Panthers wallop listless Leafs 6-1 in Game 5 to take 3-2 series lead

The Maple Leafs have gone from the driver's seat to the brink of elimination.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves as the Florida Panthers dismantled Toronto 6-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the teams' second-round playoff series Wednesday

Jesper Boqvist, with a goal and an assist after sitting the last two games as a healthy scratch, Aaron Ekblad, Dmitry Kulikov, Niko Mikkola, A.J. Greer and Sam Bennett scored for the Panthers.

Sam Reinhart and Nate Schmidt added two assists each for the defending Stanley Cup champions. Ekblad added an assist for a two-point night.

Bobrovsky's shutout streak of 143 minutes 25 seconds dating back to the third period of Game 3 was broken late in regulation, as Nick Robertson got the consolation goal for Toronto. 

Joseph Woll allowed five goals on 25 shots before getting the hook in another ugly performance across the board from the listless Leafs, who led the Atlantic Division matchup 2-0 before three straight losses that have pushed them to the edge. Matt Murray finished in relief with six saves.

Game 6 will be played Friday night at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. Game 7, if necessary, would be back at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday.

The Panthers opened the scoring in a dominant opening period where they held a decided edge.

Florida, which blanked Toronto 2-0 in Game 4 at home, found a way past Woll at 14:38 when the Leafs lost a string of puck battles before Ekblad fired his second goal of the playoffs upstairs.

The Leafs netminder held the fort ahead of that breakthrough before the home side got its first chance on a William Nylander breakaway that Bobrovsky denied with his glove. Simon Benoit then fired just wide off the rush.

Toronto forward Scott Laughton hit the post a minute into the second,