Florida Panthers crush Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 5, taking a 3-2 series lead and pushing the Leafs to the brink of playoff elimination.
Panthers Crush Leafs in Game 5 Rout
The Toronto Maple Leafs are teetering on the edge of playoff elimination after a crushing 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of their second-round series. What started as a promising 2-0 series lead for Toronto has now unraveled into a 3-2 deficit, with Florida seizing complete momentum.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stood tall with 31 saves, while six different Panthers found the back of the net in a dominant performance that silenced the Scotiabank Arena crowd.
Boqvist Steps Up, Bobrovsky Stays Hot
Jesper Boqvist, inserted into the lineup after two games as a healthy scratch, delivered with a goal and an assist. He was supported by goals from Aaron Ekblad, Dmitry Kulikov, Niko Mikkola, A.J. Greer, and Sam Bennett.
Bobrovsky’s impressive shutout streak—spanning 143 minutes and 25 seconds—was only broken in the final minute of regulation by Nick Robertson, offering the Leafs little more than a consolation.
Toronto’s Collapse Raises Alarm Bells
After a promising start to the series, the Leafs have now dropped three consecutive games, struggling to generate offensive rhythm and defensive consistency. Goalie Joseph Woll allowed five goals on 25 shots before being pulled in favor of Matt Murray, who hadn’t played postseason hockey since 2020.
The shift in momentum was evident early, with Florida dominating puck possession and dictating play throughout.
Marner’s Costly Mistake, Lineup Shifts
A pivotal moment came in the second period when Mitch Marner’s errant pass was intercepted, leading to Boqvist’s goal. Marner, a pending unrestricted free agent, has faced scrutiny for his performance and leadership in critical playoff moments.
Toronto head coach Craig Berube responded by starting the fourth line in the third period, sending a not-so-subtle message to the team’s underperforming stars, including Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares.
Panthers Capitalize as Leafs Unravel
Florida padded its lead with Mikkola’s first playoff goal, followed by Greer and Bennett scoring in the third. Fans streamed out of the arena early, and frustration boiled over when a Matthews jersey was tossed onto the ice.
Game 6: Leafs Facing Elimination in Florida
The Leafs now head to Sunrise, Florida, for Game 6 on Friday night with their season on the line. A potential Game 7 would return to Toronto on Sunday—if the Leafs can regroup in time.
Injury Updates and Lineup Changes
Toronto made multiple lineup changes, including slotting in Robertson and David Kampf, while Calle Jarnkrok and Pontus Holmberg were scratched. Florida’s Boqvist replaced the injured Evan Rodrigues, who suffered an interference hit in Game 4.
Tensions Rise After Barkov Hit
Florida captain Aleksander Barkov was leveled from behind by Max Domi at the end of Game 4, prompting a fine and increased playoff intensity.
When asked about the hit, Barkov offered a cool response:
“I didn’t see it. It’s playoff hockey, so things happen.”
