The Rat Trick
Fansided

Panthers execute vintage performance in Game 4 against Maple Leafs

The Florida Panthers played their brand of hockey in Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, leading to a 2-0 shutout win.
ByJames Turner|
May 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72), Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) and Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) celebrate after they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in game four of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
May 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72), Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) and Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) celebrate after they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in game four of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

After dropping the first two games in their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Florida Panthers’ chances of advancing to the Conference Finals looked bleak. 

Florida got a critical overtime win in Game 3 off a clutch goal by Brad Marchand. Still trailing in the series two games to one, the Cats looked to get even on Sunday evening at Amerant Bank Arena.

Game Recap

One of the issues for the Panthers throughout the series has been playing from behind. In all three games prior to Sunday, the Panthers trailed during the game. Playing catch-up forced the Panthers out of their game. They had to play a more frantic style to dig out of a hole. 

On Sunday, the Cats completely flipped the script. They came out fast and strong. They dominated possession, outshooting the Leafs 37-23. The Florida defense stifled the high-octane offense of Toronto’s William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews. 

Both goalies were terrific in Game 4. Joseph Woll started again for Toronto in place of injured Anthony Stolarz and may have played his best professional game in the net. Fortunately for Panthers fans, he didn’t earn his team a win to show for it. 

Woll’s 35 saves on 37 attempts (.946 save percentage) were not enough to match a shutout by Sergei Bobrovsky. Bob stopped all 23 shot attempts for his fifth career postseason shutout, and the second in these playoffs. 

Carter Verhaeghe remained hot, scoring a power play in the first period. Sam Bennett had a beautiful goal on Woll in the third for the game’s only other goal. It was more than enough to give Florida their second straight home win. 

The most talked about moment of the game was in the final seconds when Toronto forward Max Domi delivered a hit to Panthers’ Captain Aleksander Barkov. A scrum ensued as the final seconds ran down to give Florida the win as Domi exited to the Leafs’ locker room. Today the NHL’s Department of Player Safety fined Domi $5,000 for the hit. He will not face a suspension.

The best-of-seven series now returns to Toronto, tied at two games apiece. The teams get an extra day off before taking the ice in Toronto for Game 5 on Wednesday night.

Home/Playoffs

Schedule