Frustrated Keefe laments 'baffling' Leafs' G2 struggles vs. Panthers - ESPN

TORONTO — The Maple Leafs were doomed by an awful second period performance in Game 2 of the club's Eastern Conference second-round series against Florida on Thursday. And coach Sheldon Keefe didn't mince words about how his team struggled following the 3-2 loss, which also put Toronto in a 2-0 series deficit.

«Disappointing. Baffling,» said Keefe of the Leafs' second period play. «We didn't make those mistakes one time in the last series [in the first round against Tampa].»

Toronto got the start it wanted in Game 2. The Leafs simply couldn't maintain their momentum.

Alex Kerfoot opened scoring early in the first period to put Florida on its heels and Ryan O'Reilly followed up with a power play goal, Toronto's first on the man advantage since Game 4 of their first-round series against Tampa.

The Leafs were dominating where they hadn't in Game 1's 4-2 loss. For whatever reason it just wasn't sustainable.

Anton Lundell got one back for the Panthers midway through the opening frame, as Florida got back to its aggressive ways rattling the Leafs with bone-crushing hits through the neutral zone and a suffocating forecheck.

Toronto escaped the period with a 1-0 lead. That wouldn't last either.

First it was a William Nylander giveaway turning into a goal for Aleksander Barkov just 46 seconds into the second period. Then Auston Matthews coughed up a puck and Gustav Forsling buried it. That was two goals just 47 seconds apart and it was 3-2 Florida in the opening minutes of the second period.

John Tavares hit a post. Twice. Toronto had its chances but couldn't salvage what was a disastrous 20 minutes.

No one felt that more than Leafs' goaltender Ilya Samsonov. He stopped 26 shots in the defeat and held Toronto's crease tight in