Maple Leafs punch postseason ticket for 9th straight year
The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading to the playoffs for the ninth consecutive campaign after defeating the Florida Panthers 3-2 in a critical matchup Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena.
Toronto only needed to secure one point to extend the longest active streak in the league.
The Boston Bruins have made the playoffs eight straight years but currently sit last in the Eastern Conference. They've yet to be officially eliminated from playoff contention.
The Maple Leafs now hold a four-point edge over the Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division after the regulation victory. The Tampa Bay Lightning sit three points back of Toronto with a game in hand.
Mitch Marner scored a go-ahead goal for the Maple Leafs midway through the third period. He then sprung Matthew Knies on a breakaway for what proved to be a key insurance marker less than five minutes later.
Sam Reinhart brought the Panthers back within a goal at the 17:22 mark of the third, but the Maple Leafs were able to hang on for the victory.
Anthony Stolarz was stellar between the pipes for Toronto, stopping 29 of 31 shots.
John Tavares also scored his NHL-leading 15th goal since the 4 Nations Face-Off break.