More

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Panthers shutout Maple Leafs in Game 4 to tie series up 2-2

Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk celebrates Sam Bennett's goal in Game 4 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs)
Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk celebrates Sam Bennett's goal in Game 4 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs) Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP
It may not have the most goals of any game these playoffs, but the Florida Panthers took down the Maple Leafs on Sunday with a pair of goals - and that's all that was needed.

The Panthers beat the Maple Leafs 2-0 as they went on to win both of their first home games to tie the series up 2-2. 

But the game didn't end without controversy after both teams ended in a pile-up fight following a controversial hit as time expired. 

So let's get into the highlights of Game 4 between the Panthers and Maple Leafs that saw 87 total hits and 60 combined shots on goal!

1st Period

The first period saw four penalties from the Maple Leafs, the last of which the Panthers took advantage of during their power play. 

Carter Verhaeghe for his fourth goal of the playoffs to put the Panthers up 1-0 with assists from Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov.

Florida went into the first intermission outshooting the Leafs 15-4. 

Both teams combined for 42 hits (TOR-22, FLA-20) while the Leafs had seven blocked shots to the Panthers' two. 

The Panthers have now scored at least one power-play goal in three of the four games this series, but the previous two have resulted in a loss. 

2nd Period

The second period was a rough one for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they failed on all three power-play attempts. 

Florida failed on their power play as well, but still outshot the Leafs 14-8 for the period while the hits remained even at 15-15. 

But going into the third period, the Leafs had almost won 70% of the face-offs. 

If there were a highlight here, it would be posted, but we're on to the third. 

3rd Period

For what was originally 12 minutes of no goals despite some incredible opportunities for the Maple Leafs, it was the Panthers who finally capitalized on their chances after Sam Bennett left goaltender Joseph Woll looking silly with a beautiful deke on his unassisted goal. 

After pulling Woll with three minutes to go in the period as a last-ditch effort to put some sort of ray of hope on the scoreboard, the Leafs failed to score and were shut out by the Panthers' star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky - his second of these playoffs and fifth for his career.

But it didn't end without controversy after Toronto's Max Domi laid a dangerous cheap shot on Barkov in the final seconds that left a pile-up in the corner of the rink.

Tkachuck made sure to let his voice be heard to some of the Leafs players at the end of the game, letting them know he's coming for them in Game 5. 

Florida finished with 37 shots on goal to Toronto's 23, while the latter had more hits (47) than the former (40). The Panthers' 14 shots in the second period alone were more than the Leafs' first two periods combined. 

Florida has now tied the series up 2-2 following two straight wins as it heads back to Toronto for Game 5 on Wednesday, May 14th.