Brad Marchand tallies twice as Panthers return with win over Leafs

Florida defeats Toronto 5-1 in first game back from Olympic break

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Brad Marchand scored two goals as the Florida Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 in their first game back from the Olympic break. Evan Rodrigues, Carter Verhaeghe, and Matthew Tkachuk also scored for the Panthers, while John Tavares scored the lone goal for the Maple Leafs.

Why it matters

This game was an important matchup between two teams fighting for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers were looking to bounce back after a 1-5-0 run before the break, while the Maple Leafs were trying to get back on track after losing their first two games following the Olympic hiatus.

The details

The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, with Marchand, Verhaeghe, and Rodrigues all finding the back of the net. The Maple Leafs played with more energy in the second period, but Bobrovsky made some key saves to preserve the lead. Tavares scored a power-play goal early in the third to cut the deficit, but Marchand and Tkachuk added late goals to seal the victory for Florida.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 27, 2026.
  • The Panthers were on a 1-5-0 run ahead of the Olympic break.

The players

Brad Marchand

A forward for the Florida Panthers who scored two goals in the game.

Evan Rodrigues

A forward for the Florida Panthers who scored a goal and added an assist.

John Tavares

A forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs who scored the lone goal for his team.

Sergei Bobrovsky

The goaltender for the Florida Panthers who made 28 saves in the win.

Joseph Woll

The goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs who made 31 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of the Panthers and Maple Leafs getting back on track after the Olympic break, as both teams are fighting for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers' strong start and balanced scoring attack proved to be the difference, as they were able to hold off a late push from the Maple Leafs.