Bennett scores twice on power play, Panthers hold off Maple Leafs

TORONTO -- Sam Bennett scored two power-play goals for the Florida Panthers in a 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.

“It was a big game, it’s two teams that definitely could meet in the playoffs,” Bennett said. “That was a playoff-like game.”

Niko Mikkola also scored, and Sam Reinhart and Mackie Samoskevich each had two assists for the Panthers (41-22-3), who are 7-1-0 in their past eight. Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for his 424th career win, passing Tony Esposito for 10th place on the NHL’s all-time list.

“It’s easy to say because we won the game but at 3-1, you’re thinking he’s not going to let in the 3-2 goal, and then you’re thinking you’re going to have a hard time beating him now because now he’s angry in the net,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said of Bobrovsky. “He just totally fits our team, he’s so calm in that net… There’s a calm with him in the net for us.”

The win increased Florida's lead over Toronto for first in the Atlantic Division to four points. The two teams will face each other twice more during the regular season.

John Tavares and Max Domi scored, and Anthony Stolarz made 22 saves for the Maple Leafs (39-23-3), who are 1-3-1 in their past five.

“It was a good battle,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said. “Five-on-five I thought a pretty even game. I liked our third period a lot. Difference is they score two power play goals and we didn’t capitalize on our PP.

“I knew going in, we all knew going in, it’s tight. The way they play, there’s not a lot of room and you have to stay patient with it in your game and not force things, and I thought we did a good job of that. We limited them shots and they limited us shots. That’s a high volume shot team, so I thought our checking was good and we did a lot of good things. You always want to be better; we’ve got to push through this.”

Tavares gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 2:00 of the first period when he one-timed a pass at the bottom of the right face-off circle from William Nylander, who found him from above the top of the left circle.

Bennett tied it 1-1 at 17:51 on the power play, jamming in a loose puck from the top of the goal crease after Samoskevich drove to the net, creating a rebound.

Mikkola put Florida ahead 2-1 at 13:56 of the second period when he skated down from the blue line into the slot, took a pass from A.J. Greer and shot over Stolarz blocker side.

“It’s been a while I guess,” said Mikkola, who scored his first goal since Dec. 18. “I just try to enjoy every goal I get. It was a nice play by A.J. I got a quick shot on net so I’m happy for that.”

Bennett’s second power-play goal made it 3-1 at 17:13. He received a pass from Sam Reinhart, who was behind the net, and shot from the low slot.

“Probably special teams (was the difference),” Stolarz said. “They capitalized on two power plays there and I don’t think we did. Five-on-five I thought it was a pretty even game. I thought we played extremely hard, especially in the third period.”

Domi cut it to 3-2 at 4:26 when he took a pass from Calle Jarnkrok in the neutral zone and shot past Bobrovsky’s glove from the slot.

“That’s as close to a playoff game as you’re going to get,” Domi said. “They played a real solid game, that’s a heck of a hockey team over there. They capitalized on some chances, obviously special teams was a difference, but we’re going to get some confidence out of this game.”

The Panthers gave up only five shots for the remainder of the game.

“We did a good job of being composed there and not panicking when they got one,” Bennett said. “We just settled in, played our game, shut them down and did not give them too much.”

NOTES: Bennett extended his point streak to four games (three goals, two assists). … Bobrovsky is 13 wins away from tying Jacques Plante (437) for ninth on the NHL all-time list. … Nylander extended his point streak to seven games (three goals, six assists). … Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner had his seven-game point streak end (five goals, four assists).