Global Courant 2023-05-13 08:28:36
Nick Cousins scored at 3:32 of overtime and Sergei Bobrovsky made 50 saves as the Florida Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in Game 5 of their second round playoff series on Friday to advance to the Finals of the Eastern Conference.
Aaron Ekblad and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist to help the Panthers build a 2-0 lead in the first period.
Morgan Rielly and William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs, who advanced to the playoffs for the first time in 19 years as they defeated Tampa Bay in the first round. Rookie goaltender Joseph Woll had 41 saves in his first home game start.
In the extra period, Cousins buried his second goal of the playoffs at short end Woll to send the Panthers to the conference finals for the first time since 1996.
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Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins (21) celebrates the winning goal in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs in game five of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)
Florida – the team with the fewest points to qualify for the postseason – won all three games in Toronto and improved to 6-1 on the road in the playoffs after upsetting the record-breaking Boston Bruins. The Panthers next face the Carolina Hurricanes, who also defeated the New Jersey Devils in five games.
Woll came off a 24-save effort in a Game 4 win that avoided the sweep.
Florida Panthers players gather around forward Carter Verhaeghe (23) to celebrate his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period in game five of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)
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The Maple Leafs now face an uncertain off-season despite their breakthrough against the Lightning. General manager Kyle Dubas is out of contract after June 30, while there are also rumors about coach Sheldon Keefe’s future. Nylander and Auston Matthews both have one year left on their contracts and can sign extensions from July 1, while fellow player Mitch Marner’s no-movement clause takes effect on the same day.
Toronto’s powerful offense – including the so-called “Core Four” of Matthews, Nylander, Marner and John Tavares – scored just three runs in the series for a team that has tallied just 14 goals in its last seven playoff games, including a paltry 10 against the Panthers.
Florida Panthers celebrate as the Toronto Maple Leafs are knocked out in five games by the Florida Panthers with a 3-2 overtime loss in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. May 12, 2023. (Steve Russell/Toronto star via Getty Images)
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The Leafs finished the postseason 1-5 at home.