TORONTO (AP) — Nick Cousins scored at 15:32 of time beyond regulation and Sergei Bobrovsky produced 50 saves as the Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in Recreation 5 of their 2nd-spherical playoff collection on Friday to advance to the Jap Conference ultimate.
Aaron Ekblad and Carter Verhaeghe every had a purpose and an assist to enable the Panthers make a 2- lead in the first period.
Morgan Rielly and William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs, who had state-of-the-art in the playoffs for the initial time in 19 yrs when they beat Tampa Bay in the very first round. Rookie goalie Joseph Woll had 41 saves in his initial property playoff start out.
In the excess period of time, Cousins buried his second target of the playoffs off the rush short-side on Woll to send out the Panthers to the conference finals for the initially time considering the fact that 1996.
Florida — the staff with the fewest factors to qualify for the postseason — received all three game titles in Toronto and improved to 6-1 on the road in the playoffs soon after also upsetting the history-placing Boston Bruins. The Panthers will subsequent experience the Carolina Hurricanes, who also beat the New Jersey Devils in 5 game titles.
Woll was coming off a 24-save hard work in a Video game 4 gain that prevented the sweep.
The Maple Leafs now encounter an uncertain offseason despite its breakthrough from the Lightning. Common manager Kyle Dubas does not have a contract outside of June 30, when there have also been rumblings about the future of coach Sheldon Keefe. Nylander and Auston Matthews the two have a single year remaining on their contracts and can indicator extensions as of July 1, although fellow star forward Mitch Marner’s no-movement clause kicks in the identical working day.
Toronto’s significant-driven offense — which include the so-referred to as “Core Four” of Matthews, Nylander, Marner and John Tavares — scored just a few occasions in the sequence for a staff that totaled just 14 goals above its closing 7 playoff online games, which includes a paltry 10 towards the Panthers.
The Maple Leafs finished the post-time 1-5 at household.
Florida went up 1- on a electrical power engage in at 3:31 of the opening period when Ekblad blasted a just one-timer for his 1st on a shot that handcuffed Woll just after the goalie created a flurry of early stops.
The Maple Leafs pushed again and had a couple of terrific chances on a pair of man advantages, but couldn’t clear up Bobrovsky.
Verhaeghe then received his fifth on a one-timer of his individual with 3:42 left in the very first soon after Toronto defenseman Timothy Liljegren fumbled the puck at his blue line to make it 2-.
Rielly’s place shot created its way via a group in front at 7:50 of the next for his fourth to minimize the Panthers’ lead in 50 %.
Toronto appeared to tie items with 2:49 remaining in the time period when Rielly appeared to have pushed the puck more than the line in shut off the hurry. The contact on the ice of no aim stood subsequent a lengthy online video review — the officials considered the enjoy useless prior to the puck crossing the line — which prompted some enthusiasts to litter the ice with drinks, h2o bottles and rally towels.
Marner hit the article on a shot that took a deflection soon after engage in resumed.
Nylander tied it with 4:37 left in the third as he took a go from Tavares in stride and defeat Bobrovsky from a limited angle upstairs. It was his fourth goal of the postseason to spark wild celebrations within a frothing Scotiabank Arena — and the chaotic road get together outside the house in Maple Leaf Square.
Even so, the Maple Leafs could not get a further goal.
Satisfied ANNIVERSARY
Friday marked specifically 17 a long time due to the fact Panthers mentor Paul Maurice was named to the identical post with the Maple Leafs. He lasted two seasons in Toronto right before obtaining fired pursuing the 2007-08 marketing campaign.
HART NOD
Florida ahead Matthew Tkachuk was announced as a single of three finalists for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP soon prior to the game. The other nominees are Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Bruins forward David Pastrnak.
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