Maple Leafs Roll By Panthers

     The Florida Panthers were defeated by the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-2 on Thursday night at FLA Live Arena. The Panthers, who have allowed 12 goals in the last two games, remain on the outside for an Eastern Conference playoff position. Eric Staal and Marc Staal refused to wear the Panthers jersey on Pride Night and did not participate in the pregame warmups. 

     Toronto(43-19-9) broke out to a 1-0 lead at the 5:05 mark of the first period. Auston Matthews released a wrist show from just above the left circle for his 33rd goal of the campaign. 

     Florida(36-29-7) got on the power play and scored with 5:35 left in the first. Matthew Tkachuk put the puck into the cage from close range for his 35th goal this season. He became the sixth different Florida Panthers player in franchise history to score at least 35 goals in a season. 

     In the second period, the Maple Leafs made it 3-1 at 1:20. John Tavares took a shot from the right of the crease which Sergei Bobrovsky saved. William Nylander scored his 36th goal on a forehand shot from the top of the crease. 

     The Leafs extended it to 3-1 at the 2:57 mark. Mark Giordano connected a pass from the left point to behind the Florida cage. Matthews brought the puck out to the right circle and snapped a shot for his second tally on the contest and 34th goal overall. 

     The Panthers cut it to 3-2 with 8:17 to go in the second. Aleksander Barkov fed the puck from the left wing. Nick Cousins skated across the slot area and lifted a backhand shot past Matt Murray for his seventh goal this year.

     It became 4-2 for Toronto on a five-on-three power play with 1:39 left in the frame. Tavares backhanded a pass from the end wall and Michael Bunting blasted a one-time slap shot from the inner left circle.