Mathews, Leafs edge Panthers in shootout
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Mitchell Marner scored the only shootout goal, and star rookie Auston Matthews produced a goal and an assist in regulation to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night at the BB&T Center.
Frederik Andersen had 45 saves through regulation and overtime. He also stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout.
The Panthers suffered a potentially huge loss when star center Aleksander Barkov was injured in the second period. The severity was not immediately announced.
Matthews, a 19-year-old California native who was the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, has 17 goals and 11 assists this season.
William Nylander also scored for the Leafs (15-12-7), who won their third straight game, all on the road. Toronto has outscored its opponents 12-3 on this impressive trip.
Toronto is also 3-0 against the Panthers this season, outscoring Florida 11-5.
The Panthers (15-14-7) got goals by Jonathan Marchessault and Vincent Trocheck. For Marchessault, who leads the team with 11 goals, it was his first since Nov. 27.
Still, the Panthers are just 1-1-2 on their current homestand, which has one game left. Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo (38 saves) failed in his second straight attempt to pass Terry Sawchuk for fifth place on the NHL career wins list. Both have 447 wins.
Florida went 0-for-4 on the power play, and that proved costly. The Panthers dominated the first 10 minutes but couldn't score, wasting two power-play opportunities.
However, Toronto, with 9:22 left in the first period, converted on its first big chance as Connor Brown's shot hit Matthews in the glove and dropped fortuitously right to his stick as he scored easily on an open net.
Toronto made it 2-0 on Nylander's power-play goal with 2:06 left in the second period. Matthews threaded a cross-ice pass to Nylander, who beat Luongo with a high shot to the blocker side.
It was Nylander's eighth's goal of the season, including five on power plays.
Florida cut its deficit to 2-1 on a goal by Jonathan Marchessault, just 29 seconds into the third period. Keith Yandle set up the goal with his shot from beyond the left circle. Marchessault knocked it down with his stick and then deposited the puck past Andersen.
The Panthers tied the score on a rebound goal by Trocheck just two minutes later. Trocheck pounced after Andersen saved a shot by Jakub Kindl. It was career point No. 100 for Trocheck.
NOTES: Florida was without RW Reilly Smith, who suffered a concussion last Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. ... The first 10,000 fans who show up to attend Florida's Jan. 6 game against the Nashville Predators will get free Jaromir Jagr T-shirts commemorating him moving past Mark Messier for second place on the NHL career points list. ... Jagr led the NHL with five assists last week and was voted the league's top star. ... Florida scratched D Dylan McIlrath and LW Shawn Thornton. ... Toronto scratched LW Josh Leivo, C Byron Froese and D Frank Corrado. ... Up next, Toronto will play at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday before returning home to face the Detroit Red Wings in a New Year's Day outdoor game. ... Florida will finish its five-game homestand on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens.