Sam Bennett scored power-play goals late in each of the first two periods, Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves and the short-handed Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Thursday night for their seventh victory in eight games.

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. Niko Mikkola also scored, and Sam Reinhart had two assists for the Panthers (41-22-3), who are 7-1-0 in their past eight. Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves.

Sam Bennett scored two power-play goals as the visiting Florida Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Thursday night.

Sam Bennett scored power-play goals late in each of the first two periods, Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves and the short-handed Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Thursday night for their seventh victory in eight games.

The game marks the first of three meetings between the Maple Leafs and Panthers in the final five weeks of the season. They'll face each other again in Toronto on April 2 followed by a matchup six days later at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.

Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25), Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Alex Nylander (92) and right wing William Nylander (88) go for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) AP

The Florida Panthers are a difficult team to beat. Even without Matthew Tkachuk, new acquisition Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad, the Panthers won 3-2 on Thursday in Toronto. They also showed why they'll be a tough out once the playoffs roll around.

As far as regular season games go, Thursday night’s contest between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers was a key one. Both teams entered the