Florida Panthers claw back to down Toronto Maple Leafs in OT, reclaiming Game 3
“Brad Marchand scored on a deflected shot at 15:27 of overtime and the Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in Game 3 on Friday night to cut their deficit in the Eastern Conference semifinal series to 2-1.”
Panthers’ Resilience Shines in Overtime Thriller
SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers stormed back from two deficits and, fittingly, it was playoff nemesis Brad Marchand who put them on his shoulders to secure a 5-4 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The win trimmed their series deficit to 2-1.
Scoring Recap
- Brad Marchand (OT);
- Aleksander Barkov (1st);
- Sam Reinhart (2nd);
- Carter Verhaeghe (2nd);
- Jonah Gadjovich (2nd).
Toronto’s Impressive Record Rendered Moot
The Maple Leafs were all but assured victory after dominating Florida in Games 1 and 2. With a 30-3-0 record leading after the first period and a 38-8-2 when scoring first, this wasLeafs’ to lose.
But the Panthers had other plans. Behind the heroics of Marchand and sturdy goaltending by Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 27 saves, Florida erased deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Game 4: It All Starts Again
With the series now tied 2-1, the Florida Panthers will host the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 on Sunday night. Expect another barnburner as both teams fight for a chance to take a commanding lead.
It was all looking good for the Maple Leafs.— Anonymous
Key Stats & Takeaways
- Overtime Record: The Panthers improved to 13-2 in their past 15 playoff overtime games.
- Deficits Erased: Florida erased deficits of 2-0 and 3-1, making up for lost ground in the series.
- Up Next: Game 4 between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs takes place Sunday night in Sunrise, Florida.
FAQ
- Q: Who leads the series now?
- Toronto Maple Leafs lead the series 2-1 after Game 3.
CTA
Have your say! What do you think will happen in Game 4? Leave your comments below and let’s discuss!