Tavares, Marner lead Maple Leafs to victory
TORONTO – Mitch Marner arrange three targets, together with a pair of second-period power-play targets from John Tavares, to elevate the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 win towards the Florida Panthers on Sunday.
Marner additionally fired a cross into the slot to a streaking Iyla Mikheyev for Toronto’s fourth aim halfway by means of the third interval. Auston Matthews scored on a protracted drifter into the empty web with lower than a second remaining.
Toronto defenceman Morgan Rielly checked in with a aim and two assists because the Maple Leafs (41-19-5) received for the second time in three begins because the NHL commerce deadline final Monday.
Toronto goalie Petr Mrazek made 30 saves.
The Japanese Convention-leading Panthers (44-15-6) misplaced for the primary time in three begins with Claude Giroux within the lineup after the previous Philadelphia Flyers captain was acquired final weekend.
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Brandon Montour and Ryan Lomberg scored for Florida whereas Spencer Knight stopped 18 pucks.
The Panthers outshot the house aspect 31-23 however went 0 for 3 with the person benefit.
There have been good vibrations within the constructing as a result of an hour earlier than puck drop, the Canadian males’s soccer group certified for the World Cup for the primary time since 1986 with a 4-0 win towards Jamaica down the highway at BMO Area.
The Maple Leafs wanted solely 11 seconds to present the 19,939 at Scotiabank Area one thing extra to cheer about. Rielly redirected a cross from T.J. Brodie for a 1-0 benefit.
The Panthers tied the sport when Sam Bennett discovered defenceman Montour within the slot. He fired a excessive shot previous Toronto goalie Mrazek halfway by means of the primary body.
Florida snatched the lead early within the second interval. Toronto’s William Nylander had the puck poked off his stick by Panthers ahead Eetu Luostarinen, and it went to Lomberg from close by Richmond Hill, Ont., for the go-ahead aim.
Tavares checked in with power-play targets 6:02 aside to regain the Maple Leafs’ benefit. Tavares’ first aim got here on a rebound from a Marner shot.
Marner then discovered Tavares to the aspect of the online with a sweeping cross for a go-ahead aim. Tavares was good for his twenty first and twenty second targets of the marketing campaign.
Matthews had a partial breakaway earlier than the Tavares targets however unwisely slipped a cross to Marner as an alternative of capturing. Florida defenceman Radko Gudas lifted Marner’s stick to stop a shot on Panthers’ backup goalie Knight.
The Maple Leafs meet one other playoff-bound group subsequent once they go to Boston to tackle the Bruins on Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed March 27, 2022.
