Panthers fail to sustain momentum and fall to 0-2 in second-round series against Toronto
The Florida Panthers had multiple opportunities to generate consistent momentum on Wednesday, plenty of chances to put their stamp on this series against the Toronto Maple Leafs after a rough start to the series two days earlier.
But each time Florida made a push, Toronto answered.
And now, the Panthers have been on the wrong end of the result twice to begin this second-round Stanley Cup playoffs series and find themselves in quite a bind.
Florida lost Game 2 4-3 at Scotiabank Arena to fall into an early 0-2 hole in the best-of-7 series. Historically speaking, that’s not good for the Panthers.
Florida is 0-5 all-time in playoff series when starting with consecutive losses — most recently the 2023 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights — compared to being 6-3 when they split the first two contests. Overall in NHL history, teams that start 0-2 have won the series just 57 times in 415 chances (a .137 win percentage).
“We knew it was going to be a really tough battle,” Panthers forward Brad Marchand said. “We didn’t expect to roll over them, by any means. We have our work cut out. They’re playing really well.”
Aleksander Barkov, Marchand and Anton Lundell each scored for Florida only for Toronto to answer each time.
Barkov scored five seconds into Florida’s first power play opportunity 10:58 into the game after winning the faceoff, getting the puck to defenseman Seth Jones and then quickly striking once he got the puck back.
That lead lasted just 7:21 before Max Pacioretty tied it on a Maple Leafs power play — Toronto’s first power-play goal of the series after scoreless on their first seven opportunities, including twice earlier in the first period.
Marchand scored 15 seconds into the second period by beating Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll, who started in place of the injured Anthony Stolarz, top shelf to cap a sequence that started with Eetu Luostarinen forcing a turnover on the boards.
But Toronto tied it just over four minutes later on a goal by William Nylander and took its first lead with 2:51 left in the middle period on a goal by Max Domi, both of which came on odd-man rushes.
“They do a good job of stretching out the game, and we’re all about pressure and being above it,” Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said. “It’s just important that we realize when guys are behind us.
Florida then tied it 5:33 into the third period on Lundell’s third goal of the playoffs, but fell back behind just 17 seconds later when Mitch Marner put the Maple Leafs ahead for good.
The Panthers are down 2-0. They need to win four of the next five to keep their hopes of repeating as Stanley Cup champions alive.
The series now shifts back to South Florida, with Game 3 at 7 p.m. Friday from Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena.
“They got the best of us in their building,” Ekblad said, “and we’ll find a way to do it in ours.”
This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM.
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