Maple Leafs Grab New Playoff Spot with 3-2 Win Over Panthers
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By Nemanja Petković
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Summary:
- The Toronto Maple Leafs scored a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.
- The result sends the Canadians into their ninth Stanley Cup playoff spot in a row.
- Mitch Marner’s third-period goal was essential for the win.
The Toronto Maple Leafs came out with flying colors out of a decisive Atlantic Division game against the Florida Panthers in the Wednesday night NHL game.
Mitch Marner’s goal during the third period brought a much-needed 3-2 win for Craig Berube’s side.
Anthony Stolarz was a difference-maker in the net, stopping 29 shots and keeping the Panthers at bay.
Florida will have the chance to seek revenge on Tuesday when the two teams will meet again for a regular-season match in Sunrise, Florida.
Toronto, Officially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
John Tavares and Matthew Knies also found the back of the net for Toronto (46-25-4), which officially secured their spot in the postseason for the ninth time in a row.
Marner and Knies each chipped in an assist, finishing with two points apiece.
Tavares is currently leading the NHL in scoring with 15 goals in his last 20 games. The 34-year-old veteran forward from Mississauga, a pending free agent, currently has 36 goals in 68 games this season.
The game was tied 1-1 midway through the third period when Auston Matthews fired a shot that Sergei Bobrovsky couldn’t fully control.
Marner pounced on the rebound, lifting the Leafs to a crucial lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Matthews is one goal away from turning into the fifth Leafs captain to score at least 30 goals during a single season.
If his feat is successful, he will join franchise greats Rick Vaive, Darryl Sittler, Mats Sundin, and Dave Keon in that exclusive club.
Florida Missed Key Players
For Florida (44-27-4), Sam Reinhart led the way with a goal and an assist, while Gustav Forsling also scored. Bobrovsky turned aside 23 shots in the loss.
The Panthers entered the matchup missing key players, including captain Aleksander Barkov, who suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday’s overtime loss to Montreal.
The win expanded the Leafs’ lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning to three points while triggering a four-point cushion over the Panthers. Tampa Bay, however, has one game in hand.
Up next, the Leafs will go back home, where they will meet the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. The Panthers will travel to Ottawa for a matchup against the Senators on the same day. Find the latest hockey odds with Betting.ca
