Much like game one, the Leafs were the better team for most of the night on Thursday. A couple defensive lapses early in the second period combined with another stellar goaltending performance from Sergei Bobrovsky have Toronto down two games heading on the road. Below are the highlights from the game.
Alex Kerfoot opened the scoring early. After sustained pressure, Luke Schenn threw the puck on net from the point and Kerfoot cleaned up the rebound…
FOOTER GETS US STARTED!! 🦶 pic.twitter.com/eFX6qC0pPQ
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 4, 2023
A few minutes later the Leafs doubled their lead with a powerplay goal. Mitch Marner picked up a loose puck, faked out the defenders and set up Ryan O’Reilly with a cross crease pass…
ROR loves some good magic! 🪄 pic.twitter.com/KFvppc5YnT
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 4, 2023
Later in the first the Panthers got on the board. They created a turnover with their aggressive forecheck on a dump in. Sam Reinhart found Anton Lundell in front and he easily beat Ilya Samsonov…
The Panthers claw back to make it a one-goal game. 😼
Catch Game 2 live on Sportsnet! 📺 pic.twitter.com/GZx9UOrnjp
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 4, 2023
Before the period ended Samsonov kept the Leafs on top. He denied Aaron Ekblad all alone in tight…
JUST SMILE!! pic.twitter.com/XrUoiUNNn5
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 4, 2023
It didn’t take long for Florida to tie it up in the second. William Nylander turned the puck over at the blue line and Sasha Barkov made it 2-2 19 seconds in…
Sasha Barkov ties things up at two early in the second. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/mk8HI4wecI
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 5, 2023
47 seconds later the Panthers took the lead. More sloppy play from the Leafs cost them a goal. Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews failed to clear the zone and just like that they’re down 3-2. Gustav Forsling with his second goal of the playoffs…
And just like that the Panthers have their first lead of Game 2. 👀
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— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 5, 2023
Matthews had a high quality scoring chance on a powerplay late in the second. Sergei Bobrovsky turned away his wrist shot from the slot…
Matthews goes blocker side on Bobrovsky pic.twitter.com/AzzNs40V7q
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 5, 2023
Both goaltenders made crucial saves early in the third period. Samsonov denied Sam Bennett in close. Then Bobrovsky stoned Tavares off the rush…
This game. 😮💨😮💨
Watch Game 2 between the Panthers and Leafs live on Sportsnet! pic.twitter.com/tVG0pXewGO
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 5, 2023
Partway through the period an aerial pass from Anthony Duclair sent Carter Verhaeghe in on a breakaway. Another huge stop by Samsonov to keep Toronto in it…
Ilya Samsonov keeps the game within reach
big save on Verhaeghe pic.twitter.com/rAiWbcztSg
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 5, 2023
The Leafs had a ton of pressure throughout the rest of the game. It seemed inevitable they would tie it up. Instead it was the Bobrovsky show again. This pad save on Nylander was one of his best. Leafs drop game two. 3-2 Florida final.
Nylander gets by two Panthers then takes the puck to Bobrovsky pic.twitter.com/v510GGxMmw
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 5, 2023
