Ad Blocker Placeholder
WED FEB 26
12:00 AM
DAL
-190
CLB
T: 6
Preview
12:00 AM
CGY
T: 6
WSH
-200
Preview
12:00 AM
CAR
-220
MTL
T: 6
Preview
12:00 AM
TOR
-155
BOS
T: 6
Preview
12:00 AM
ANA
T: 6
BUF
-190
Preview
12:00 AM
PIT
T: 5.5
PHI
-120
Preview
12:30 AM
NYR
-120
NYI
T: 6
Preview
12:30 AM
EDM
-110
TB
T: 6.5
Preview
1:00 AM
SEA
T: 5.5
STL
-150
Preview
1:00 AM
DET
T: 5.5
MIN
-120
Preview
1:00 AM
FLA
-160
NSH
T: 6
Preview
2:00 AM
CHI
T: 6.5
UTA
-275
Preview

Gregor unlikely hero as Maple Leafs steal shootout win: 'Never seen that before'

TORONTO — Joseph Woll had already returned to the dressing room, figuring the game had squeaked under his pad with a shootout loss.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans had begun filing out of Scotiabank Arena disappointed, believing they'd seen their squad drop a third straight game, this one to the Florida Panthers, those same rugged villains who snuffed out their playoff dreams on this same sheet.

Noah Gregor was walking down the tunnel, preparing for a quiet room and a stall in the standings.

Then Morgan Rielly piped up and informed Gregor to turn around and head back to the ice. Because Evan Rodrigues' apparent 2-1 shootout winner had been reviewed by the NHL's situation room and been ruled a "double-tap" (peep the overhead view).

"Is that what it's called?" Rielly said.

No goal.

"I think it's good we have rules," Panthers coach Paul Maurice would later deadpan in mock approval.

Maple Leafs stun Panthers in shootout after Rodrigues has winner called back
Watch as a showdown between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers comes to a wild finish, as Evan Rodrigues' apparent shootout winner gets called back, allowing Noah Gregor to score and Joseph Woll to seal the deal against Nick Cousins.
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 3:07
Loaded: 5.34%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 3:07
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected

    Technology and technicality had gifted the home team a mulligan.

    "Only in Toronto," muttered one Panther, who had to swivel from the victory music and head back to the bench.

    The Scotiabank Arena game operations staffers responsible for unfurling the giant Maple Leafs flag after wins raced around the rink's bowels excited and confused, trying to get back in position.

    It was then that coach Sheldon Keefe single-tapped Gregor — the Leafs' only goal-scorer goin' up on a Tuesday — and informed the fourth-liner he'd be shooter No. 11.

    A valued extra point on his blade and a chance to flip a 2-1 final in Toronto's favour.

    Gregor circled wide left, cut right, and ripped a puck clean and high over the rock-solid Anthony Stolarz's blocker. So smooth and sharp, you wouldn't guess that was the 25-year-old's first-ever NHL shootout attempt.

    Fortune flipped. Improbable hero crowned.

    "I'd never seen that before," Gregor admitted. "It's a crazy end to the game, but fortunately we ended up on top."

    Maple Leafs escape with shootout win, but suffer another loss on defence
    Luke Fox and Shawn McKenzie discuss the Toronto Maple Leafs' strange shootout win over the Florida Panthers, Joseph Woll holding the fort, and why they have to wait before they can shore up their defence.
    Video Player is loading.
    Current Time 0:00
    Duration 1:54
    Loaded: 0.00%
    Stream Type LIVE
    Remaining Time 1:54
     
    1x
      • Chapters
      • descriptions off, selected
      • captions off, selected
      • en (Main), selected

      Were it not for video replay and Gregor's two slick snipes — his unassisted game-tying rush in regulation was even prettier — and goalie Joseph Woll's steady 31-save performance, the Maple Leafs surely would have lost this one to the Cats, who didn't appear the least bit tired from Monday's penalty-filled affair in Ottawa.

      The Leafs stole one, and Gregor sped off in the getaway car.

      "Great. I mean, he scored some beauties. He can fly once he gets going on the outside, and obviously a great night for him with two big goals," Rielly said.

      Added William Nylander: "Speed and work ethic. I mean, obviously he's scored some really nice goals this year. He's a tremendous guy, too. And you see the speed that he has, and the way he scores on that left flank."

