period.
It was 4-1. It is 4-1. Chris Tanev (!) scores on a bouncing wrist shot from the point, and Bobrovsky has now allowed four goals on 15 shots. This has a chance to be a genuine confidence builder for Toronto, because it hasn't just been a goalie problem for the Panthers: it's been just about an everything problem.
Sam Bennett with his first semi-questionable violence of the series, though that forearm to the head of Anthony Stolarz wasn't too heavy. Still: something to watch for.
Joseph Woll comes in for Anthony Stolarz. Maybe that Bennett forearm to the head was a lot more than it looked? Woll has had great moments this year: this is the goalie tandem come to bear.
Now Sasha Barkov is taking penalties because he got out-quicked by John Tavares. This is a hell of a Leafs game.
The point was made by the Star's Kevin McGran: if the spotter pulls you, the backup can take a warmup. Woll didn't take one, so maybe Stolarz just pulled himself?
Pucks bouncing over sticks, disjointed puck support, some nerves on the Leafs forecheck: honestly, the Panthers, defending cup champs, look a little shook.
Sportsnet tends to try to avoid talking concussions: kudos to the panel for actually saying what was right in front of them.
Kevin Bieksa saying he never played through a concussion that caused him to throw up was particularly salient. Stolarz's initial reaction might be more telling than it seemed.
And honestly, I expected Sam Bennett to hurt someone, but I expected it to be more obvious than that.
Against Tampa in the first round, Florida got 17, 23, 34, 23, and 31 shots on goal, or 24 per game. They are on pace for 21 against the Leafs, after Toronto allowed 24 per game against Ottawa. Berube's version of hockey looks like it's actually taken shape here. The most telling part of that period is Florida didn't have a big push, and didn't even have a huge physical response. They didn't have much.
But the question of Anthony Stolarz — who took a shot off the mask, and a harmless-looking elbow from Sam Bennett — is the big one. Hockey Night just showed footage of Stolarz throwing up on the Leafs bench, after he had stayed in the game for 10 minutes following the Bennett elbow. Oh, boy.
Dennis Hildeby is Toronto's third goalie, and Joseph Woll is in net. Poor Anthony Stolarz.
The Leafs, meanwhile, just tweeted that Stolarz remains under evaluation, and will not return tonight. The team, notably, did not mention the specific area of injury.
The Florida forecheck is getting home; the intensity and compete the Leafs had displayed has been reversed. And Joseph Woll has now allowed two goals on three shots in the third period, and Toronto calls timeout. Boy, did this game flip fast.
That Florida goal, on a quick rush and a tip in front by Eetu Luostarinen to make it 4-2, is not going to inspire confidence in young Joseph Woll.
Leafs are starting to really lose puck battles. It's like Florida remembered they're the Cup champs, and you're not.
Suddenly, this is a big power play for the Leafs.
If you're the Leafs, you are now counting on your poise, and hoping that the two empty power plays and the phenomenal breakaway chance by Max Domi don't come back to haunt you.
Auston Matthews mugging Anton Lundell and turning it into a scoring chance was a goal short of an all-time moment for him
That is a big, big, big-boy play. Marner gets the puck out to Knies after a bad decision by Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt, and Matthew Knies had all day to overthink that, or screw it up. He didn't. 5-3, Leafs.
MATTHEW KNIES GOES BACKHAND FOR THE BREAKAWAY BEAUTY! 🤩
pic.twitter.com/wMlhGpNlQW
Big shot block by lil' Mitch Marner at the end, there.
Well, that Knies goal was gigantic, as Bennett makes it 5-4. And also, Winnipeg's Game 7 comeback now hangs over every single other team that is up two facing a 6-on-5, right?
So my guess is this: Paul Maurice will say those were two of Florida's worst periods in a while, but they found themselves in the third; Craig Berube will say he loved the start, and was confident all the way; the Leafs will say they believe in Joseph Woll.
That was a pretty great game for the Leafs, but the bottom line may be this: they lost their starting goalie, and despite playing two absolutely top-shelf periods, had to hold on for dear life to win 5-4 against the Cup champs. What the Leafs will tell themselves is they weren't outclassed, and found a formula that can beat the cup champs.
All in all, this was a promising, worrisome start to what could be a long series. The Leafs survived a messy game but flashed some serious upside on the way. By the way, this is the first time the Leafs have led a second-round series since 2004.
He delivered an elbow to the head of a player who — it appears — was severely injured on the play. The elbow didn't look violent, but it was violent enough, apparently.
One remarkable note in all this: Stolarz collapsed after the collision but wasn't flagged by the concussion spotter, who may just have wondered if it was a flop. After Stolarz vomited on the bench and was reportedly taken out on a stretcher, some questions should be asked about how that was allowed to happen.
Oh, and here is Matthew Tkachuk attempting what looks like a slew foot on his old London Knights teammate Mitch Marner, which Marner deftly avoided.
Tkachuk at the end of the game on Marner
pic.twitter.com/F4IVRjHjtH
Referee Chris Rooney blows the play dead as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz lays on the ice during Game 1 against the Florida Panthers in Toronto on May 5, 2025.
Never have the Maple Leafs won a game feeling angrier. Never has beating the Florida Panthers felt better.
The Maple Leafs took Game 1 of their second-round series 5-4, but they lost star goalie Anthony Stolarz in the process after an elbow to the head from Sam Bennett that wasn't called.
Joseph Woll replaced Stolarz halfway through the second period, a move that seemed to energize the Panthers who scored twice early in the third period.
A Matt Knies breakaway goal with six minutes left — a goal that felt like it delivered with a dagger — held up as the winner after Bennett scored with 1:55 remaining and Florida playing with an extra attacker.
It was Woll's first game since April 17, a 4-3 overtime win over Detroit. He allowed three goals on 20 shots after Stolarz allowed one on nine.
It's a series that turned mean very quickly.
Read the full piece from the Star's Kevin McGran