Panthers 5, Maple Leafs 3
Bill Thomas, defenseman Jason Garrison and Kris Versteeg scored in a span of less than 4 1/2 minutes early in the second period as the Florida Panthers halted their three-game losing streak with a 5-3 home triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.
Rookie Erik Gudbranson and Tomas Fleischmann also tallied while defenseman Brian Campbell collected three assists for the Panthers, who improved to 7-1-2 in their last 10 home games.
After Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski forged a 1-1 tie with his first goal of the night just 2:11 into the second period, Florida answered 19 seconds later to move ahead for good.
Thomas raced in on a breakaway and fanned on his shot, but the puck still slid past James Reimer for his first tally of the season.
Garrison chased Reimer with a one-timer from the top of the right faceoff circle on a power play at 4:13. Versteeg then banked the puck off Jonas Gustavsson's back during a two-man advantage to complete an outburst of three goals in a 4:25 span.
Reimer allowed three goals on eight shots before being pulled.
Defenseman Dion Phaneuf and Grabovski drew Toronto within 4-3 before Fleischmann created breathing room - and ended his 10-game drought - midway through the third.
Blue-liner Cody Franson had two assists for the Maple Leafs, who have lost six of their last seven games at the BankAtlantic Center.