Panthers Dominate Maple Leafs 6-1, Near Eastern Conference Final

The Florida Panthers dominated Game 5 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 6-1 victory, taking a commanding 3-2 series lead and positioning themselves to clinch a spot in the Eastern Conference final. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was exceptional, nearly recording a shutout by stopping 30 consecutive shots before conceding a late goal. The Panthers' defense stifled Toronto’s stars, including Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, whose line struggled significantly, contributing to the Maple Leafs' offensive woes. Toronto's coach Craig Berube highlighted discipline issues, particularly penalties that disrupted momentum and overused key players, with the team needing a better balance between physicality and control to compete effectively. Despite early signs of playoff resilience, the Maple Leafs reverted to past struggles, as the Panthers’ defense-first approach and relentless pressure overwhelmed them once again. The series now shifts back to Florida for Game 6, where the Panthers have the opportunity to close out the series.