Panthers rout the Maple Leafs 6-1 to take a 3-2 series lead

TORONTO (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves, three Florida defensemen scored and the Panthers routed the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The defending champion Panthers scored three times in a 7:53 span of the second period to pull away for their third straight victory.

“I wasn’t thinking about it too much,” Bobrovsky said when asked about opening the series with two losses. “I was just focusing on the next game.”

Game 6 is Friday night in Sunrise, Florida.

“I’m not a big believer in momentum,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “The series is closer than you think.”

Jesper Boqvist returned to score his first career playoff goal and also had an assist, and defensemen Aaron Ekblad, Dmitry Kulikov and Niko Mikkola also scored in the first two periods. In the third, A.J. Greer had his first career playoff goal and Sam Bennett added his sixth of the playoffs.

Bobrovsky missed a chance for his second straight shutout when Nicholas Robertson swept the puck in with 1:06 left for Toronto's first goal in 143 minutes 25 seconds. After a 5-4 overtime victory Friday night in Game 3, Bobrovsky made 23 saves Sunday night in a 2-0 victory.

“We have trust in Bob that you wouldn’t believe," Ekblad said. "It is unwavering.”

Joseph Woll stopped 20 of 25 shots for Toronto before giving way to Matt Murray after Greer's goal at 6:23 of the third. Murray made six saves on seven shots.

“I don’t think there’s really any excuse or explanation,” Toronto captain Auston Matthews said. “We’ve got to win a game to keep our season alive.”

Ekblad opened the scoring with 5:22 left in the first period, firing a wrist shot past Woll off a scramble.

Kulikov began the second-period spree at 6:08 with a slap shot from the right point that Toronto's Scott Laughton inadvertently deflected past Woll.

Boqvist, back in the lineup in place of the injured Evan Rodrigues after being a healthy scratch for two games, scored with 9:55 remaining. Boqvist finished at the left post off San Reinhart's cross-ice feed. Mikkola made it 4-0 with 5:59 left with a slapper from the left side.

Rodrigues was hurt on a hit from Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Game 4 that drew an interference penalty. With Rodrigues out, Boqvist slotted into a spot alongside Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov.

“It was a good opportunity for me,” Boqvist said. “I enjoyed it, and it probably helped I was playing with two of the best players in the world.”

Toronto added forwards Nick Robertson and David Kampf and sat Calle Jarnkrok and Pontus Holmberg. Robertson last played in Game 2 of the first round. Kampf dressed for the first time since April 2 when he was injured against Florida.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Florida Panthers' Jonah Gadjovich (12) is held back by linesman Kiel Murchison (79) as he goes after Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) pokes the puck away from Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) as he tries to move past Panthers' Gustav Forsling (42) during first period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers' Jesper Boqvist (70) scores on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during second period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) hits Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) in front of teammate Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Tavares received a roughing penalty on the play. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers' Jonah Gadjovich (12) is held back by linesman Kiel Murchison (79) as he goes after Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with Sam Reinhart (13) during first period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Oswin Appollis fired South Africa into the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Zimbabwe, while Egypt star Mohamed Salah got a rest.

The Bafana Bafana progressed in second place in Group B, behind already-qualified Egypt, which drew 0-0 with Angola in Agadir. Both final group games were played at the same time.

With his team already through, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan rested his regulars including Salah, Omar Marmoush, and Trézéguet. They’re set to return for the Pharaohs’ first knockout game, also in Agadir, against a third-place finisher from Groups A, C or D on Jan. 5.

South Africa needed a win in Marrakech to be sure of progress without relying on a favor from Egypt. But Zimbabwe twice came from behind and pushed for an equalizer late on.

Tshepang Moremi gave South Africa an early lead thanks to a deflection from Zimbabwe defender Divine Lunga taking it over the helpless goalkeeper.

Tawanda Maswanhise replied in the 19th with a brilliant individual goal, leaving defenders in his wake before firing the ball into the bottom corner.

Lyle Foster headed South Africa’s second early in the second half after a mix-up between Lunga and goalkeeper Washington Arubi.

An own-goal from Aubrey Modiba drew the Warriors level again in the 73rd to set up an exciting finale.

But they weren’t expecting Marvelous Nakamba to concede a penalty for handball instead of heading it, and Appollis duly converted the penalty in the 82nd.

South Africa awaits results in Group F as it will play the second-placed finisher from that group – Ivory Coast, Cameroon or Mozambique – on Sunday.

Later Sunday, host nation Morocco played Zambia in Group A, and Mali faced Comoros.

The Morocco players were cheered when they took their first walk out on the field before the game. Team captain Achraf Hakimi appealed for supporters to stop whistling the team on Sunday. He’s expected to play after recovering from an ankle injury.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Angola's Beni Mukendi and Egypt's Mahmoud Saber compete for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Angola's Gelson Dala, right, controls the ball past Egypt's Ahmed Zizo during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Angola's Gelson Dala, right, kicks the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Egypt's Mohamed Salah, center, smiles as he sits on the bench ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)