SUNRISE, Fla. — In an impressive display, the Florida Panthers triumphed over the Toronto Maple Leafs with a decisive 5-1 victory on Wednesday night. This marked just the Panthers’ second win in the last eight encounters.

Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe both contributed power-play goals, while Sam Reinhart managed to net a short-handed goal. Additionally, Mackie Samoskevich found the back of the net, and Sam Bennett finished the scoring with an empty-netter. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky recorded 24 saves for the Panthers, with Verhaeghe also excelling by adding two assists to his tally.

For the Maple Leafs, Mitch Marner was the lone scorer, but the team faced its second defeat in nine games. This loss has now decreased their lead in the Atlantic Division over the Panthers to just one point. In net for Toronto, Anthony Stolarz made 19 saves. The Maple Leafs also suffered a setback as forward Bobby McMann exited the game in the second period due to a lower-body injury.

**Key Takeaways**
The Maple Leafs celebrated a special occasion earlier in the day, as Stolarz, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and forward Steven Lorentz — all former Panthers — received their Stanley Cup championship rings in a ceremony. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, general manager Bill Zito, and several players attended to honor their previous teammates. “Worth the wait,” expressed Lorentz.

On the flip side, the Panthers were without Anton Lundell, who was sidelined after a puck struck his face in a game on Monday. Although Lundell participated in the morning skate prior to the game, he did not make it into the lineup.

**Key Moments**
Samoskevich’s goal at the 50-second mark of the first period solidified the Panthers’ lead at 2-0, following Barkov’s earlier score. This outcome is positive for the Panthers, as they now maintain a perfect 4-0-0 record when Samoskevich finds the net.

**Key Statistics**
Notably, Reinhart has recorded four short-handed goals this season, making him a standout player. The only other team with as many short-handed goals this year is Columbus, while 20 NHL teams have achieved no more than one short-handed goal thus far.

**Looking Ahead**
Next on the schedule, the Maple Leafs will travel to Tampa Bay for a game on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Panthers are set to visit Carolina on Friday, initiating a home-and-home series that will see a rematch in Sunrise on Saturday.