Toronto Maple Leafs take game 1 as William Nylander dominates against Florida Panthers

When you're going up against the defending Stanley Cup champions—one of the most physically punishing teams in the NHL—you better bring something special. For the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1, that something was William Nylander. The Leafs winger came out flying and didn’t let up, notching two goals and three points in the first period alone. Against a Panthers squad loaded with grit and playoff muscle, Nylander’s speed and puck control gave Toronto exactly what it needed: an early jolt, and just enough of a cushion to hang on.It didn’t take long for William Nylander to make his presence felt. Less than 30 seconds into the game, he ripped a shot past Sergei Bobrovsky to put the Leafs up 1–0—and the building exploded.“It was outstanding,” said Morgan Rielly. “He was feelin’ it, and that obviously helps set the tone. It’s nice to get the first one, and you just go from there.”From there, Nylander just kept going. He added another goal and an assist before the first period was over, giving Toronto a lead they never fully gave back, even after losing starting goalie Anthony Stolarz to a suspected concussion.This was supposed to be a bruising, grind-it-out series. The Florida Panthers came in with a reputation—they play playoff hockey, and they added Brad Marchand and Seth Jones at the deadline just to crank that up. But the Leafs didn’t bite. Instead of trying to beat the Panthers at their own game, they stuck to what they do best: skating, skill, and speed through the neutral zone.Nylander was the perfect example of that approach. Instead of dumping the puck in and chasing, he held onto it, picked his spots, and made Florida’s defense chase him. It paid off.“First shift for him, a huge goal, and he gets the crowd right into it,” said Chris Tanev. “It set the tone for how we wanted to play. We have to continue to build on that.”Toronto didn’t just win Game 1—they made a statement. Nylander’s explosive start put Florida on its heels and flipped the narrative early. Now it’s the Panthers who need to adjust, and if Nylander keeps playing like this, that might be easier said than done.Also Read: 2025 NHL playoff preview: Dallas Stars vs Winnipeg Jets round 2 dates and game times