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The Toronto Maple Leafs played the type of fast and loose hockey and got a questionable goaltending outing from starter Matt Murray, but were able to come back with Ilya Samsonov in goal, erasing a two-goal lead and winning 5-4 in overtime over the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.
William Nylander tied the game early in the third period with a puck going off his helmet and won the game at 1:59 of overtime, scoring his club-leading 25th goal, walking around Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe and beating the outstretched left pad of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to snap the Leafs two-game losing skid.
“I thought Willy was really good in the third period. He was really skating and challenging the net. The speed got him the penalty shot, and then he goes to the net and gets an ugly one. He scores a world-class finish on the overtime goal.” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game.
“He was the difference-maker for us there, and that is more the player he has been for us all season.”
Dryden Hunt, Alex Kerfoot, and Auston Matthews scored for Toronto, and Samsonov stopped all 11 shots he faced after Murray was pulled after allowing four Florida goals on eight shots.
“I am more pulling the goalie for our team. We just needed to change something. You can’t give up four goals on eight shots no matter how you shake it out. That was really it.” Keefe said. “If you look at the actual goals, I didn’t think any of them were too weak or egregious or anything like that. There was some traffic and things involved inside each of those goals, but clearly, we needed to change something.”
The club will take on the Winnipeg Jets at home on Thursday, and are expected to get some players dealing with illness back in the lineup. Pontus Holmberg, who missed the loss in Boston and the win over Florida was sent to the AHL Toronto Marlies on Wednesday. The 23-year-old center has 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in 28 games for the Leafs and has played well in a depth role, which makes his demotion a bit puzzling.
The Marlies begin a long road trip with the boat show taking over Coca-Cola Coliseum and begin with two straight in Belleville against the Senators. It is possible that Holmberg plays one game to get back into see if he is fully recovered before being brought back, while at the same time giving Bobby McMann and/or Dryden Hunt more playing time.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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