TORONTO – With Scotiabank Arena absolutely rocking, Marner rifled home the game-winner at 5:50 of the third, breaking a deadlock and giving the Toronto Maple Leafs a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round. The Leafs now hold a 2-0 series stranglehold heading to Florida for Game 3 Friday night.
“It’s a roller coaster every shift,” said Marner postgame. “You’ve just gotta throw pucks on net and hope.”
That puck? Fired from above the right circle and sizzled high glove-side past Sergei Bobrovsky, just 17 seconds after Florida had tied things up with a greasy tip-in from Anton Lundell. Talk about a momentum swing!
Woll of Steel in Leaf Net
Joseph Woll, making his first start of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, was cool as Lake Superior in winter. The young netminder turned aside 25 shots, including a clutch pad save on Brad Marchand late in the third.
“Very calm and cool in net,” said new Leafs bench boss Craig Berube. “He gave us what we needed.”
Woll had to sub in for Anthony Stolarz mid-Game 1 after the veteran fell ill. With Stolarz still out, Woll carried the mail — and carried it well.
Two Max Efforts and Some Nylander Magic
It was a night of dueling Maxes, as Pacioretty and Domi both notched a goal and an assist. Domi’s ripper late in the second gave Toronto a 3-2 edge, capitalizing on a slick feed from Steven Lorentz.
And let’s not forget William Nylander, who buried his fifth goal in three games, tying things up early in the second and joining Alexander Mogilny in rare Leafs playoff history.
Panthers Push Back, but Fall Short
Florida came out clawing, getting power play strikes from Aleksander Barkov and a greasy one from Marchand, but couldn’t outlast the Leafs’ late-game composure.
Coach Paul Maurice sounded more like a hockey philosopher postgame:
“There’s stuff we liked, stuff we’ll fix. We’re headed home, and this series is far from over.”
Leafs Making History, Thunder Bay Feeling the Vibes
This is the first time since 1963 that Toronto has gone up 2-0 in two playoff series in the same postseason — a sign this Leafs group might be different.
For fans in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario, the Leafs’ surge is electric. With Woll showing poise and Marner firing rockets, there’s hope that this run could stretch deep into June — something local fans haven’t seen in decades.
Game 3 is Friday in Sunrise. Buckle up.
