Nick Cousins’ overtime goal sends Panthers to Eastern Conference Final over Maple Leafs

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Nick Cousins scored at 15:32 of time beyond regulation and Sergei Bobrovsky made 50 saves because the Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in Recreation 5 of their second-round playoff collection on Friday to advance to the Japanese Convention remaining.

Aaron Ekblad and Carter Verhaeghe every had a objective and an help to assist the Panthers construct a 2-0 lead within the first interval.

Morgan Rielly and William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs, who had superior within the playoffs for the primary time in 19 years after they beat Tampa Bay within the first spherical. Rookie goalie Joseph Woll had 41 saves in his first residence playoff begin.

Within the additional interval, Cousins buried his second goal of the playoffs off the push short-side on Woll to ship the Panthers to the convention finals for the primary time since 1996.

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Nick Cousins

Florida Panthers ahead Nick Cousins (21) celebrates the profitable objective in time beyond regulation towards the Toronto Maple Leafs in sport 5 of the second spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Area. (Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports activities)

Florida — the group with the fewest factors to qualify for the postseason — received all three video games in Toronto and improved to 6-1 on the street within the playoffs after upsetting the record-setting Boston Bruins. The Panthers will subsequent face the Carolina Hurricanes, who additionally beat the New Jersey Devils in 5 video games.

Woll was coming off a 24-save effort in a Recreation 4 win that prevented the sweep.

Panthers celebrate goal

Florida Panthers gamers collect round ahead Carter Verhaeghe (23) to have a good time his objective towards the Toronto Maple Leafs within the first interval in sport 5 of the second spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Area.  (Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports activities)

STARS INCH CLOSER TO WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS WITH GAME 5 WIN OVER KRAKEN

The Maple Leafs now face an unsure offseason regardless of its breakthrough towards the Lightning. Basic supervisor Kyle Dubas doesn’t have a contract past June 30, whereas there have additionally been rumblings about the way forward for coach Sheldon Keefe. Nylander and Auston Matthews each have one yr remaining on their contracts and may signal extensions as of July 1, whereas fellow star ahead Mitch Marner’s no-movement clause kicks in the identical day.

Toronto’s high-powered offense — together with the so-called “Core 4” of Matthews, Nylander, Marner and John Tavares — scoring simply 3 times within the collection for a group that totaled simply 14 objectives over its remaining seven playoff video games, together with a paltry 10 towards the Panthers.

Florida Panthers celebrate as the Toronto Maple Leafs are eliminated

Florida Panthers have a good time because the Toronto Maple Leafs are eradicated by the Florida Panthers in 5 video games with a 3-2 time beyond regulation loss within the second spherical of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs  at Scotiabank Area in Toronto. Could 12, 2023. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star by way of Getty Photos)

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The Leafs completed the post-season 1-5 at home.

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