SUNRISE, Fla. – Joseph Woll did everything possible to defend the net. The Toronto Maple Leafs` goaltender twisted, contorted, and dove, making save after save against the relentless attack from the Florida Panthers.
Regrettably, his teammates didn`t perform at the same level. Despite Woll stopping 35 of 37 shots on Sunday, Toronto suffered a 2-0 shutout loss to Florida, leveling their second-round playoff series at two games apiece.
Having lost 5-4 in overtime just two nights prior, the Leafs had another opportunity to gain a significant advantage over the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Instead, they were largely outplayed throughout the night, with the exception of their goaltender.
“He was tremendous,” commented Toronto captain Auston Matthews. “He was crucial in keeping the score close, preventing goals on several plays that shouldn`t have been allowed to develop on our part.”