The NHL playoffs escalated on Wednesday as the Toronto Maple Leafs clinched a hard-fought victory over the Florida Panthers, securing a 2-0 series lead. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars triumphed over the Winnipeg Jets in their series opener.

Toronto leaned heavily on their experienced forward lineup, making it tough for Sergei Bobrovsky, the goaltender for Florida. The match was characterized by a back-and-forth exchange of goals, with the Maple Leafs holding a slim 3-2 lead after two periods, largely thanks to a late goal from Max Domi.

Just over five minutes into the third period, Anton Lundell of the Panthers showcased his skills by deftly corralling the puck from his skate and flipping it into the net, leveling the score at 3. However, just 17 seconds later, Mitch Marner fired a shot that unexpectedly soared over Bobrovsky’s blocker, regaining the lead for Toronto, which they held onto for the remainder of the game.

In the other matchup, the Jets started strong with a goal from Nino Niederreiter, but then it became the Mikko Rantanen show. The forward for the Stars recorded three consecutive goals in the second period, ultimately achieving a natural hat trick. The last of those goals was a power-play score, credited to Rantanen but deflected in by Dylan Samberg of the Jets.

Rantanen’s standout performance earned him a well-deserved place among the 3 Stars of the Night, highlighting the standout performances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Looking ahead, the playoffs continue on Thursday as the Capitals aim to even their series against the Hurricanes, and the Golden Knights host the Oilers in Game 2 of their series.

For the complete schedule and results for every matchup, follow along right here at CBS Sports.