The Florida Panthers continue to apply their effective formula in the playoffs: take the lead after two periods and let Sergei Bobrovsky and the defense secure the result.
This strategy paid off again.
Bobrovsky stopped 23 shots, achieving his fifth shutout in the playoffs. Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett scored, leading the Panthers to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs with a score of 2-0 in the fourth game of the Eastern Conference semifinals series.
This triumph tied the series.
Florida has maintained an impressive record of 25 consecutive playoff wins when leading after two periods, a streak that began on May 5, 2022.
Bobrovsky, after a complicated start in the first two games in Toronto, where he allowed nine goals, proved his worth. In the third game at the Amerant Bank Arena, he conceded four more goals.
It’s a series. The most important games are yet to come, so we’re excited. The series is down to a best-of-three, so the next game is crucial.
Bobrovsky
Home-ice advantage has held, and Toronto hopes this trend continues in Game 5 on Wednesday night. The Leafs won the first two games at home but lost the next two in Sunrise.
We had opportunities. They’re doing a good job of surrounding us with players, obviously. It’s a battle out there. This is what it is. They don’t give you much.
Craig Berube, Toronto coach
Verhaeghe scored on a power-play play in the first period, the fourth for Florida in the game. Bennett added another goal with 7:50 remaining, and Bobrovsky took care of the rest, achieving his second shutout of this postseason.
Joseph Woll stopped 35 shots for the Maple Leafs.
It was great. He played an excellent game.
Berube
Verhaeghe’s goal came after Matthew Tkachuk, from the boards on the left wing, sent a pass across the area, beating two defenders. The pass reached Verhaeghe, who connected on a one-timer that beat Woll.
The Panthers dominated the game from the start, with 21 of the first 26 shots on goal. Woll, however, kept Toronto in the game.
Bennett scored as he approached from Woll’s left, looking for a passing lane. Finding none, he drove towards the net, watching Woll’s reaction, and pushed the puck into the net.
That looked more like the Panthers’ playoff hockey we’re used to.
Bennett
The match became more tense at the end, as usually happens at this stage of the series.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, from the Florida team that won the Stanley Cup last season, hit Evan Rodrigues, a Panthers player, in the head and neck about five minutes into the third period. It was initially penalized as a major penalty, but was then reduced to a minor after review.
Rodrigues will need more evaluation on Monday, according to Panthers coach Paul Maurice.
In addition, four players received 10-minute penalties for misconduct at the end of regulation time: Max Domi (Toronto), for hitting Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov; and Bobby McMann (Toronto), Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand (Florida).
