Leafs blow early lead, fall 3-2 to Panthers in Game 2

Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca Journalist

Published Thursday, May 4, 2023 3:51PM EDT
Last Updated Thursday, May 4, 2023 9:43PM EDT

Toronto Maple Leafs players leave the ice after their 2-3 loss to Florida Panthers in NHL second round Stanley Cup playoff hockey action in Toronto on Thursday May 4, 2023. Sergei Bobrovsky made 34 saves as the Florida Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Thursday to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

The Toronto Maple Leafs had to show their teeth if they hoped to even their series against the Florida Panthers.

Toronto came out strong in the first period, scoring two goals within the first 10 minutes. However, they couldn’t hold on to the lead, falling to the Panthers 3-2.

The Leafs will now fly to Florida for the next two games, down 0-2 in their second-round playoff series. Game 3 will be on Sunday.

Here is a recap of Game 2.

9:43 P.M.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are now down 0-2 in their second-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers after losing 3-2 in Game 2.

Toronto had an early 2-0 lead in the first period, but Florida clawed their way back on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena to win.

Now, the Panthers will fly back home with a comfortable series lead. Game 3 will be on Sunday in Sunrise, Fla.

9:13 p.m.

Leafs forward Matthew Knies did not come back on the ice for the second period after getting roughed up behind the net by Florida's Sam Bennett.

There's no word yet on any potential injuries.

8:52 p.m.

After an exciting second period for the Panthers, the score heading into third is 3-2 in favour of Florida.

8:15 p.m.

Panthers score around 40 seconds after, giving them the lead 3-2 against the Leafs.

8:13 p.m.

Just seconds into the second period, Florida sinks another goal in net, evening out the score 2-2.

7:54 p.m.

The first period closes out with Leafs in the lead 2 to 1 against the Panthers. The Leafs had 16 shots on net while the Panthers made 9.

7:37 p.m.

Florida clinches its first goal of the night, cutting the Leafs' lead 2-1.

7:21 p.m.

Leafs, on the power play, score a second goal minutes after the first thanks to Ryan O'Reilly.

7:14 p.m.

Alex Kerfoot sinks the first puck less than three minutes into the game, giving the Leafs an early 1-0 lead.

7:11 p.m.

Toronto Maple Leafs hit the ice against the Florida Panthers for Game 2, hoping to win and level out the series.

5:50 p.m.

Fans are starting to make their way down to the Scotiabank Arena and Maple Leaf Square to cheer on the Leafs in hopes they declaw the Panthers in Game 2 Thursday night.

Some fans are also celebrating “May The Fourth” as one Matthew Pickles, a.k.a. Leaf Vader, dressed up in a Darth Vader suit to the game.

“I just took it to a whole other level. Me, myself, as a son, I told him ‘Dad, you may be a Leafs fan, but if you’re a diehard Leafs fan – you’ll go all out like me,’” Pickles told CTV News Toronto.

Other diehard fans flew from Paradise, N.L. and Vancouver, B.C., to catch the boys in white and blue tonight.

“I was 11 the last time they won another round and I would be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t bawling my eyes out on that Tavares goal,” lifelong Leafs fan Brian Georgievski said in reference to Game 6 against Tampa Bay Lightning.

The puck drops at Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m. tonight.

Here's what else you need to know about the series:

GETTING BACK TO 'MAPLE LEAFS’ HOCKEY'

The Leafs find themselves in a familiar spot.

In their most recent series against Tampa Bay in the first round, they also lost Game 1 in an embarrassing fashion.

Following Keefe’s comments on Thursday, some of the players reflected on their success in Game 2 of that series -- where they thumped the Lightning 7-2.

Leafs

“Last series, in Game 2, we had a good response, and I think that was Maple Leafs’ hockey,” center Noel Acciari said. “We want to have the same mentality going into tonight’s game.”

As for what that looks like on the ice, defenceman Morgan Rielly said they’re sticking to what they know.

“We’re not going to change who we are," Rielly said. "We’re not going to try and reinvent the wheel — [we're going to] stick to our game, stick to what makes us successful and that’s playing with speed, playing with the puck.”

'LEAFS IN 6'

Despite the Game 1 loss, Cauz still thinks the Leafs can claw back to settle the score.

“Leafs in 6 in the series. I’m going to stay with it because I think they win tonight,” Cauz said with conviction Thursday morning, taking note of the three wins the Buds picked up on the road in the first series.

“I’m sticking with 6. Last round against Tampa, I was negative, scared guy. I’m not prepared to go there yet. I’d still rather be more optimistic,” he added.