TORONTO – Sam Bennett scored two power-play objectives to elevate the shorthanded Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers to a 3-2 win in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
Bennett’s offence gave the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers (41-22-3) with their seventh win in eight outings, whereas the second-place Maple Leafs (39-23-3) misplaced for the fourth time in 5 video games.
Florida elevated its lead over Toronto to 4 factors, however the Maple Leafs have a sport in hand.
Defenceman Niko Mikkola scored the Panthers’ different purpose.
John Tavares, along with his twenty seventh, and Max Domi replied for Toronto.
The Panthers have been with out Matthew Tkachuk (lower-body), newcomer Brad Marchand (upper-body) and defenceman Aaron Ekblad (suspension).
Associated Movies
Pictures on purpose have been 25-25 earlier than 19,201 at Scotiabank Enviornment. Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz misplaced for the second time in two begins in opposition to his former membership this season.
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Domi caught the Panthers on a nasty line change to drag the Maple Leafs inside 3-2, 4:26 into the ultimate interval. However Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky shut down the house facet the remainder of the way in which.
The Maple Leafs scored first with an early purpose from Tavares, who transformed a nifty go from Michael Nylander. However Bennett tied the sport from in-close earlier than the tip of the opening interval.
Mikkola and Bennett scored within the second interval.
Takeaways
Maple Leafs: Veteran defenceman Chris Tanev (upper-body) returned to motion after a six-game absence.
Panthers: Captain Alexsander Barkov, Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, and members of the Panthers administration introduced a Stanley Cup duplicate ring to the Hockey Corridor of Fame in a ceremony on Wednesday.
Key second
With the sport tied 1-1, the Panthers killed off two penalties within the first 10 minutes of the second interval after which scored twice 3:17 aside to grab a two-goal lead earlier than the second intermission.
Key stat
Till Florida’s win, which put them 4 factors forward of the second-place Maple Leafs, first and second within the Atlantic Division had been separated by two factors or fewer for the final 103 days.
Up subsequent
The Maple Leafs play the second of their four-game homestand in opposition to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Florida makes the third cease of its six-game journey in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens, additionally on Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 13, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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