Jonathan Huberdeau, Panthers rally from 4 down, beat Maple Leafs in OT

Jonathan Huberdeau scored his second purpose of the sport in extra time and in addition had three assists, serving to the Florida Panthers overcome a four-goal deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-6 Tuesday evening.

The Atlantic Division-leading Panthers trailed 5-1 halfway by way of the second interval earlier than roaring again. Sam Reinhart scored twice, Aleksander Barkov had a purpose and three assists, Claude Giroux acquired his first purpose with Florida and Radko Gudas additionally scored.

Huberdeau took a go from Barkov in extra time and poked it previous Jack Campbell for his 102nd level this season. The Panthers improved to 49-15-6, setting a franchise document with their 104th level.

“A variety of milestones, nevertheless it’s cool doing that after we win,” Huberdeau stated. “It’s been a enjoyable yr. It’s been enjoyable, however we haven’t executed something within the playoffs.”

Every staff turned to its backup goalie as the perimeters mixed for 84 photographs on purpose. Sergei Bobrovsky allowed 4 targets on 14 photographs for Florida earlier than Spencer Knight relieved within the second interval and stopped 19 of 21 makes an attempt.

“It’s thrilling to return again once more,” Barkov stated. “However we’ve set to work so we’re not down 5-1 or 6-2. We’ve acquired to determine methods to handle the sport the correct means.”

The Panthers got here again from a four-goal deficit for the second consecutive recreation.

“It was a frenzied recreation,” interim coach Andrew Brunette stated. “I’m positive their coach is scratching his head slightly bit, too. It was a type of video games, it’s enjoyable for the followers, most likely enjoyable for the gamers in a number of methods, however not as a lot enjoyable for us.”

Erik Kallgren turned away 20 of 23 for Toronto earlier than taking a puck off his masks late within the second. Campbell changed him and stopped 22 photographs.

Mitchell Marner had two targets and an help, and John Tavares, Jake Muzzin, Colin Blackwell and William Nylander additionally scored for the Maple Leafs. Auston Matthews had three assists.

Toronto tied a franchise document final achieved in 1983-84 by scoring 5 or extra targets for the sixth straight recreation.

“We go from having an opportunity on a breakaway to go up 6-1 to taking a too-many-men-on ice penalty proper after. That begins the snowball,” coach Sheldon Keefe stated. “We had fairly horrible penalty killing. I’m not going to give attention to all that stuff, I’m going to give attention to the very fact we performed a superb hockey recreation in the present day.”

Barkov put Florida forward 6-5 together with his thirty fourth of the season with 11:59 to play, however Tavares tied it with a power-play purpose with 3:54 left.

Huberdeau additionally had a tying power-play purpose 2:45 into the third, making it 5-all, after Reinhart, Gudas and Giroux scored within the second. It was Giroux’s first purpose since being acquired from Philadelphia on March 19.

The Maple Leafs scored three targets in 2:04 of the second to chase Bobrovsky from the sport. Marner scored short-handed, then on an influence play, earlier than Blackwell stretched the result in 4-1. Muzzin added on with 11:20 left within the second interval.

Marner’s two targets got here 37 seconds aside, the shortest span between a power-play and a short-handed purpose in NHL historical past.

“Dissatisfied to lose that recreation,” Maple Leafs heart Jason Spezza stated. “You don’t need wild swings in a recreation the place we had management.”

Bobrovsky has been pulled from two straight begins since a 37-save shutout March 31 towards Chicago.

NOTES: Huberdeau turned the primary Quebec-born skater to document a 100-point season since Tampa Bay teammates Vincent Lecavalier (108) and Martin St. Louis (102) each completed the feat in 2006-07. … The sport was a matchup of two of the groups with the NHL’s 4 greatest data this season, Florida being No. 2 to start out the day and Toronto No. 4. … Tuesday began a stretch the place Florida performs seven out of 10 video games at residence. The Panthers then shut the common season on a three-game journey.

UP NEXT

Maple Leafs: Go to Dallas on Thursday.

Panthers: Host Buffalo on Friday.