Panthers dominate Maple Leafs 5-1 for second win in eight games.

Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe scored power-play goals, while Sam Reinhart netted a short-handed goal in the Florida Panthers’ 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, marking only their second win in eight games. Mackie Samoskevich added a goal, Sam Bennett scored an empty-netter, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves. Verhaeghe also contributed two assists.

Mitch Marner scored for the Maple Leafs, who suffered their second loss in nine games, narrowing their Atlantic Division lead over Florida to just one point. Anthony Stolarz stopped 19 shots for Toronto, which also lost forward Bobby McMann to a lower-body injury in the second period.

In a pre-game ceremony, Toronto’s Stolarz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Steven Lorentz received their Stanley Cup rings from last season’s Panthers squad. Coach Paul Maurice and general manager Bill Zito were also present to celebrate with their former teammates.

Florida was missing Anton Lundell, who had left Monday’s game with a puck to the face. He skated in the morning but did not play.

Samoskevich’s goal, just 50 seconds after Barkov’s opener, gave Florida a 2-0 lead. The Panthers are now 4-0-0 when Samoskevich scores. Reinhart’s short-handed goal was his fourth this season; only Columbus has as many. The Maple Leafs will visit Tampa Bay on Saturday, while Florida heads to Carolina for the start of a home-and-home series.

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