SUNRISE, Fla. — Jonathan Huberdeau had two objectives, together with the sport winner in time beyond regulation Tuesday, and the Florida Panthers outlasted the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7-6, after falling down by 4 objectives for the second time in three video games.
Huberdeau additionally had three assists within the win, turning into the primary Panther in franchise historical past to document a 100-point season. At 102, Huberdeau ended his night time second within the league in scoring.
The Panthers, homeowners of the No. 1 seed within the Jap Convention if the season ended on Tuesday, could properly find yourself enjoying the Maple Leafs within the postseason, and in that case, the league shall be in for a dandy. Tuesday’s sport featured 4 goalies, two short-handed objectives, six power-play objectives, and followers of each groups on their ft a lot of the night time.
“It is incredible. The atmosphere was awesome,” Huberdeau stated. “We’ve got to stop getting down by four goals, but just with the character of the team, we came back again tonight. A good win.”
COUNT IT 🥶
A five-point night time for Jonathan Huberdeau (@JonnyHuby11) to carry his level whole to 102 on the season! pic.twitter.com/SRsCpdhP4X
— NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2022
On Saturday, Florida trailed the New Jersey Devils, 6-2, within the third interval earlier than rallying with 5 straight to finish the sport, together with the winner in time beyond regulation.
On Tuesday, like Saturday’s win, backup goaltender Spencer Knight was referred to as into responsibility, relieving an ineffective Sergei Bobrovsky. Knight allowed two objectives on 21 photographs in registering the win. Bobrovsky allowed 4 in 14 photographs.
“He didn’t start but he came in ready, obviously made some huge saves,” Huberdeau stated of Knight. “And he came out with a big win.”
The information wasn’t significantly better within the different internet, the place Toronto starter Erik Kallgren allowed three objectives earlier than leaving with an damage, and Jack Campbell allowed 4, together with the time beyond regulation purpose, en path to the loss.
Auston Matthews, Toronto’s main scorer, got here into the sport needing one purpose to get to 55, which shall be a single-season document for the Authentic Six franchise. However, ultimately, he was among the many few stars on both facet to not rating, although he did register three assists. Toronto managed to tie a franchise document final achieved in 1983-84 by scoring 5 or extra objectives for the sixth straight sport.
“We go from being on a breakaway with a chance to make it 6-1, don’t score and then follow that up with a too many men on the ice penalty right after, so it starts to snowball,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe stated. “Inside of that, we had some pretty terrible penalty killing.”
Mitchell Marner, Matthews’ linemate, had two objectives and 4 factors within the loss for the Maple Leafs, who had defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-2, the night time earlier than. The regulation level vs. Florida gave them 96 for the season, good for second place within the Atlantic Division behind the Panthers.
Florida has now received 5 in a row, and eight of 9. Claude Giroux — the league’s most notable acquisition on the commerce deadline, coming to Florida from the Philadelphia Flyers — posted his first purpose as a Panther within the win.
“We’re really good at home, and it’s because of these guys,” Huberdeau stated as he pointed to the followers in his postgame in-arena interview on the bench. “Let’s keep it going.”
If the season ended on Tuesday, Florida would face the Washington Capitals, whereas Toronto would meet Tampa Bay in Spherical 1.
“It’s been a stressful month, playing some sloppy hockey, and we have to figure out and sort a few things out defensively,” Florida defenseman MacKenzie Weegar stated. “Our structure just isn’t there. We’re finding ways to win, obviously. But in the playoffs, it’s going to be hard to come back from four or five goals.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
