TORONTO — With one of their better games of the playoffs, the Maple Leafs stormed to an early lead in Game 1 and held on late, beating the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 5-4.
The last time the Leafs won the opening games in two rounds of the playoffs was 2001.
Through the first two periods, the Leafs looked and acted like the aggressors against an opponent that was thought to be the nastier and more physical team coming into Game 1. Two goals from William Nylander and goals from Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev and an electric breakaway goal from Matthew Knies were the difference against a Panthers team that waited until the third period to turn it on.
Yet for all the firepower and physicality the Leafs showed, the…