For the second straight series, the Leafs dropped game one at home. They outplayed Florida for most of the night, but just couldn’t capitalize on their chances. Sergei Bobrovsky turned away 34 of the 36 shots he faced in the 4-2 win. Below are the highlights from the game.
The game’s first scoring chance came off the stick of Auston Matthews. TJ Brodie hit him with a perfect bank pass through the neutral zone but Bobrovsky was there to make the stop…
Matthews gets the first shot of the game pic.twitter.com/k5dE0OlQzB
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 2, 2023
After the Leafs squandered two early powerplay opportunities the Panthers opened the scoring. Matthew Tkachuk made a slick move to avoid Mitch Marner’s poke check. His rebound bounced right to Nick Cousins and Cousins backhanded it past Ilya Samsonov…
Nick Cousins opens the scoring in Game 1! 😼 pic.twitter.com/iPp0JeNKc1
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 2, 2023
Florida kept pressing for an insurance marker late in the first. Samsonov made a pair of sliding saves to keep the game within one…
Sammy looking solid in the first. 🙅♂️ pic.twitter.com/WH7YhGMkxV
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 2, 2023
Early in the second period Toronto came looking for the equalizer. Morgan Rielly drove the net to create a chance but Bobrovsky turned him away…
Rielly takes the puck to the net pic.twitter.com/nn2c1TgU5Q
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 3, 2023
A few minutes later Florida doubled their lead. Aaron Ekblad’s point shot was deflected by Matty Knies and then Sam Bennett and into the net. 2-0 Panthers…
The tip shot from the Cats finds the back of the net! 🐈 pic.twitter.com/010uCmRjCO
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 3, 2023
11 seconds later Knies got the Leafs on the board with a beauty goal. He fought off two defenders and faked Bobrovsky out of his net then finished with a spinning backhand to make it 2-1. The first of many goals to come in his career…
MATTY KNIES ARE YOU KIDDING!! 🤢 pic.twitter.com/NLPwFSoM5Q
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 3, 2023
The Knies goal gave Toronto energy and they controlled play throughout the second. Michael Bunting tied it up with his first goal of the playoffs. Calle Jarnkrok hit him with a perfect pass in the slot and he deked out Bobrovsky…
SCARBOROUGH STAND UP!!!! 🗣 pic.twitter.com/miFHAf2v25
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 3, 2023
Just when it seemed the Leafs had all the momentum Florida scored the go ahead goal. Brodie got caught on a bad pinch allowing Carter Verhaeghe to go in all alone on Samsonov. He beat the Leafs goalie under the glove to take the lead…
Carter Verhaeghe gives the Panthers the lead back! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ej28s2oveu
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 3, 2023
The third period started with a couple hard hits. One from each team. Jake McCabe crushed Tkachuk at center ice. Then Marc Staal sat down Knies entering the offensive zone…
McCabe throws another one pic.twitter.com/BuzfiutRSU
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 3, 2023
rise young prince! pic.twitter.com/lwNWbeMCh3
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 3, 2023
Later in the period Brandon Montour gave Florida a two goal lead. His seeing eye point shot found its way through a swarm of bodies to make it 4-2…
Stay hot, Brandon Montour! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DJCFRJwDfJ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 3, 2023
The Leafs did everything they could to get back in it but it was Bobrovsky’s night. He stopped William Nylander with an acrobatic pad save here…
Bobrovsky robbed Bunting pic.twitter.com/VFsGMAvzdZ
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 3, 2023
On a late powerplay Toronto tried to jam a greasy one in. Bobrovsky kept it out again. The Leafs drop game one. 4-2 Panthers final.
no goal pic.twitter.com/UQWZtiu9W3
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 3, 2023
3rd
