Marchand scores 2 as the Panthers reignite their playoff push vs. Maple Leafs with 5-1 win

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Olympic silver medalist Brad Marchand scored twice, Evan Rodrigues got the first short-handed goal of his career and added an assist, and the Florida Panthers resumed their playoff push with a 5-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

Marchand now has 27 goals, tying Sam Reinhart for the team lead. Olympic bronze medalist Anton Lundell had two assists for Florida, while Carter Verhaeghe and gold medalist Matthew Tkachuk also scored for the Panthers — the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions who began the night eight points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots for Florida, which had lost five of its last six games going into the break.

John Tavares scored for Toronto, which started the night six points out of a playoff berth and — like the Panthers — is looking for some late-season magic to get into the postseason. Joseph Woll stopped 31 shots .

Marchand — after watching a celebration of USA Hockey's Olympic gold medal to start the game, a win that came over his Canada club — opened the scoring just 3:18 into the contest, the start of a three-goal opening period for the Panthers.

It was only the second time this season that Florida scored three times in an opening period; it had four goals in the first 20 minutes of an 8-3 win in Nashville on Nov. 24.

Verhaeghe made it 2-0 and Rodrigues — in his 604th career game — got the short-handed tally to make it 3-0. Marchand added an empty-netter with 3:09 left, and Tkachuk got another one with 1:52 remaining.

The game was Florida's 32nd home contest of the season, tied for most in the league. The Panthers are home again Friday, then play 15 of their final 23 games on the road.

Maple Leafs: Host Ottawa on Saturday.

Panthers: Host Buffalo on Friday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, left, defends a shot on the goal by Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Nicholas Robertson (89) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) defends a shot by Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) shake hands before an NHL hockey game honoring the players on the USA team winning the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey broke Allen Iverson's 76ers franchise record for 3-pointers, finishing with five 3s and 28 points Thursday night in Philadelphia's 124-117 victory over the Miami Heat.

Maxey also had 11 assists and helped steady the Sixers after they blew a 16-point halftime lead. Joel Embiid had 26 points and 11 rebounds and Kelly Oubre scored 21 points for Philadelphia, which has won three straight after dropping its previous four.

Bam Adebayo had 29 points and 14 rebounds and Tyler Herro scored 25 points for the Heat, who have lost two straight.

Maxey came in with 882 3-pointers, three behind Iverson, and broke the record with 1:38 left in the first quarter. He made all five of his 3s — a career high for a period — and scored 20 points in the first quarter alone. He finished 5 of 12 beyond the arc.

The 25-year-old Maxey has 887 3-pointers midway through his sixth season; Iverson played his first 10 seasons and parts of two more for the Sixers.

Miami took its first lead of the game on a 3 by Herro with 2:44 left, but the Heat didn't score again. Maxey hit two free throws and then found Kelly Oubre for a 3 to put the Sixers back ahead 121-117. Embiid extended the lead on a 3 with 29.2 seconds remaining.

The Sixers led 73-57 at halftime. Miami rallied to tie it late in the third quarter, and the margin was within single digits the rest of the way.

Heat: Host Houston on Saturday.

76ers: At Boston on Sunday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Miami Heat's Jaime Jaquez Jr., left, looks to make his move against Philadelphia 76ers' VJ Edgecombe, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Miami Heat's Tyler Herro, right, shoots the ball as Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., left, reaches back during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)