Mitchell Marner had a goal and an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs avoided elimination on Wednesday, handing the Florida Panthers a 2-1 loss.
Led 3-1 by the Panthers, the series will continue Friday night in Toronto.
Marner was instrumental in William Nylander’s power-play goal at 3:29 into the middle period.
Nylander hadn’t scored in their last seven games. Patrolling in front of the opposing goal, he gave his team a 1-0 lead with a backhand just inside the right post.
The puck veered towards him after deflecting against a knee from official Jon McIsaac, when Michael Bunting wanted to send the puck across the ice.
Marner then scored with a wrist shot from around the blue line at 10:03 into the third period.
Sam Reinhart put the suspense at 12:14 by beating Joseph Woll from the slot, during a power play.
Posted at the left mouth, Matthew Tkachuk made a short pass and Reinhart pushed a shot into the promised land which was initially partially stopped.
Woll made 24 saves, one more than Sergei Bobrovsky.
Woll got his first career playoff start.
Marner and Tkachuk lead with 11 assists apiece since the start of the playoffs — tied with Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers.
The last time Toronto was swept in the Formula Four of Seven, the sweep came from the Montreal Canadiens in 1979.
The Panthers have never managed a sweep.
Playing in the second round for the first time since 2004, the Maple Leafs have lost their last three home games.