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The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers have pulled even with the Toronto Maple Leafs in their Eastern Conference playoff series after a 2-0 win in Game 4.
The Panthers jumped on top in the first period on a power-play goal by Carter Verhaeghe. They added to their lead in the third quarter on a goal by Sam Bennett.
The Panthers' defense did the rest.
Game 5 is Wednesday in Toronto (7 p.m., ET).
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P3, 3:16 – Panthers 2, Maple Leafs 0
Shot attempt by Tomas Nosek blocked by Max Pacioretty
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Craig Berube is double-shifting William Nylander frequently in this third period, and with good reason: The Leafs need goals, two of them now to tie the game.
P3, 7:50 – Panthers 2, Maple Leafs 0
Sam Bennett has the Panthers' second goal, and Florida is closing in on a win in Game 2 and an even series.
Shots:
Toronto 18
Florida 32
Hits:
Toronto 40
Florida 39
P3, 10:00 – Panthers 1, Maple Leafs 0
Florida is 10 minutes away from an even series at 2-2.
P3, 12:57 – Panthers 1, Maple Leafs 0
Shot attempt by Brandon Carlo misses the net
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P3, 15:09 – Panthers 1, Maple Leafs 0
A sixth power play for the Panthers (Oliver Ekman-Larsson interference against Evan Rodrigues)
Craig Berube is juggling the look of his top-6:
Knies-Matthews-Nylander
Pacioretty-Tavares-Marner
P3, 20:00 – Panthers 1, Maple Leafs 0
Panthers are 20 minutes away from a tie series.
The balance of play is about as bad as it can get after 40 minutes. Best news for the Leafs is they're only one goal back and these playoffs have featured a ton of late comebacks.
Joseph Woll through two periods:
Goals against: 1
Expected goals against: 2.75*
*Per Natural Stat Trick
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Brock T.: It's actually unfair. Paul Maurice is supposed to just chew gum and blankly stare out over the ice like Berube does. When you actually make adjustments, motivate your team, and such, it creates an unfair playing situation.
Nick G.: Hey Florida didn’t score until their fourth power play so we’re right on schedule
Za K: the late hits, crease crashing and elbows to the head will continue unabated with the Leafs PP being that dismal
J.r. M.: Mathews does some good things but continues to disappoint.
Faceoffs won:
Toronto 25
Florida 11
Faceoff win %:
Toronto 69.4
Florida 30.6
Total penalties:
Toronto 5
Florida 3
Penalty minutes:
Toronto 10
Florida 6
Blocked shots:
Toronto 13
Florida 6
Biggest letdown in that second period for the Leafs: the power play, which went 0-3 and looked increasingly out of whack.
Shots:
Toronto 12
Florida 29
Hits:
Toronto 37
Florida 35
Faceoffs won
Toronto 25
Florida 11
Penalty minutes:
Toronto 10
Florida 6
Blocked shots:
Toronto 13
Florida 5
Florida continues to lead 1-0 entering the third period.
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P2 – Panthers 1, Maple Leafs 0
Shot by William Nylander saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
It's difficult to find anything encouraging about the Leafs play so far, but the fact they've kept this game at 1-0 on the strength of strong goaltending Joseph Woll at least gives them a chance to play their way back into it. They've had very little sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Still 26 minutes left in regulation.
P2, 4:38 – Panthers 1, Maple Leafs 0
The physical play continues. Toronto has 32 hits to 30 for Florida.
