Maple Leafs squander 2-goal lead in middle frame as Panthers extend series lead

Sergei Bobrovsky made 34 saves as the visiting Florida Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Thursday to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series.

Anton Lundell, with a goal and an assist, Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling scored for Florida.

Ryan O'Reilly and Alexander Kerfoot replied for Toronto, which blew an early 2-0 lead. Ilya Samsonov stopped 26 shots.

Up 2-1 following a spirited, chippy first period, disaster struck for Toronto early in the second.

Barkov tied things just 19 seconds in on a shot from well out Samsonov should have stopped for his second goal of the post-season.

Things got even worse 47 seconds after that thanks to some sloppy play with the puck in the defensive zone when Mitch Marner flipped an ill-advised pass to Auston Matthews, who in turn couldn't get it out of their end.

Florida quickly countered, with Forsling finishing off a setup from Matthew Tkachuk — his fourth of the series — for his second and a 3-2 lead.

The shell-shocked Leafs took a while to recover before Nylander hit the post with a shot that also hit Bobrovsky in the back and stayed out. Florida defenceman Brandon Montour then found iron on Samsonov at the other end.

Leafs captain John Tavares had a great chance in front before Josh Mahura took a Nylander shot off the visor that left a trail of blood on the ice as he exited for the locker room. The Panthers defenceman returned for the third after getting repairs.

Tavares was stopped in alone on the Florida goaltender and Nylander hit another post. The Leafs winger was also denied in tight with five minutes left in regulation.

The home side continued to press with Samsonov on the bench for an extra attacker, but couldn't find a way past Bobrovsky.

Toront