Knee Jerk Reaction: Maple Leafs take Game 1 vs. Panthers in dramatic fashion

Game 1 went how just about anyone would have expected a playoff game against the Florida Panthers to go. They played hard, they played physical, they even injured the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ starting goaltender. But this time, the Leafs managed to hang on for the win.

This is how Florida Panthers hockey goes in the playoffs. They are going to come at you fast and hard. If you get ahead of them early, they’re going to dial up the physicality, perhaps even tow the line between legal and not, and once they’ve got you rattled, they’re going to use that momentum to their advantage and capitalize. And that’s exactly what happened tonight. The Leafs got off to a rapid start, getting out to an early 2-0 lead and taking a 3-1 lead into first intermission. Shortly into the second period, Sam Bennett caught Anthony Stolarz with an elbow to the head which resulted in his exit from the game and eventually leading to being stretchered out of Scotiabank Arena.

Despite the Leafs making it 4-1 thanks to a Chris Tanev goal before the end of the period, the Panthers didn’t go away. They scored two quick goals in the third period to bring the score to 4-3, capitalizing on a shaky Joseph Woll, but Matthew Knies delivered the insurance that the team so badly needed with five minutes left in the game.