SUNRISE — For the first 20 minutes on Tuesday night, it looked like the Toronto Maple Leafs really did want Florida after all as they scored twice in the first against the Panthers.
Apparently not.
The Panthers scored four in the second period off 29 shots on goal and took down the Leafs 5-2.
The win gave the Panthers the Atlantic Division title and, instead of playing Toronto in the first round, a date with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The third playoff series between the Panthers and Lightning in history — all since 2021 — is expected to start Sunday in Sunrise.
Florida won the division by virtue of beating the Leafs but also thanks to Boston coasting in its final two games and allowing the Panthers to take the Lightning.
The Bruins lost Monday in Washington and again Tuesday to the struggling Senators.
Boston will now play the Maple Leafs in Round 1.
Florida trailed 2-0 going into the second before Carter Verhaeghe scored 27 seconds in.
Midway through the second, Sam Bennett tied the score on a deflect of a shot from Gus Forsling.
Before fans could stop screaming, Sam Reinhart pounced on a loose puck and made it 3-2 just 10 seconds later.
Brandon Montour capped off the dominant second with a shot from the point.
Florida closed the scoring on Reinhart’s 57th of the season into an empty net with 2:20 left to play.
1. Sam Reinhart, Florida
2. Carter Verhaeghe, Florida
3. Brandon Montour, Florida
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