After the Leafs took an early series lead on Monday, pc28and Florida meet for Game 2 at Scotiabank Arena tonight at 7 p.m. ET.
Follow the Star’s updates throughout the day, plus real-time commentary during the game from columnist Bruce Arthur.
The Corner Office: Panthers usurping Maple Leafs in Atlantic, salary cap kudos and those big (bad) Bruins
Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly scores on Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in NHL playoff hockey action in pc28on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Nathan Denette/The Canadian PressFive years ago, Maple Leafs fans likely assumed their team by now would have been the cream of the Atlantic Division, supplanting both the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. You could certainly make the argument that this year they were as pc28claimed the division for only the third time in the last 25 years.
Few would have seen the Florida Panthers coming and dominating the way they have. But is there anyone out there who would put pc28ahead of Florida as the best team in the Atlantic considering their back-to-back Stanley Cup final appearances, including last year’s win?
Leafs ‘have moved on’ after learning Bennett won’t face suspension for hit on Stolarz
With Anthony Stolarz out of hospital and back with his teammates for important meetings to prepare for Game 2, the Maple Leafs tried to put on a business-as-usual face after learning the league wouldn’t impose supplemental discipline on Florida forward Sam Bennett.
“We can’t control that,” said veteran centre Max Pacioretty. “We can only worry about what we can control as individuals and as a team. And we always want to stick up for one another and stick together And do it the right way.”
Bennett is Public Enemy No. 1 in pc28for his elbow to Stolarz’s head that is believed to be the reason the Leafs’ top goalie left Game 1 — a 5-4 Leaf win — midway through the second period.
Florida coach Paul Maurice defends Sam Bennett after Anthony Stolarz collision: ‘Call the fire department’
When Paul Maurice woke up Tuesday morning, he expected he’d have to talk about Sam Bennett’s collision with pc28Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz in his team’s 5-4 Game 1 loss.
And when he did, the Florida Panthers coach was resolute in defence of his veteran forward when speaking to reporters at the team’s hotel in downtown Toronto.
He also had a few zingers prepared.
“Honest to God, I’ve seen every hit that Sam Bennett has thrown since he was 12 years old on TV this morning,” Maurice said. “There were far more egregious collisions in that game last night, but we won’t be talking about those.”
Sam Bennett has a checkered NHL past. His hit on Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz is just the latest incident
“We’re six games into the playoffs and he took a puck outside the crease and now he’s a villain,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said of Sam Bennett.
Hannah Foslien/Getty ImagesAmidst the fervor of a wild Game 1 victory Monday night, Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett drew the ire of Maple Leafs fans after he collided with Anthony Stolarz, with the goaltender leaving the game minutes later.
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