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Splitsville for the Panthers, who squeezed past pc28����2-0 in Game 4 to knot the Atlantic Division series at two wins apiece. It’s a best two-out-of-three now against the defending Stanley Cup champions and the playoff demons are peeking out of Pandora’s Box. That 2-0 edge pc28����enjoyed when they flew south — poof.

Bad bounces, weird bounces, dagger-to-the-heart bounces, had sealed Toronto’s fate in Game 3. But dastardly misfortune couldn’t be blamed on this night. The score flattered the Leafs, largely outplayed and only kept in the game by some valiant goaltending from Joseph Woll.

The Panthers may have been relieved not to surrender a goal in the first minute, as the Leafs had previously struck twice within 33 seconds of the opening faceoff. But pc28����handed Florida bountiful power-play opportunities. One power-play goal was all it took in the final reckoning.

Special teams and a parade of Leafs to the penalty box put an immense drag on the Leafs.

“There were times when we were better but consistently over the 60 minutes they outplayed us in that area,” Auston Matthews said afterward.

One, two, three, four

Four penalties in the first period, including Max Domi inadvertently getting his stick in Matthew Tkachuk’s visor, Bobby McMann pasting Carter Verhaeghe feloniously into the boards and Matthew Knies with another high stick. Florida managed only four shots across that three-pack of man-advantages. But there were two seconds left on the Knies penalty when Oliver Ekman-Larsson shot the puck over the glass — delay of game. Knies, sprung from the box, was racing to get back into the play as Florida put the icebreaker on the board, Tkachuk sliding the puck across to Carter Verhaeghe. Woll had no chance to get over for a pad block.

Woll, in his 10th playoff game since 2023, made a fistful of spectacular saves, repeatedly coming up large in a period where the Leafs were outshot 15-4, most notably on an Evan Rodrigues snapshot, while Matthews, who started the game with the most missed shots in the post-season (20), was stonewalled by Sergei Bobrovsky, looking much more like his two-time Vezina Award-winning self.

All that time killing penalties threw Toronto’s slick offensive forwards off their rhythm.

“When you spend half the game in the box, it’s hard to generate momentum, it’s hard to generate energy and life on the bench,’’ Matthews said. “It’s on us to be more disciplined in all those areas.’’

The Leafs did get the better part in the hitting department, 28-22, led by Simon Benoit’s half-dozen, notably a bone-rattler on Rodrigues.

Predictably the first penalty in the second period went to Florida and pc28����kept the puck in the Panthers’ zone for the entirety of it. But Mitch Marner, John Tavares, Knies and Matthews all shot wide, and Matthews rang one off the post.

Florida is aggressive and muscular on the penalty kill. Woll had to uncork a flashing glove to deny Sam Reinhart with Sam Bennett in the box for tripping. The Leafs were frustrated trying to penetrate the offensive zone and Marner had to upend Tomas Nosek in front of Woll to defuse pressure on the kill.

By the end of the second, a Leafs power play that had clicked along against the Ottawa Senators was 3-for-23 against the Panthers. Woll held them close with 14 more saves, a brilliant pair on short-handed thrusts by Florida.

With the Leafs short-handed in the third, a streaking Knies had a glorious chance to tie but his shot was high. A turnover by Nylander at the offensive blue line led to a quick transition and Bennett stuffed the puck behind Woll at 12:09.

“One goal for most of it,’’ Woll said. “They played a pretty tight defensive game. I really liked the way we played and kept to our structure. I think we played pretty well in the third period and took it to them pretty good, just couldn’t score.’’

Woll gave credit to his defence core for “helping me weather the storm’’ through those short-handed situations in the first. “We did a great job almost killing off four in a row there.

“I don’t think we’ve strayed too far from our game. We know our identity … Very rarely it’s going to be a walk in the park. We’re expecting a long series, it’s going to go back and forth, there’s going to be momentum shifts. What’s important is that we stick to our identity and get back at it at home.’’

Game 5 goes Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena.

“A couple of days to reset here,’’ Matthews said.

To the nth degree

Opponent bodies aren’t the only thing that Chris Tanev has been hitting. The defenceman revealed Sunday that he’s been hitting the books too, chasing a degree in finance with Southern New Hampshire University, one credit at a time.

“I went to school for a year, left and took a 10-year break. Then when COVID happened my wife was, like, why don’t you start taking classes? We were just sitting at home. I’ve done that ever since. I’m almost done.’’

Why finance? “I’ve always been good at it. So, it’s come easy to me.’’

Mamma Mia day

Players didn’t forget their moms on Mother’s Day. Lots of flowers delivered from their sons on the road, amidst recollections of everything family matriarchs had done to develop their boys into NHL men.

“A lot,’’ said Tanev. “Every kid who’s been in hockey can attest to your mom driving you to the rink at 6 a.m. Working extremely hard at her job and still coming home, taking my brothers and I to hockey, taking care of us, making sure we have good things to eat and our laundry’s done and the house is clean. It’s not an easy job. Obviously I can’t thank her enough for what she’s done.’’

Nylander: “She was dealing with four kids at the same time. It was incredible what she did by herself, when my father was on the road. I owe it all to her. The hours she spent lugging the family around, getting me and my brother to practice, bringing my sisters along. It’s just been amazing.’’

Marner, who just became a first-time father to Miles with wife Stephanie last weekend: “I reached out to my wife and my mom and my wife’s mom. It’s a special day for myself and my wife. It’s her first Mother’s Day. I can’t wait to get home tomorrow and see the little guy.’’