SUNRISE – Joseph Woll did every little thing he might to carry the road.
The Maple Leafs goaltender stretched, contorted and sprawled to make save after save in opposition to the Panthers’ onslaught.
His teammates weren’t near that stage.
Woll stopped 35 of the 37 photographs he confronted Sunday in Toronto’s stifling 2-0 loss to Florida that evened the groups’ second-round playoff sequence 2-2.
The Leafs, who fell 5-4 in additional time two nights earlier, once more had an opportunity to push the defending Stanley Cup champions to the brink, however as an alternative have been second-best many of the night time — aside from their netminder.
“He was nice,” Toronto captain Auston Matthews stated. “Helped preserve it a 1-0 sport there for probably the most half on some performs that we will’t let occur.”
At one level getting outshot 20-5, the Leafs held a parade to the penalty field within the first interval due to 4 straight minors, with the one puck to beat Woll coming off the stick of Carter Verhaeghe simply after a 5-on-3 man benefit expired.
“Performed a wonderful sport,” Toronto head coach Craig Berube stated.
Woll was stellar from there to maintain his group respiration till Sam Bennett took benefit of a turnover and outwaited the battling Leafs goalie on a 2-on-1 with lower than eight minutes to go in regulation.
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“It’s playoffs, it’s these tight video games,” Woll stated. “The defence helped me climate the storm a pair occasions early.”
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The 26-year-old from suburban St. Louis was pressed into service when No. 1 crease possibility Anthony Stolarz took an elbow to the pinnacle from Bennett halfway by way of Recreation 1.
Woll, who entered these playoffs with a .950 save proportion in 4 earlier post-season begins, stopped simply 73 of the primary 84 photographs he confronted on this sequence earlier than stepping up Sunday.
“A pair actually big saves,” Toronto winger William Nylander stated. “Saved us in all of it the way in which to the tip. Wonderful job.”
The Leafs, nonetheless, wanted much more from everybody else because the best-of-seven matchup between Atlantic Division rivals shifts north for Recreation 5 on Wednesday.
“We knew it wasn’t gonna be simple,” Matthews stated. “Each groups took care of house ice, so right here we’re. We’ve simply acquired to proceed to push, clear up some issues, get higher in several areas.
“Going again on house ice, be enthusiastic about that.”
Woll is assured his group can recapture the momentum after Sunday’s efficiency — and blown 2-0 and 3-1 leads in Recreation 3.
“We all know our id, we’ve performed fairly constantly all through the season,” he stated. “We simply should proceed to do what we all know.”
FINDING THE RANGE
Matthews continues to be searching for his first purpose of the sequence after scoring twice in opposition to the Ottawa Senators in Toronto’s six-game triumph within the opening spherical.
The Leafs’ prime line has seen a gradual dose of two Selke Trophy candidates — awarded to the NHL’s prime defensive ahead within the regular-season — in Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart for lengthy stretches in opposition to Florida.
“The possibilities have been there,” stated Matthews, who does have three assists. “Simply acquired to do a greater job of bearing down on a few of them. However for probably the most half, all through the 4 video games, we’ve been profitable shifts, producing probabilities in opposition to powerful matchups, however clearly I need to rating.
“Proceed to get these alternatives and simply capitalize.”
DECISIONS LOOM
Berube will ponder lineup modifications Wednesday after dressing the identical ahead group and defence corps since Recreation 3 in opposition to Ottawa.
“We’ve acquired a pair days to consider it,” he stated. “And see if we really feel there’s a greater possibility.”
These embody winger Nick Robertson, who performed twice within the first spherical, and centre David Kampf up entrance.
“I assumed most guys have been engaged,” Berube added. “There’s guys that would do extra, for positive, and we’re going to wish extra out of them.”
THREAT ASSESSED
Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk was caught on digital camera on the last buzzer showing to inform Nylander “I’m going to get you” after Leafs ahead Max Domi drilled Barkov into the boards from behind within the dying seconds.
“That’s what he does,” Nylander stated of Tkachuk. “He’ll in all probability do no matter he can to get a participant off their sport. Subsequent sport can be a enjoyable one.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Might 11, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
