TORONTO – Matthew Nice scores and sets up a red-hot goal. Auston Matthews push Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-1 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
Former Maple Leafs draft pick Carter Verhaeghe broke Joseph Wall's shutout at 8:22 and Toronto (20-15-7) won its sixth straight at Scotiabank Arena. The Panthers (22-17-3) have lost just once this season.
Knies made it 2-0 early in the second period. Then, less than four minutes later, he set up Matthews with a pass forward to take the captain's lead in the 21st.
Former Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin was in attendance. He participated in the pregame ceremony celebrating Matthews becoming the franchise's all-time leader in goals. Sundin had a mark of 420. Matthews now has a mark of 422.
Matthews has seven goals and 11 points in five games since the three-day Christmas break and was thwarted by Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky on a power play break early in the game.
Florida outshot the home team 32-23, with Bobby McMann scoring the empty net.
It was the Panthers' first visit to Toronto since defeating the Maple Leafs 6–1 in Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs on May 18. Toronto has won both meetings this season by a combined score of 7–2.
Leafs: Defenseman Brandon Carlo (foot surgery) returned to the lineup after missing 23 games.
Panthers: Super-pest Brad Marchand did not play in the third period. Earlier in the day, he said he considered signing with the Maple Leafs as a free agent last summer. “I was going to go between Florida and Toronto. I never thought it would be possible to re-sign with Florida. I really didn't.”
After Easton Cowan scored with 24 seconds left in the first period, Nice redirected Troy Stecker's shot 42 seconds into the second period for a two-goal lead.
Compared to their 42-game performance a year ago, the Panthers are five points off the pace and the Maple Leafs are nine points behind.
Panthers: Visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
Maple Leafs: Visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.
