Multi-Point Nights From Pacioretty, Domi Help Lift Maple Leafs To 2-0 Series Lead Over Panthers

Then, star forward William Nylander scored his third goal of the series in the second period. After Florida tied the game (3-3) in the final frame, the new Dad, Mitch Marner, secured the game-winning goal just 17 seconds later. It was Marner's first goal since Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators.

In the crease for Toronto, Joseph Woll stepped up in the wake of an injury to Anthony Stolarz. The netminder made some crucial saves down the stretch in Game 2, keeping the Leafs in the contest, turning aside 25 of 28 shots for a .893 save percentage in his first start since April 17.

1st Period

Maple Leafs head to the power-play after Dmitry Kulikov gets two minutes for interference on Bobby McMann at 2:20 of the opening frame. Pressuring with chances, the game remains scoreless.

Panthers' Brad Marchand chases after a puck and trips Joseph Woll while the Leafs are on the man advantage. Play continues with no call. 

Shortly thereafter, Marchand does get called for a tripping penalty against Leafs' John Tavares at 8:39. It marks the second Leafs power-play in the game and their seventh of the series compared to Florida's three.

Starting Game 2 0-for-2 on the man advantage, McMann takes the Leafs' first penalty of the game with a trip against Marchand at 10:53. On the ensuing man advantage, Aleksander Barkov beats Woll low-glove just five seconds into the power-play to open the scoring, giving the Panthers their first lead of the series.

Kicked off by a McMann steal and rush, who has been busy in the first period, the Leafs had 0:47 of o-zone time - but no goal to show for it. On a partial breakaway, the 28-year-old was denied on a blocker-side attempt against Sergei Bobrovsky. Florida maintains their 1-0 lead. 

On their third power-play of the game, after Florida's Kulikov shot the puck over the glass, Max Pacioretty evened the score with an impressive tip off a Morgan Rielly shot as the second unit came through for Toronto.  The marker was Pacioretty's fifth point in his last three games. 

The Leafs and Panthers traded power-play goals in the first, with the score tied 1-1 after one period. 

2nd Period

The Panthers wasted no time regaining the lead after Marchand found the back of the net 15 seconds into the middle frame for his first of the series. It was a Rielly turnover that kept the Leafs in their own zone, with Anton Lundell finding Marchand for the go-ahead goal.

William Nylander picked up where he left off in Game 1, finding the equalizer for Toronto - the team's second goal on just seven shots. The 29-year-old has five goals and seven points in his last three games, including three goals in the second-round series. On the play, Pacioretty picked up his second point of the night with a primary assist, marking back-to-back-to-back two-point games for the 36-year-old.

Things are starting to get chippy with offsetting penalties. Scott Laughton was given four minutes for roughing, as Panthers' Evan Rodrigues was given a two-minute penalty for embellishment while Nate Schmidt went off for roughing. 

Not too long after, Pontus Holmberg was handed two minutes for tripping Carter Verhaeghe after he was on the receiving end of a blindsided hit.

Big save from Woll to keep the game tied 2-2 late in the second, denying Marchand his second of the game. 

At 2:51 of the second period, Rielly shuffled the puck to Steven Lorentz, who found Max Domi for his second of the playoffs, giving Toronto a 3-2 lead, their first of the game. The play would not have happened without a strong play from Laughton in the neutral zone, winning an important puck battle. It was a big goal and contribution from the bottom six.

The Leafs' bench was pumped, to say the least.

After 40 minutes of play, the Leafs lead the Panthers 3-2 in Game 2. There were three goals in the second period from Marchand, Nylander, and Domi.

3rd Period

Off the draw, the puck was directed towards the Maple Leafs' net. Creeping towards the goal, Chris Tanev likely saved a goal with a crucial stick. Afterwards, the defenseman was hit hard by Verhaeghe and was slow to get up, in some pain.

In his return from suspension, Aaron Ekblad got on the scoresheet after he threw a puck toward the net and registered an assist. Standing beside the crease, Lundell created a wall, blocking the puck with his skates before burying the game-tying goal on his backhand at 5:33.

However, 17 seconds later, Mitch Marner had the response. The star winger got on the board for the Leafs with a slick wrist shot from the point to restore the club's one-goal lead. The new Dad scored his first since becoming a father, his second of the playoffs.

With Florida pressing offensively, Woll made a desperation toe save on Mackie Samoskevich to keep the Leafs' lead safe at the midway point of the final frame.

Backup goaltender Matt Murray loved what he saw from Woll on the play.

With just over 5:20 left in the third, Jake McCabe saved a goal for the Leafs, swiping the puck out of the crease. 

By the end of 60 minutes, the Leafs managed to hold on for a 4-3 win, a crucial victory on home ice before heading to Sunrise for Games 3 and 4.