Maple Leafs 3, Flyers 2
PHILADELPHIA -- The slumping Toronto Maple Leafs stunned the surging Philadelphia Flyers by scoring with 7.5 seconds left in regulation to grab a 3-2 win on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center.
Defenseman Matt Hunwick whipped a slap shot high past goaltender Steve Mason to win it as the Maple Leafs (17-20-7), who entered with the NHL's fewest wins, halted a five-game losing streak.
Toronto also received goals from left winger Joffrey Lupul and defenseman Roman Polak.
The Flyers (20-16-8) had all the momentum in the third period when defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere went coast to coast off a turnover to net the game-tying goal 12:59 into the final stanza.
Philadelphia's rally was thwarted as was its six-game point streak as the Flyers are 8-9-3 against teams in the bottom half of their respective conferences.
Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer (8-7-4), who came in with the NHL's second-best save percentage (.934), made 31 saves.
Mason (10-11-6) stopped 32 shots.
The Flyers struck first 11:06 into the opening period when defenseman Evgeny Medvedev saved their fluttering power play. With the man advantage ticking down, Medvedev pinpointed a long entry pass to slashing right winger Matt Read, who backhanded the puck just between the left goal post and Reimer for a 1-0 lead.
Some hustle and second-chance effort by Polak drew the Maple Leafs even just over two minutes later. Mason made a save on right winger Brad Boyes, but as he went to corral the rebound, Polak came scrambling in to punch it home for his first goal of the season.
Toronto appeared to jump ahead in the second period when center Peter Holland put the puck in the net off a bad Philadelphia turnover, but the goal was overturned after Flyers coach Dave Hakstol successfully challenged the play. The Maple Leafs were ruled offside.
However, Toronto made up for it not long after as Lupul deposited a juicy rebound with 4:50 left in the second period. Mason had no chance after sprawling to his left to save a wide-open shot by defenseman Dion Phaneuf. The puck bounced right to Lupul, who handed the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead entering the third.
NOTES: The Maple Leafs are without LW James van Riemsdyk, who will miss 6-to-8 weeks with a non-displaced fracture in his left foot announced on Jan. 11. The 2007 first-round draft pick of the Flyers entered Tuesday second on the Maple Leafs in points with 29. ... Flyers C Jordan Weal, acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings on Jan. 6, was a healthy scratch and has yet to appear in a game with Philadelphia. ... D Frank Corrado and LW Josh Leivo were healthy scratches for the Maple Leafs. Both have played in a combined seven games this season. ... Flyers D Brandon Manning was a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game since D Shayne Gostisbehere's return from a lower-body injury.