Cousins scores in overtime to send Panthers to Eastern Conference Finals after 3-2 win over Maple Leafs
TORONTO (AP) — Nick Cousins scored 15:32 into overtime and Sergei Bobrovsky made 50 saves as the Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in Game 5 of their playoff series. second round Friday to qualify for the Eastern Conference Finals.
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 had advanced to the playoffs for the first time in 19 years when they beat Tampa Bay in the first round. Rookie goaltender Joseph Woll made 41 saves in his first home playoff start.
In the extra period, Cousins buried his second playoff goal on Woll’s short side to send the Panthers to the conference finals for the first time since 1996.
Florida – the team with the fewest points to qualify for the playoffs – won all three games in Toronto and improved to 6-1 on the road in the playoffs after also breaking Bruins records of Boston. The Panthers next face the Carolina Hurricanes, who also beat the New Jersey Devils in five games.
Woll was coming off a 24-save effort in a Game 4 victory that avoided the sweep.
The Maple Leafs now face an uncertain offseason despite their breakthrough against the Lightning. General manager Kyle Dubas does not have a contract beyond June 30, while there have also been rumors about coach Sheldon Keefe’s future. Nylander and Auston Matthews both have a year remaining on their contracts and can sign extensions from July 1, while star striker Mitch Marner’s no-move clause comes into effect on the same day.
Toronto’s overpowered offense – including the so-called ‘Core Four’ of Matthews, Nylander, Marner and John Tavares – has scored just three times in the series for a team that has tallied just 14 goals over the course of of its last seven playoff games, including a paltry 10 against the Panthers.
The Maple Leafs finished the playoffs 1-5 at home.
Florida took a 1-0 power play lead at 3:31 of the first period when Ekblad fired a one-timer for his first on a shot that handcuffed Woll after the goalie made a flurry of early saves .
The Maple Leafs pushed back and had a few terrific chances on a pair of men’s perks, but couldn’t solve Bobrovsky.
Verhaeghe then got his fifth on a one-timer with 3:42 left in the first after Toronto defenseman Timothy Liljegren fumbled the puck at his blue line to make it 2-0.
Rielly’s point shot sliced through a crowd in front at 7:50 of the second for his fourth to halve the Panthers’ lead.
Toronto appeared to tie the game with 2:49 left in the period when Rielly appeared to have pushed the puck over the line late in the game. The scoreless ice call came after a lengthy video review – officials ruled the play dead before the puck crossed the line – prompting some fans to litter the ice with drinks , water bottles and rally towels.
Marner hit the post on a shot that deflected shortly after play resumed.
Nylander tied with 4:37 left in the third as he took a pass from Tavares in stride and beat Bobrovsky from a tight angle upstairs. It was his fourth playoff goal to spark wild celebrations inside a scum Scotiabank Arena – and the chaotic street party outside Maple Leaf Square.
However, the Maple Leafs failed to score another goal.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Friday marked exactly 17 years since Panthers coach Paul Maurice was named to the same position with the Maple Leafs. He spent two seasons in Toronto before being fired after the 2007-08 campaign.
NOD-HART
Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk was announced as one of three Hart Trophy finalists as NHL MVP shortly before the game. The other nominees are Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Bruins forward David Pastrnak.
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AP NHL Playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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