Barkov Hat Trick Brush Maple Leafs

     The Florida Panthers returned home for one game and stopped the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime on a hat trick by Panthers captain Alekander Barkov at BB&T Center on Saturday night. It was the first time that Barkov scored three goals in an NHL game. The Panthers are in the middle of a stretch in which they play six of seven games on the road.
     Jayce Hawryluk made his NHL debut with the Panthers while Henrik Borgstrom was involved in his first game this season and fifth game in his NHL career. The game was broadcast nationally as Florida made a rare appearance on Hockey Night In Canada.
     Florida(12-13-6) scored with 2.6 seconds left in the first period to take the lead. Mike Hoffman made cross-ice pass from low right circle to Evgenii Dadonov in the crease and tapped it to Barkov. He roofed a wrist shot by Frederik Andersen.
     The Panthers made it 2-0 at the 8:03 mark of the second with a power-play goal. Hoffman sent the puck from the right wing to Keith Yandle at the top of the zone. He angled a pass to Jonathan Huberdeau above the left circle. He skated a couple of steps then ripped a wrist shot for his ninth goal of the campaign.
     Toronto(21-10-2) finally got a goal with 9:36 left in the third period. Jake Gardiner fired a shot from the top of the zone that was deflected in by John Tavares in the low slot by Roberto Luongo. It was the 20th goal of the season for Tavares.
     The Maple Leafs tied the game with 3:39 remaining in the third. Mitch Marner received the puck in the high slot. He skated by Frank Vatrano in the right circle and scored on a wrist shot.
     Florida would score just 27 seconds later to take a 3-2 lead. Troy Brouwer passed the puck from the left corner and Barkov in the high slot and he put a shot into the Toronto cage.
     The Leafs pulled their goalie for an extra attacker in the final two minutes. It paid off as Marner snapped a wrist shot from the top of the right circle off a lead pass from Morgan Rielly with 1:39 to go.
     In overtime, Huberdeau took the puck away in the neutral zone and entered the Maple Leafs on a 2-on-1 break. He slid a cross-ice pass to his right. Barkov got the hat trick when he went through the right circle and scored on a backhand shot with 1:36 left.