The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves on the edge of elimination following a disheartening 6-1 defeat to the Florida Panthers in Game 5. This loss marks the Leafs' third consecutive defeat in the series, erasing their initial 2-0 advantage. The atmosphere at Scotiabank Arena turned sour as the home crowd expressed their frustration with boos, culminating in a jersey being tossed onto the ice.

Goalie Joseph Woll was pulled after allowing five goals, with Matt Murray stepping in for relief, marking his first postseason action since 2020. Notably, Toronto's star players failed to contribute, with Nicholas Robertson netting the lone goal on assists from Max Domi and Steven Lorentz. Defenseman Chris Tanev took responsibility for the loss, emphasizing the need for personal accountability and improvement as the team prepares for a critical Game 6 in Sunrise, Florida, where their season hangs in the balance.