The Toronto Maple Leafs lead their second-round series against the Florida Panthers 1-0 after their 5-4 win at Scotiabank Arena on Monday night in front of a sold-out crowd.
Toronto raced out to a 4-1 lead, only to have the Panthers respond with a pair of early tallies in the third period to cut the lead to a single goal. Both teams then traded goals but Florida proved unable to secure the equalizer.
The Maple Leafs will look to take a 2-0 stranglehold in the second game of the series, which is set to be played on Wednesday evening.
There was one notable incident midway through the second period of Monday’s game that is sure to draw immense scrutiny on Toronto’s part, as goaltender Anthony Stolarz was injured after being struck in the side of the head by his former Panthers teammate Sam Bennett.
Stolarz did not return to the game, and was even reported to have been throwing up at the Toronto bench and left the building on a stretcher while in the care of medical personnel.
Paul Maurice Addresses Anthony Stolarz’s Injury
Panthers coach Paul Maurice, who coached Stolarz for two years during his time with the franchise, expressed his view when asked why he thought that Bennett was not penalized.
“Not nearly as good as the referee’s vantage point,” he said. “He was standing right there. He saw it. Coaches coach.
“You know what? We are hopeful for Anthony and his health. We love that guy. We hope he gets better really fast.”
When addressing a late-arriving reporter who essentially repeated the same question, Maurice had this answer:
“This is what is going to happen,” he said. “You are all going to light your hair on fire, and I am going to let you. I have answered one on it. I understand that you are late. The referee was standing right there when it happened.
“You will do your thing, the league will do its thing, and I’ll coach the next game, hopefully. After that start, you never know.”
Bennett has a history of playing with an edge to his game, which included injuring Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies during their 2023 postseason series.
Maple Leafs fans everywhere (including Knies himself) are openly hoping that the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety places a call to Bennett and suspends him.
So, the NHL is letting the Panthers just do whatever they want without consequences. They don’t play hockey. What they do is diminish the game. They cheat, and cheat and cheat and never get hammered for it. They get away with murder because Colin Campbell won’t lay a glove on his son’s team! Ekblad, Tkachuk, Bennett, and so many others with illegal hits, most not even called. They stole the first series, and they’ll try to steal this series!!! They need some serious suspensions.