Bryan McCabe saved his current team from losing to his former team last night by scoring 3:30 into overtime, completing an outstanding comeback and keeping the Panthers on track for the playoffs. Florida again struggled against an opponent they shouldn’t have too much trouble with, but overcame a 2 goal deficit in the 3rd period to win in overtime.

The Panthers were out hustled through the first 2 periods of the game, with Toronto controlling the game and the scoreboard. Toronto struck first in the 1st period, scoring at 10:52 to take a 1-0 lead. Late in the period, at 18:53 Gregory Campbell pulled Florida even at 1-1. However, Toronto would find the back of the net again just 47 seconds later (with 20 seconds left in the period) to go up 2-1.

The 2nd period was a little more evenly played, but Toronto would be the only side to find the net scoring at 2:11 of the period. The Maple Leafs would take a 3-1 lead into the 3rd period, but the Panthers would finally find their touch and steal the win from Toronto. Stephen Weiss scored early, at 2:21 of the 3rd, to give his team hope with a 3-2 score. The Panthers would leave it till late however, with Cory Stillman scoring with 53 seconds left in the game to tie it at 3-3 and force overtime.

In the overtime session the Panthers were the more aggressive of the two sides, outshooting Toronto 3-1. 3:30 into the OT session, Bryan McCabe sent a slap shot toward the goal that trickled past Toronto’s goalie. The goal was McCabe’s 10th of the season and gave Florida a 4-3 win.

After a dismal effort in a loss to the Islanders over the weekend, the Panthers looked headed for a similar defeat last night until they woke up and perhaps saved their post season dreams. Another loss, this time to a team with in shooting distance of the playoffs, would have been damaging to Florida’s hopes of making the playoffs. Most importantly, the Panther not only showed the resolve to claw back into the game last night, but went a step further and won in overtime. Last nights win was important as the road gets more difficult from here on out with several games in a row against playoff contenders.