Barkov hat trick boosts Panthers to OT win against Maple Leafs
via NHL.com
Aleksander Barkov completed a hat trick at 3:24 of overtime to give the Florida Panthers a 4-3 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and an assist for the Panthers (12-13-6), who ended a four-game losing streak. Roberto Luongo made 29 saves.
Mitchell Marner had two goals, and John Tavares scored for the Maple Leafs (21-10-2), who have lost four of five. Frederik Andersen made 28 saves.
Barkov scored the game-winner when he took a pass from Huberdeau and came in alone on Andersen before beating him with a quick deke to his backhand.
Florida led 2-0 before Toronto came back in the third period.
Tavares made it 2-1 at 10:24 when he tipped Jake Gardiner’s shot from the point, and Marner tied it 2-2 at 16:21 with a wrist shot from the slot.
Barkov scored 27 seconds later to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead at 16:48, but Marner tied it 3-3 at 18:20.
Barkov scored to give Florida a 1-0 lead with four seconds left in the first period when he took Evgenii Dadonov’s pass across the crease and shot high into an open net.
Huberdeau made it 2-0 at 8:03 of the second period with a wrist from just inside the left face-off dot.
🇨🇦 vs 🇺🇸
A friendly challenge in warmup tonight. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/8HivOaRdR5
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 16, 2018
Waiting for puck drop. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/gaa1WRBaUA
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 16, 2018