Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Sasha Barkov speaks to the media after his team lost Game 1 to the host Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 on Monday, May 5, 2025.
The Leafs hold a 1-0 series lead with Game 2 in Toronto on Wednesday at 7 (ESPN).
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Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning Bringing Hockey Outdoors – In Florida: https://floridahockeynow.com/nhl-outdoor-hockey-miami-tampa-florida-panthers-lightning/
The Florida Panthers Get Their Rings. They’re Spectacular: https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-get-stanley-cup-championship-rings-theyre-spectacular/
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Monday, the Leafs led 2-0, 3-1, and 4-1 before the Panthers mounted a comeback in the third on goals from Eetu Luostarinen, Uvis Balinskis, and Sam Bennett. Seth Jones scored to make it 2-1 in the first.
Former Florida goalie Anthony Stolarz was knocked out of the game with an apparent concussion not long after colliding with Bennett in the crease. Stolarz had previous had his mask knocked off by a Sam Reinhart slapshot.
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Video Courtesy Florida Panthers / Panthers Vision
28 Comments
Awful start. Surprised they were caught so flat footed. Bob was not dialed in. Gotta take game 2.
Barky doesn't play dirty or cheat on who he is as a person or as a player.
Great player, even better person.
Heads up Cap.
It’s a shame to focus on targeting goalies, Woll was also run into accidentally on purpose…also missed by the refs and sportsnet…I’m sure these guys are embarrassed of Bennett and that no name player who ran woll.
I’m all for clean hitting but champs don’t play like that
That shot that knocked off Stolie’s helmet earlier looked like it did him in… 😢
Give me one barkov over 10 Bennetts. Respectful man.
You guys are a disgrace. So dirty.
Why hit Stoli. He was one of ours. I'm not happy to see that nor the loss. Win the next one. Make a statement.
Don't think Sam Bennett's "elbow" was enough for an immediate concussion, like Leaf fans are talking. If anything, it probably came from the shot that took off Stolarz' mask in the 1st. He should have been checked right there and during the intermission. Those masks are built to withstand pucks, and unless Bennett ran into Stolarz while skating at top speed, I don't think that alone would be enough for a concussion.
In any case, I really hope Stolarz is okay. I still can't shake the fact that we let him go over paying Verhaeghe top dollar at the beginning of the season for some odd reason.
Sam Bennett is a dirty player, deliberate elbow to the head. Needs a 40 game suspension.
Stupid penalties on Florida's
Stolarz was throwing up
Bobasky was screened let in soft goals
Didnt look deliberate but bennetts historys not doing him any favors…
The classiest panther player. Too bad the rest of the team are goons.
If Stolarz does not play next game…Bob better watch his crease as the leafs maybe looking at some payback if they can't get to Bennett?
Dirty fkn team
Dirty player!
Time to headhunt Barkov next game.
"We got off to an aweful start, obviously, but I thought we got better in the second and third after we blatantly and shamelessly took out their goalie with a filthy cheap shot"
Toronto tears everywhere.
All the toronto fans when they dont have a florida panther in net:😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
You got better after our goalie got injured
Benny is a good boy <3 keep playing hard gang
Where's Bennett? Hiding like a fucking pussy
Only scored in the third because goalie came in cold because of scumbag Bennett. You guys suck. You’ll be heading back to Florida down 2-0
Bennet and Bob, keep your heads up. Something is coming in the form of payback.
I like how he thinks they got better as the game went on. They only scored cause they injured our starter and were shooting on a goalie that hasnt played in like 20 days and came in cold midway. You think you would of scored 4 on Stoly? lmao. Panthers actually think they are good at hockey, they are just a dirty team that injures their opponents to win the matchup.
Love Bennet and plays hard and physical not like 90 percent of soft players in this shiny league.