TORONTO — With one of their better games of the playoffs, the Maple Leafs stormed to an early lead in Game 1 and held on late, beating the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 5-4.
The last time the Leafs won the opening games in two rounds of the playoffs was 2001.
Through the first two periods, the Leafs looked and acted like the aggressors against an opponent that was thought to be the nastier and physical team coming into Game 1. Two goals from William Nylander and goals from Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev and an electric breakaway goal from Matthew Knies were the difference against a Panthers team that waited until the third period to turn it on.
Yet for all the firepower and physicality the Leafs showed, the series took a sharp turn midway through the second period when Panthers forward Sam Bennett hit Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz. The Leafs goalie’s head looked to snap in an awkward manner and two minutes later he was replaced by Joseph Woll. The fallout from Bennett’s hit — Leafs fans will remember Bennett’s hit on Knies in Game 2 in 2023 ended Knies’ season — and Stolarz’s injury remain to be seen.
I hope Anthony Stolarz is OK after this hit. Doesn’t look good, glad he was pulled #concussion pic.twitter.com/DgvIZmWEmh
— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) May 6, 2025
After a Leafs first-round series that lacked much drama, the second round already feels much spicier.
Here are some takeaways:
Stolarz out, Woll in
Just over seven minutes through the second period, Bennett contacted Anthony Stolarz’s head with his forearm. Stolarz’s neck looked to snap in an awkward manner. While Stolarz stayed in the game for the next two minutes, during the next TV timeout he was replaced by Joseph Woll. The Leafs said he was “under evaluation.”
Woll had yet to play in the playoffs this season after playing the majority of games in net for the Leafs this season.
First, the most obvious takeaway: Bennett’s uber-questionable hit could put Stolarz’s short-term future in the series in jeopardy. He’s likely already feeling the strain of a heavier-than-usual workload. But Stolarz had looked decent through Game 1, stopping eight of nine shots.
We know coach Craig Berube wants his team to roll with one goalie instead of a tandem through the playoffs. This game could change things.
Next, Woll: Despite playing 42 games this regular season, he was not named the playoff starter. The Leafs might have considered how strong Woll has been in relief during the last two postseasons: He ripped off a .915 save percentage through four games in 2023 after Ilya Samsonov suffered an injury. Woll then took over for Samsonov after he faltered against the Bruins and propelled the Leafs late in the series with a .964 save percentage.
Woll swallowed the shots he saw early on and looked composed enough early in Game 1 despite not having a warm-up. He’s remained in great spirits behind the scenes while not playing. That attitude was evident in how quickly he responded to the tap on the shoulder in Game 1. Even after allowing two quick goals to start the third period, Woll held on for 17 saves.
Nylander shines
William Nylander continues to thrive when the spotlight is at its brightest. The Leafs winger bagged two goals to start the game, highlighted by a wrist shot from a tough angle to score on the Leafs’ first shot of the game. His first goal came just 33 seconds after puck drop, making it the quickest goal to start a game for the Leafs in all their 89 games this season.
WILLIAM NYLANDER OPENS THE SCORING 33 SECONDS INTO THE SERIES‼️ pic.twitter.com/CeqsugcSux
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 6, 2025
The two goals were the 24th and 25th of his playoff career, leaving him tied with the best shooter in Leafs history — Auston Matthews — for first in Leafs playoff goals since 2017.
Nylander added an assist on Rielly’s goal, leaving him tied among all players in playoff points this year (12). That also makes him the first Leaf since 2002 to have at least five goals and 12 points in the playoffs.
All these numbers are just a reminder of one thing: the moment never seems to faze Nylander. The Leafs’ stars were always going to have to be at their best, or at least produce consistently, to give the Leafs a chance in this series. Nylander is holding up his end of the bargain.
Leafs hold on
The Panthers came back in a big way, scoring two goals within the first five minutes of the third period. Berube had to call a timeout after the Panthers’ third goal to settle his team.
While it wasn’t always pretty, the Leafs did hold on and deserve credit for doing so against a hardened Panthers team.
Game management was an issue for the Leafs through the first round. They let the Senators back into games – and the series – too often. An important part of playoff experience is learning how to close out games.
It took the Leafs’ youngest player, 22-year-old Knies, to close out the game with an outrageous breakaway goal.
WE KNEW HE WAS KNIES ON BREAKAWAYS!!! 😏 pic.twitter.com/NNcKsh98Eo
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 6, 2025
Even through a tense third period in which the Leafs didn’t make the most of their power play opportunities, going 0-for-2, that they came out of Game 1 with a win is a testament to how much they’ve likely learned about playoff hockey.
Bennett back as the villain
It didn’t take Bennett very long to reassert himself as Public Enemy No. 1 in Toronto.
When these teams met during the second round in 2023, Bennett knocked Knies out of the series in Game 2 with a concussion after taking him to the ice with a piledriver-type move.
This time he took out Stolarz, his Panthers teammate last season. Bennett extended his right arm while skating out from behind the net and knocked Stolarz to the ice. Officials immediately stopped play and Stolarz initially remained in the game, before later skating to the Toronto bench and throwing up during a stoppage in play.
From that point on, Bennett was treated to a round of boos by the Scotiabank Arena crowd whenever he touched the puck.
A celebrated agitator, Bennett can beat opponents in the corners and in front of the net. Asked before Game 1, teammate Evan Rodrigues said the NHL player Bennett most reminded him of was Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals.
“There are very few people like him,” said Rodrigues. “He’s physical, he’s skilled. You hate playing against him, right? He’s the type of guy that you don’t want to line up against. You get put in the wrong spot and his hits do damage.”
Bobrovsky slow off the mark
It was a slow start to the series for Sergei Bobrovsky, who was beaten five-hole on the first shot he faced from Nylander just 33 seconds in and wound up surrendering three goals on 12 shots in the opening 20 minutes.
During the 2023 playoffs, he didn’t allow more than two goals to Toronto in any of the five games and finished that series with a sparkling .943 save percentage.
Bobrovsky looked off in the early stages of this Game 1, losing his angle on Morgan Rielly’s rush goal to put the Leafs ahead 3-1 before a bobbling Chris Tanev point shot went through him at 7:50 of the second period. However, he tightened up considerably from there and gave the Panthers a chance to rally back.
Playoff Bob appeared to be back in his usual form in the third period, denying Max Domi on a breakaway, before eventually surrendering another goal to Knies when the Leafs winger got in alone.
It was the first time in these playoffs Bobrovsky allowed more than four goals against.
(Photo: Michael Chisholm / NHLI via Getty Images)
