Panthers Lose 4-1 to Maple Leafs, Extend Skid to Three

Sunrise, Florida (AP) — The Florida Panthers, fresh off back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night at Amerant Bank Arena, extending their skid to three straight losses overall and four consecutive at home. The loss dropped the defending champions to last place in the Eastern Conference with a 12-12-1 record and 25 points through 25 games, nearly one-third into the season.

Toronto struck twice early in the first period to seize control. Defenseman Troy Stecher opened the scoring at 5:24, wristing a shot from the right point through a screen after a pass from Bobby McMann, with Dakota Joshua assisting. Just 2:30 later, McMann and Stecher combined to set up Joshua for a goal in front, lifting the puck over goalie Sergei Bobrovsky's pad following a turnover by Florida's Jeff Petry. Bobrovsky steadied thereafter, keeping the Panthers within striking distance.

Florida responded in the second period with a shorthanded tally at 14:43, during a power play for the Leafs. Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart regained possession after an initial rush failed, with Lundell chipping the puck in front and Reinhart redirecting it past Toronto...