Flyers Lose To Maple Leafs In Overtime
TORONTO (AP) — Joffrey Lupul scored 2:21 into overtime for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who squandered a third-period lead but bounced back to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Saturday night.
Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri both had a goal in the game's first four minutes, and Mason Raymond scored the go-ahead goal in the third period for Toronto. Jonathan Bernier made 28 saves for his 24th victory.
Kimmo Timonen scored twice for Philadelphia, and Braydon Coburn tied the game late to force overtime. Steve Mason, who allowed two goals on the first four shots he faced, made 32 saves overall.
Toronto improved to 76 points, good for third place in the Atlantic Division. They are three points ahead of the Flyers.
The Maple Leafs took advantage of shaky play from Mason and took a 1-0 lead. After Troy Bodie drove the net and put the puck on Mason, the Flyers were unable to clear it from in front.
Sneaking in from the blue line, Gardiner shot through a screen set by Frazer McLaren and ex-Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn, and past Mason at 2:21 of the first.
It took only a minute after Gardiner's goal for the Leafs to add to their lead.
Lupul skated into the offensive zone and dropped the puck to Kadri, whose wrist shot beat Mason at 3:38. It was Kadri's 17th goal, one short of his career high set in 48 games last season.
Mason stopped the next 29 shots he faced, including a highlight-reel sliding save on Phil Kessel early in the third.
The Leafs might have caught a break early in the second period when it appeared that Matt Read scored for Philadelphia. After a quick consultation with the other officials, referee Kevin Pollock waived it off and announced that Bernier had the puck covered.
Bernier was beaten for real at 18:02 of the second. Receiving a pass from Jakub Voracek, Timonen skated to the top of the left circle and snapped a shot in. It was the Finnish Olympian's first goal in 30 career games against Toronto.
Bernier was helpless to stop the Flyers' second goal after Voracek skated behind the net and sent a pass through Toronto defenseman Tim Gleason to Timonen in front. He flipped a backhander over Bernier at 7:19 of the third to make it 2-2.
Raymond made it 3-2 at 13:34 when his shot hit the post and then the back of Mason's right pad. Bodie appeared to knock the puck in by hitting the pad, but he never touched it.
Toronto blew another third-period lead at 17:28 when Coburn's shot through traffic managed found its way past Bernier.
Lupul ended it in overtime, finishing a tic-tac-toe passing play involving Carl Gunnarsson and Dion Phaneuf.
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