TORONTO – Mitch Marner scored the goal-ahead aim within the third interval and Anthony Stolarz made 29 saves because the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Florida Panthers 3-2 in a key matchup atop the Atlantic Division standings Wednesday.
John Tavares and Matthew Knies had the opposite targets for Toronto (46-25-4), which clinched a playoff spot. Marner and Knies added an help every to register two-point nights.
Sam Reinhart, with a aim and an help, and Gustav Forsling replied for Florida (44-27-4). Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 pictures.
The Leafs stretched their division result in three factors on the Tampa Bay Lightning and are actually 4 up on the Panthers. Tampa has a recreation in hand.
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Florida, which beat Toronto 5-1 at house in November earlier than choosing up a 3-2 victory at Scotiabank Area final month, was minus captain Aleksander Barkov (upper-body harm) after he was harm in Tuesday’s 3-2 extra time loss to the Canadiens in Montreal.
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The Leafs and Panthers play as soon as extra within the common season — Tuesday at Amerant Financial institution Area in Dawn, Fla.
TAKEAWAYS
Leafs: Tavares has 15 targets in 20 video games for the reason that 4 Nations Face-Off to guide the NHL. The 34-year-old pending unrestricted free agent has scored 36 occasions in 68 contests this season.
Panthers: The membership additionally continues to play with out star ahead Matthew Tkachuk (lower-body harm) and minute-crunching defenceman Aaron Ekblad, who’s serving a 20-game suspension for violating phrases of the NHL/NHLPA Efficiency Enhancing Substances Program. The highest decide on the 2014 draft isn’t eligible to return till Florida’s third playoff contest later this spring.
KEY MOMENT
Marner snapped a 1-1 tie halfway by the third after Bobrovsky, who stopped Bobby McMann on a breakaway moments earlier, couldn’t squeeze the preliminary shot off the stick of Auston Matthews.
KEY STAT
Matthews wants one aim to grow to be the fifth participant in franchise historical past with no less than 30 of their first season as captain, becoming a member of Rick Vaive (54), Darryl Sittler (41), Mats Sundin (33) and Dave Keon (32).
UP NEXT
Leafs: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Panthers: Go to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed April 2, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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