Maple Leafs Defeat Panthers 5-4 in Game 1, Stolarz Injured

The Toronto Maple Leafs edged the Florida Panthers 5-4 in Game 1 of their second-round NHL playoff series, propelled by William Nylander's two goals and an assist, with key contributions from Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, and Matthew Knies. The game was marked by a significant injury to Panthers goalie Anthony Stolarz, who left after being struck in the head by an elbow from Sam Bennett, leading to his replacement by Joseph Woll. This incident, which drew controversy over the lack of a penalty, is under review by the NHL and has cast uncertainty over Stolarz's availability for the rest of the series. Despite a strong comeback effort by the Panthers in the third period, the Leafs maintained composure and held on for the win. The series is expected to be highly competitive, with both the injury and physical play likely to influence upcoming games. Game 2 will take place at Scotiabank Arena before the series shifts to Florida.