The Florida Panthers have secured a 3-0 series lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the NHL playoffs. The Panthers’ latest victory came in overtime, with a final score of 6-5.
The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading goals throughout regulation. The Maple Leafs took an early lead in the first period, but the Panthers responded with two goals of their own to take a 2-1 lead. Toronto tied it up before the end of the first period, and the teams continued to trade goals throughout the second and third periods.
In overtime, it was Panthers forward Sam Bennett who scored the game-winning goal just 1:36 into the extra period. Bennett, who was acquired by the Panthers in a trade with the Calgary Flames earlier this season, has been a key player for Florida in this series. He now has four goals and two assists in three games against the Maple Leafs.
The Panthers’ victory on Thursday night was their third straight win over the Maple Leafs in this series. They won Game 1 by a score of 4-1 and Game 2 by a score of 3-1. The Panthers have been dominant on both ends of the ice, with strong goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky and a balanced offensive attack led by Bennett, Aleksander Barkov, and Jonathan Huberdeau.
The Maple Leafs, on the other hand, have struggled to find consistent scoring outside of their top line of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Zach Hyman. Matthews has scored three goals in this series, but the rest of the team has combined for just three goals in three games.
The Panthers will look to complete the sweep of the Maple Leafs on Sunday night in Game 4. If they are able to do so, it will be their first playoff series win since 1996. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, will be fighting to avoid a first-round exit for the fifth straight year.
Overall, the Panthers’ 3-0 series lead over the Maple Leafs is a testament to their strong play throughout the regular season and into the playoffs. They have been one of the most consistent teams in the league this year, and they are showing no signs of slowing down in the postseason. If they can continue to play at this level, they could be a serious threat to make a deep run in the playoffs.
