Panthers Beat Maple Leafs 5-4 OT to Narrow Playoff Series Deficit

In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal, the Florida Panthers overcame a 2-0 and 3-1 deficit to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in overtime, narrowing the series to 2-1. Brad Marchand scored the decisive overtime goal, continuing his reputation as a playoff nemesis for Toronto, while the Panthers rallied with key goals from Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Jonah Gadjovich, and Aleksander Barkov. The game featured multiple deflections and a controversial goal initially disallowed but later confirmed upon video review, which helped shift momentum in Florida's favor. Toronto's early dominance was marked by quick goals from Matthew Knies and John Tavares, but the Panthers' resilience and strategic adjustments, including a revamped fourth line, proved pivotal. The Leafs tied the game late in regulation with a goal by Morgan Rielly, but Florida's persistence led to their first series win after trailing 2-0. Game 4 is set for Sunday night in Sunrise, with Florida aiming to avoid falling into a 3-0 series deficit.