The Leafs bounced back from their worst loss of the year with a dominate win over one of the NHL’s hottest teams, the Florida Panthers. Auston Matthews struck twice, John Tavares assisted on three goals and Matt Murray broke his six game streak of letting in four goals per game. Below are the highlights from the game.
Toronto got started early with a powerplay goal from Matthews. He beat Sergei Bobrovsky with a perfect wrist shot from the top of the circle to put the Leafs in front…
TONE STRIKES FIRST 🚨 pic.twitter.com/XdiR3zW5ND
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 23, 2023
Calle Jarnkrok nearly added an insurance marker halfway through the first. Matthews hit him with speed entering the offensive zone but Bobrovsky denied him in tight…
good drive by Jarnkrok pic.twitter.com/8EbfXnWY5B
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 23, 2023
The Panthers barely tied it up with a goal from Matthew Tkachuk. Murray made a sprawling save with his back then somehow gloved the rebound. The review confirmed the puck completely crossed the goal line. 1-1…
Count the goal for Matthew Tkachuk! ✅ pic.twitter.com/dM0tYPJLPU
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 23, 2023
William Nylander put the Leafs back on top early in the second. Him and Tavares did work down low to get the puck to the net. Nylander cleaned it up to make it 2-1…
WILL NY! 😎 pic.twitter.com/m1LJLe3RKQ
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 24, 2023
A couple minutes later Matthews did it again with another beauty wrist shot. He circled the net, turned and fired. 3-1 Leafs
💥 DOUBLE DIP PAPI 💥 pic.twitter.com/FkF6WttgYF
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 24, 2023
Nick Cousins got the Panthers back in it. The Leafs made some sloppy plays in the defensive zone and he made them pay by scoring a slick backhand from the slot…
Cuz is cookin’ 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zDohH8HHFZ
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 24, 2023
Late in the second period Toronto finally got their first 5-on-3 opportunity of the season. Tavares set up Michael Bunting and he hammered a one timer past Bobrovsky to make it 4-2…
BIG MIKE FROM THE SLOT!! pic.twitter.com/NYAp6mE9zf
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 24, 2023
Matthews went hat trick hunting in the third. He drove wide on Gustav Forsling and threw a one hand shot on net. Bobrovsky with the save…
Matthews steals the puck and one hands it all the way to the net pic.twitter.com/GXWIAbtTTJ
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 24, 2023
Alex Kerfoot put the game away with just over five minutes left. His first goal in 26 games. John Tavares picked up his third assist of the night on the play. Mitch Marner added an empty netter. 6-2 Leafs final.
FOOTER MAKES IT 5! 🦶 pic.twitter.com/Fra3RZMRvu
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 24, 2023
