Maple Leafs one loss away from elimination after struggling in Game 5 against Florida Panthers

The Toronto Maple Leafs were just one win away from a commanding 3-0 lead over the defending Stanley Cup champions. Now, shockingly, they’re just one loss away from heading home early. What happened to this promising team that seemed poised to dominate? From heartbreak in overtime to a brutal 8-1 collapse in back-to-back games, the Leafs’ playoff run has turned into a survival battle and Friday’s Game 6 in Florida is their last chance to keep hope alive.The turning point came when Brad Marchand’s overtime goal in Game 3, bouncing off Morgan Rielly’s skate, stopped Toronto’s momentum dead in its tracks. Instead of cruising toward the next round, the Maple Leafs have stumbled, losing the last two games in devastating fashion. Now, with the series at 3-2, the pressure is on.Coach Craig Berube hasn’t been shy about calling out his team’s flaws. After Game 5’s disappointing showing, Berube said the Leafs were “over-thinking” instead of playing their usual disciplined, structured game. This mental mistake has cost them dearly. Max Domi, expected to add energy, ended up with costly penalties, while new additions like David Kampf and Nick Robertson failed to spark a turnaround. Robertson’s goal was a bright spot, but overall, the lineup changes didn’t make enough of an impact.The Leafs’ path to victory starts with breaking down Florida’s goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky. Berube described Bobrovsky as “an effort goalie,” who thrives on big saves. To win, Toronto must outwork and outcompete him, creating more high-danger scoring chances and disrupting the Panthers’ rhythm.In goal, Anthony Stolarz remains sidelined due to a concussion, pushing Joseph Woll back into the spotlight. Woll has a chance to rewrite history after last year’s playoff heartbreak against Florida, but the pressure is immense.Defenseman Brandon Carlo warned the team to keep their cool and avoid foolish penalties, especially against a fiery opponent like Marchand. “You can’t get drawn into things after the whistles,” Carlo said, reminding teammates to stay focused and play smart hockey.Also Read: Edmonton Oilers’ Stuart Skinner shuts down Vegas, proving doubters dead wrong in NHL playoffsDespite the adversity, Morgan Rielly refuses to dwell on that unfortunate bounce off his skate. “You’ll drive yourself crazy if you dwell on those things,” he said, showing the mental toughness Toronto needs moving forward. The Maple Leafs still have a fighting chance, but Friday’s game in Sunrise will be the true test of their playoff resolve.