Panthers Snap Losing Streak, Defeat Maple Leafs 3-1

SUNRISE, Fla. — Back home following a winless four-game road trip, the Florida Panthers put forth an impressive performance on Tuesday night to defeat the Atlantic Division leading Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1.

Eetu Luostarinen had the game-winning goal 1:06 into the third period to snap the Panthers’ five-game losing streak.

“I think that was more like our game,” Luostarinen said. “Everybody was skating, working hard, playing for each other.”

Gustav Forsling and Carter Verhaeghe also scored for the Panthers while Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 17 of 18 shots for his 32nd win of the season.

Verhaeghe’s goal — which came on an empty net after the Leafs pulled their goalie — snapped a 13-game goal drought for the Panthers winger.

As the regular season continues to wind down, the Panthers improved to 45-29-4 with the win — picking up two much needed points as the postseason approaches.

“We don’t like losing so obviously it’s a great feeling getting this win,” Forsling said. “I think we’ve been playing good lately, just haven’t got the results we wanted. But [it was] a great effort tonight.”

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov returned to action against the Leafs after missing the past three games with an upper-body injury.

On Tuesday, Barkov had 19:25 of ice time and picked up an assist — his 49th of the season — on Verhaeghe’s goal.

“Always happy to be back playing with these guys,” Barkov said after his return to the lineup. “Obviously it’s tough to miss games but [I] needed to take care of some things.”

The Leafs’ 98 points in 77 games still has them first in the Atlantic Division while the Tampa Bay Lightning are right behind them with 96 points in 77 games. The two will play each other Wednesday in Tampa, while the third place Panthers (94 points in 78 games) will be idle.

The Ottawa Senators — who clinched a playoff spot and currently sit in wild-card 1 — are four points behind the Panthers with 90 points in 78 games.

PANTHERS NOTES

Sam Reinhart and Gustav Forsling returned to action on Wednesday after not playing Sunday against Detroit (rest day).

Sam Bennett (upper-body) did not play against the Leafs and is expected to be out the remainder of the regular season. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday morning that there’s no concern Bennett will miss Game 1 of the postseason. Bennett skated with the team on Wednesday morning.