Read the reports from Wednesday’s NHL games.
Senators score three goals in third period to clinch victory in Toronto
Claude Giroux scored two goals and added an assist and the Ottawa Senators scored three times in the third period to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Wednesday.
This is only a second victory in three weeks for the club from the Canadian capital, which remains in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-6-0 record.
Dominik Kubalik also scored twice for the Senators, while Tim Stutzle hit the target once in addition to being complicit in three goals for his team.
Jakob Chychrun had a goal and an assist for the Senators, who had lost two straight games and five of their last six in regulation.
Quebecer Mathieu Joseph collected three assists. Joonas Korpisalo made 27 saves.
William Nylander, Tyler Bertuzzi and Nick Robertson responded for the Maple Leafs. John Tavares had two assists and Joseph Woll blocked 21 pucks.
Nylander thus extended the record for games with at least one point at the start of a campaign in Maple Leafs history to 13.
Kubalik broke a 3-3 tie on the power play at 11:56 in the third period when his pass in the slot ricocheted off the skate of Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano.
The Senators made it 5-3 just 45 seconds later when Stutzle completed a passing play. He has three goals this season.
Woll then committed a turnover behind his net, and Stutzle took the opportunity to find Giroux in front of the cage. The Senators scored three times in 3:11 of play.
The Maple Leafs suffered a fifth loss in six games, after ending a four-game losing streak by beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-5 in overtime on Monday.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
The Panthers defeat the Capitals 4-3
PHOTO GEOFF BURKE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Panthers players celebrate at the end of the game.
Evan Rodrigues tied the game early in the third, Sam Reinhart scored 15 seconds into overtime and the Florida Panthers came from behind to defeat the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Wednesday.
This is a second straight victory for the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
Defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson and captain Aleksander Barkov also lit the red light for the Panthers. Two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves and is hardly to blame for the three goals he gave up.
The Panthers, who have been without top defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour so far this season as they recover from shoulder surgeries, and more recently without Sam Bennett, are among the best NHL defensive teams.
They won a third match in four outings.
The Capitals ended their five-game home streak on a bad note despite two goals from Quebecer Anthony Mantha, another shorthanded goal from Connor McMichael and two assists from Aliaksei Protas.
Mantha left the game in a panic in the third after taking a puck to the side of his face. He did not return afterwards.
Darcy Kuemper allowed four goals on 25 shots, including one after a turnover by young defenseman Alexander Alexeyev.
Alexander Ovechkin is stuck at two goals, matching his worst total after 11 games (2008-09) as he tries to join Wayne Gretzky as the No. 1 goal scorer in NHL history.
The Panthers will host the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, in a rematch of the East final in the last playoff tournament. The same day, the Capitals will visit the New Jersey Devils.
Stephen Whyno, Associated Press