Maple Leafs Stop Panthers

     The Florida Panthers continued to make a playoff push as they fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime at FLA Live Arena on Saturday night. Florida. who had their six-game winning streak snapped, still picked up their 92nd point because the game went beyond regulation time and the Cats remain in the top Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

     The Panthers will play their final game of the regular season at home on Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. Marc Staal participated in his 1,100 NHL contest. 

     After a scoreless first frame, Toronto(48-21-11) moved out to a 1-0 lead with 2:13 left in the second period. T.J. Brodie made a short pass at the top of the zone. Mitch Marner released a shot from the high slot area and it was deflected in by Auston Matthews in the low slot past Alex Lyon for his 40th goal of the season. 

     It was Matthews fourth consecutive season with at least 40 goals in a season and fifth time overall in his NHL career. Marner collected his 69th assist of the campaign on the play. 

     In the third period, Florida (42-31-18) tied it up 1-1 at the 9:36 mark. Marc Staal pushed the puck ahead. Carter Verhaeghe sent a centering pass from the left wing and Brandon Montour snapped a shot from the slot area by Ilya Samsonov for his 16th goal this season.   

     Montour, who expanded his point streak to seven games, matched Aaron Ekblad for the most goals scored in a season by a defenseman in Florida Panthers franchise history. Verhaeghe garnered his 31st assist of the season, which tied his career high in 2021-22. 

     The Maple Leafs got the victory with 21.3 seconds remaining in overtime. Morgan Rielly flipped the puck out of his zone. John Tavares raced to the puck at the Panthers blue line. He moved through the left circle and lifted a backhand shot from the top of the crease for the tally with his 36th goal of the season.