For better or for worse, goaltending might decide Leafs, Panthers series

May 9, 2025, 23:22 EDT

For better or for worse, goaltending might decide Leafs, Panthers series

Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

SUNRISE – If you’re looking to watch elite goaltenders playing at their absolute best, don’t bother watching any highlights from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers series.

Game 3 in Florida had a mix of everything. Primarily, two goalies who struggled to handle straight-on shots while scrambling way too much for their own good. The fourth goal on Toronto’s Joseph Woll, in particular, might prove costlier than anyone could have thought if Florida manages to get back into this series.

It’s now 2-1 after three games, with Toronto exposing Sergei Bobrovsky early on. Heading into Friday, Boborvosky’s -4.46 goals saved above expected at 5-on-5 was the worst of any goalie in the second round. He didn’t look particularly good on the first two goals against on Friday, either – something that could have easily sunk the Panthers had Toronto not collapsed in the second. Statistically, Woll entered the game with a much better 0.85 – but that’s still not great.

In Game 3, though, it was Woll who fell apart. You can’t blame him for the first two goals – one off Morgan Rielly, and another after Brandon Carlo knocked it off Woll’s right leg. But on the game-tying goal early in the second, Woll was caught challenging too far out and gave the whole right side open for an easy goal. The fourth goal – a far-out shot from Tomas Nosek – ultimately sunk Toronto in one of the weakest goals we’ve seen in this series. Then, 30 seconds into the third, Woll misplayed the puck behind his own net and nearly gave Anton Lundell the easiest goal of his career.

Not good, sparky. Not good.

Both Bobrovsky and Woll stood tall in overtime, but both had regulation efforts they’d like to forget about. It happens – but in the playoffs, any mistake becomes all the more costly. Sometimes, you don’t need elite goaltending to win. Just ask Calvin Pickard in Edmonton. He’s had some iffy numbers, but he’s riding a six-game win streak. Things like high-danger save percentage don’t matter in the playoffs as long as you’re winning games.

But neither team can be happy with how their goaltending has looked in this series.

Toronto is without starting goalie Anthony Stolarz, who was hit in the head in Game 1 against by Sam Bennett. Woll had a bit of an iffy second half to Game 1, but ultimately came out ahead. He was better in Game 2, but still allowed three goals as the Panthers pushed late. But wins are wins, and Woll was seemingly in control.

But he never looked comfortable in Game 3. He tried to play the puck a lot more to help create breakouts – something Stolarz did so well against Ottawa. But Woll just doesn’t have the same confidence playing the disk and it nearly hurt him a few too many times. You can’t blame him for the game-winner – yet another goal off a defenseman in front – but you can’t help but feel like he wasn’t as dialed in as he needed to be.

Bobrovsky was excellent in overtime, and that might have been what saved Florida’s series. Bobrovsky has struggled with shots up high for most of the series, but his glove hand was on point. Toronto primarily tried shooting low on him, though, which didn’t work.

Toronto has done a better job of making life miserable in front of Bobrovsky, taking away his sightlines as much as possible. For Woll, it’s been the lower-danger chances – the ones where he’s seen scrambling – that has left a lot to be desired.

Both teams have had a series of outscoring issues in the crease. One standout performance might change everything. Florida knows how to win in important moments. Toronto is still learning, but they’ve still got the edge. But as the series shifts to Game 4 on Sunday, both will need to clean things up in the crease to avoid letting things slip away.

Often, just average goaltending can get the job done. What you don’t want is below average – something we saw a bit too often on Friday.

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For better or for worse, goaltending might decide Leafs, Panthers series

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