      Gregor, we'll remind, arrived in this city for training camp as GM Brad Treliving's lone tryout invitee, unqualified by sad-sack San Jose and determined to skate his way into a near-minimum-wage NHL contract.

      Quietly consistent, he has generated rush chances with his fleet feet and tried to improve his raw penalty-killing skills.

      Maple Leafs' Gregor snipes bar down shot to beat Panthers' Stolarz
      Watch as Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor scoops up the puck and charges down the ice to snipe the puck off the crossbar and into the net over the shoulder of Florida Panthers goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
      Video Player is loading.
      Current Time 0:00
      Duration 1:05
      Loaded: 0.00%
      Stream Type LIVE
      Remaining Time 1:05
       
      1x
        • Chapters
        • descriptions off, selected
        • captions off, selected
        • en (Main), selected

        Many of those scoring opportunities, though, have resulted in an errant shot or an easy save from a bad angle. Knowing that, the career seven per cent shooter has spent time with Nik Antropov, Denver Manderson and Guy Boucher reviewing video and refining his offensive skills.

        To be an extra beat patient. To trust his ability to slip defenders wide and earn a better look for himself.

        "Just trying to protect the puck and make a good shot," Gregor said. "Create as much space as you can. I think sometimes I might rush a shot where I have a little more time than I think I do.

        "But it's hard in that moment, too. You're going with a lot of speed; things happen quick out there. So, you don't always have time to look up and see how much time you have, but that's definitely something I'm working on."

        That work paid off on a night where the Leafs started in the mud, lost another player to injury, and were at grave risk of getting trounced once again by the Panthers in their own barn.

        "It's awesome to see for him," Woll said. "You know, we have a lot a lot of big names in the locker room, but to go far and to win a Stanley Cup, we need everyone. And he really stepped up for us, which is cool to see."

        An unlikely hero capping off a rare rule enforcement.

        "That's a first," Rielly said. "We'll take it."

        And speed off.

        • Mitch Marner blocked a deflected Matthew Tkachuk shot with his jawline in Period 1 and immediately skated off to the room.

        He returned in a full cage for the second period.

        "It's awesome to see a guy come back like that," Woll said. "Throw the cage on, and he's ready to go."

        Maple Leafs' Marner heads to locker room after getting hit up high by puck
        Watch as Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner is shaken up and heads straight to the locker room after taking a point shot from Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk in the head area during the first period.
        Video Player is loading.
        Current Time 0:00
        Duration 0:52
        Loaded: 18.82%
        Stream Type LIVE
        Remaining Time 0:52
         
        1x
          • Chapters
          • descriptions off, selected
          • captions off, selected
          • en (Main), selected

          • The Maple Leafs had 21 giveaways and five takeaways.

          The Panthers had five giveaways and 13 takeaways.

          Toronto's breakout issues get exacerbated against aggressive forecheck teams like this one.

          • Already missing Timothy Liljegren (high ankle) and John Klingberg (hip) long term, the Maple Leafs lost another top-six defenceman when Mark Giordano (upper body) left the game midway through the first period.

          Keefe believes the 40-year-old will "miss time" and that the Leafs will likely practise with fewer than six D-men Wednesday as some of the healthy guys nurse bumps and bruises.

          Treliving is already exploring the trade market, but he'll have competition from the Vancouver Canucks.

          The Canucks shed forward Anthony Beauvillier to cap-flush Chicago Tuesday and is also hunting for a D-man.

          Max Domi lost his fight to Sam Bennett, but reminded the victor who can grow more hair:

          Panthers' Bennett drops the gloves after Maple Leafs' Domi takes a shot in the scrum
          Watch as the Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett and the Toronto Maple Leafs' Max Domi get into it, minutes after Domi throws a punch at Bennett amid a scrum.
          Video Player is loading.
          Current Time 0:00
          Duration 1:24
          Loaded: 0.00%
          Stream Type LIVE
          Remaining Time 1:24
           
          1x
            • Chapters
            • descriptions off, selected
            • captions off, selected
            • en (Main), selected

            • Maurice on the Panthers' perfect six-for-six penalty kill: "We had lots of opportunity to practise it tonight, and we were really, really good with it."

            NHL NEWS

            More Headlines

            COMMENTS

            When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.