The Toronto Maple Leafs won the first two games of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers.
But the excitement over those two victories has already subsided, as the reigning Stanley Cup champions successfully tied the series at 2-2 following back-to-back Panthers victories, including Sunday’s 2-0 Game 4 victory at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
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The Maple Leafs couldn’t get anything going offensively, as the Panthers dominated the possession battle. Toronto got massively outshot by the Panthers, 37-23. Florida also got plenty of quality looks, as evidenced by its high 60.12 expected goals for percentage in even-strength situations.
With the series now tied at two wins apiece, the Maple Leafs hope to turn things around in the next game. Toronto even shared a post after Game 4, reminding their fans and followers on X about the upcoming contest.
“Game five Wednesday,” read the caption that accompanied the final score of Game 4.
Unsurprisingly, Maple Leafs fans didn’t have jovial reactions to the post.
Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) talks with Oliver Ekman-Larsson (95), Morgan Rielly (44), Matthew Knies (23) and Mitch Marner (16).Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
“You lost in front of Woll’s mom. It’s Mother’s Day today!! 😔 So rude. It’s fine on to the next!!” a fan commented.
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“Y’all ain’t winning the cup this year. Pack it up boys! 😭,” said a fan on X.
Another one said: “Matthews, McMann and Järnkrok nowhere to be seen bruh 😭😭”
From a commenter: “From being a goal away from a 3-0 series lead to now having the series tied at 2 is extremely depressing.”
“That was just terrible, [expletive] terrible,” another social media user posted.
Via a different commenter: “y’all literally gonna kill me”
The Maple Leafs, who eliminated the Ottawa Senators in the first round, will look to inch closer to the conference finals and arrest their skid on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
They are 4-1 in home games so far in the playoffs, including their victories in Game 1 and Game 2 in the Panthers series.
Related: Matthew Tkachuk’s Chilling Warning to Maple Leafs After Game 4 Win