The Toronto Maple Leafs return to Scotiabank Arena for Game 2 of their second-round playoff series with momentum on their side and an opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 lead over the Florida Panthers after securing a hard-fought 5-4 win in Game 1. The tone was set early by William Nylander, who scored just 33 seconds into the contest and went on to record two goals and an assist, delivering exactly the kind of elite performance the Leafs have been counting on from their core forwards in the postseason. Toronto built a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead behind additional goals from Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, and Bobby McMann, showing off their scoring depth and ability to finish plays in transition, particularly off turnovers and broken plays caused by their forecheck. However, despite the offensive outburst, the third period nearly unraveled their efforts as the Panthers mounted a furious comeback with three unanswered goals, exposing some vulnerabilities in Toronto’s defensive coverage and late-game poise. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz stopped 31 of 35 shots and was excellent through the first two periods, but the defense in front of him lost puck battles and failed to clear traffic effectively in the final frame, nearly allowing Florida to force overtime. That third period collapse will be a focal point in Game 2 preparation, as head coach Sheldon Keefe looks to tighten his blue line pairings and emphasize closing out games with structure and discipline, especially when leading by multiple goals.

Toronto has now covered the spread in four of their last five games, showing that they’ve not only been winning but often exceeding expectations, and the atmosphere at Scotiabank Arena has played a pivotal role in energizing their starts and swinging momentum early. Special teams were relatively quiet in Game 1, but Toronto’s power play remains one of the most dangerous in the league, and any undisciplined play by Florida could open the door for the Leafs to take control again with the man advantage. The key to success in Game 2 will be replicating the first 40 minutes of Game 1—aggressive puck pursuit, fast-paced zone entries, and strong forechecking pressure—while eliminating the mental lapses and soft coverage that nearly cost them the win. With Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Nylander all contributing offensively and the bottom-six forwards continuing to provide energy and physicality, the Leafs have the pieces to control play across all four lines. If the Maple Leafs can manage the puck more efficiently in their defensive zone, avoid unnecessary penalties, and continue to win special teams battles, they’ll be well-positioned to extend their series lead and put real pressure on the Panthers before heading to Florida. Game 2 offers a critical opportunity not just to stay ahead, but to assert that this year’s Toronto squad is different—calmer under pressure, more balanced, and capable of closing out playoff games that earlier versions may have let slip away.