Bobrovsky, Panthers Shut Out Toronto As They Even The Series

SUNRISE, FL – With all these high-scoring games between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, I wouldn’t blame you if you forgot the Cats were a DEFENSIVE-oriented team. However, that was on full display tonight as they shut out Toronto by a score of 2-0, evening the series at two games apiece.

Toronto had its way on the turnovers and fastbreak opportunities in those first couple of games. Now, the Panthers have turned the tables and are forcing the Leafs to play a slow, methodical style of hockey. In other words, it’s the kind of hockey that frustrates and beats you down throughout a game.

The Leafs didn’t help things either with how undisciplined they were. Giving up six penalties in a game is a recipe for disaster. While they did a good job killing them off, as Joseph Woll had another extraordinary game in the net, they couldn’t stop them all.

If there’s one team that can make a 1-0 lead work for the majority of the game, it’s the Panthers. With a 2-0 lead? Good luck fighting back.

Everything But The Scoreboard

Florida’s power play has not been amazing in the playoffs. It’s certainly not one of their strong suits, unlike the penalty kill. Still, when you’re given four straight power plays, you have to make one count. Thankfully, that’s exactly what Carter Verhaeghe did, with a snapshot to the net off a tight pass from Matthew Tkachuk for an early 1-0 lead.

Well, it took four power plays for the Panthers to score the first goal of the night, but Carter Verhaeghe capitalized on a laser pass from Matthew Tkachuk. 🐈 #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/9Duf5KPSRD

— Jake Gibson (@JakeTheEmcee) May 12, 2025

If you wanted more goals, skip the rest of the first and even the second periods. It just wasn’t that kind of game as Florida’s defense put the clamps on the Leafs. Some of Toronto’s biggest stars, like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, were held to three and ZERO shots tonight, respectively.

The Woll Eventually Broke

This really should have been a blowout if it weren’t for Woll. He’s played a phenomenal series considering the circumstances and made 35 saves on the night. He even had to battle an excessive amount of shorthanded shots as Florida’s offense during the PK looked better at times than Toronto’s on the PP. On the other end, Sergei Bobrovsky delivered his second shutout of the playoffs, making 23 saves.

Eventually, the ship broke, and that came 12 minutes into the third. Off a two-man rush between Sam Bennett and Verhaeghe, Benny slowed the game down in front of the net, forcing a quick reaction from Woll. He leaned left, while Bennett shot right, and the Cats got their game-clinching goal.

Joseph Woll has done such a great job tonight with his reaction time to quick shots. So Sam Bennett – right in front of the net – slowed things down and set himself up for a MASSIVE insurance goal. 🐈#TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/YQGW95Tm4B

— Jake Gibson (@JakeTheEmcee) May 12, 2025

There were no empty net goals needed as the Panthers shut out Toronto. It’s worth noting the hit that Max Domi delivered to the back of Aleksander Barkov in the waning seconds, which might warrant a suspension. I know it’s been a physical, even questionable series. But there may not have been a more obvious “intent-to-injure” hit than that one.

Suddenly, things aren’t peachy in Ontario anymore. The Panthers defended the Ice Bank and have forced an even series. Just like that, this Best-of-Seven series has turned into a Best-of-Three series. Game Five will be in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14th at 7 pm.