5 TAKEAWAYS: Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 1 (OT)

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers picked up a critical point but missed out on a chance to clinch a playoff berth with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leaf at FLA Live Arena on Monday.
Going 6-0-1 over their last seven games to gain control of their playoff destiny, the Panthers, who could clinch prior to Game 82 if they get some help, can punch their ticket with certainty if they defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in any fashion in the regular-season finale on Thursday.
While it'd be nice to clinch before, the Panthers are confident they can take care of business.
"You hoped you could get to that last game and have a chance," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said of the team's late-season push. "You come out and you judge yourself by your performance and your preparation, and it was really, really good. We played a hell of a game."
For a quick recap of the game, click
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.
To read up on five key takeaways for the Cats, continue below.

1. MONTOUR STRIKES AGAIN

Brandon Montour continues to be "Mr. Clutch" for the Panthers.
With the Panthers trailing 1-0 midway through the third period, the high-flying defenseman tied things up when he located a puck in the slot and rifled it into the back of the net to make it 1-1.

"When the grind hits, right? He gets up that ice so very fast," Maurice said. "He's an incredibly fit man. We had him at close to 28 minutes tonight, and none of that's easy against a team like Toronto. You've got to skate. He gets up the ice in the third period and he's got lots in the tank."
Already setting franchise records for points (73) and assists (57) in a season by a defenseman, Montour is now tied with both Aaron Ekblad and Jason Garrison for the most goals with 16. As it stands now, his 73 points, a career high, are tied for third among NHL blueliners this season.
On a seven-game point streak, Montour has tallied three goals and nine assists in that span.
"I just wanted to make the next big play," Montour said of his game-tying goal.

2. STAAL'S BIG PLAYS

While it was Montour that scored, his defensive partner also had a huge game.
After breaking up a 2-on-1 rush earlier in the third period, Marc Staal made another great play later with his stick when he broke up a pass in the defensive zone that eventually led to Montour's goal.
"My partner made a heck of a play in our own end," Montour said.
Suiting up in the 1,100th game of his NHL career, Staal provided the Panthers with smart plays and stout defense every time he touched the ice against the Maple Leafs. Over the 19:13 that he was deployed at 5-on-5, the Panthers led 28-11 in shot attempts and 12-5 in scoring chances.
In addition to his assist on Montour's goal, he also posted three hits and one blocked shot.
"You find that for veteran players this just means more to them," Maurice said when asked about Staal's big night. "The pressure games are just more valuable to them. He was great."
Playing in all 81 games thus far, Staal ranks second on the Panthers with 120 blocked shots.

3. LYON'S STREAK CONTINUES

Alex Lyon has stretched his point streak to seven games.
Helping the Panthers pick up a crucial point, the late-season surprise stopped 23 of 25 shots against the Maple Leafs. Of those saves, eight were labeled high-danger, including his robbery on a golden opportunity for Ryan O'Reilly in the second period to keep the game scoreless.
Starting each of the last seven games after Sergei Bobrovsky was sidelined by a non-COVID illness, Lyon, who'd appeared in just 24 NHL games prior to this season, has posted a 6-0-1 record with a .952 save percentage. In none of those starts did he allow more than two goals.
"If we bring that effort, that's all you can hope for," Lyon said. "I guess my philosophy is just bring your best and let the chips fall where they may. If we bring that, we have nothing be disappointed it about. If we bring it again like that, it's going to make us successful more times than not."

4. CONTROLLING PLAY

Despite not winning, the Panthers looked in control from start to finish against Toronto.
Out-shooting the Maple Leafs in all three periods of regulation, Florida finished with advantages in shot attempts (69-44), shots on goal (38-22) and scoring chances (25-18) at 5-on-5.
Based on those numbers, they also led 3.01-2.36 in expected goals.
"That's a good hockey team over there," Montour said. "They obviously brought it. Guys played well. That game could've gone either way. They had chances, we had chances."
In terms of individual lines, the trio of Matthew Tkachuk, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen had a particularly strong game. When they were deployed a 5-on-5, the Panthers fired off nine scoring chances while surrendering just one. They also controlled 74.96% of expected goals.
"I thought we were pretty darn consistent straight through," Maurice said.

5. SAMSONOV STANDS TALL

If not for Ilya Samsonov, the Panthers likely would've easily pocketed another point.
Looking nearly unbeatable at times, the Maple Leafs goaltender finished with 45 saves. Prior to finally letting in a goal in the third period, he stopped all 31 shots he saw in the first two frames.
In overtime, Samsonov saved the game for Toronto when he sprawled out to deny a one-timer from Tkachuk.
"A lot of credit to Ilya, he did a great job tonight," Lyon said when asked about the goaltending duel that took place. "That team stuck in there, so credit to them. We played great tonight."
Of Samsonov's 45 saves, nine were considered high-danger.
"He made some big saves," Montour said. "I think he's obviously played pretty well this season. They've got a good goalie back there. They close in, they play tight. They give him a lot of help."
\All advanced statistics courtesy of NaturalStatTrick.com*