Instant Replay: Maple Leafs 4, Flyers 3 (OT)

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The Flyers’ grip on the Eastern Conference’s final playoff berth is gone.

As the Bruins wrapped up an authoritative 5-2 win over the Red Wings on Thursday night, the Flyers stumbled at home with a 4-3 overtime loss to the hapless Maple Leafs, dropping their third game in a row.

Jake Gardiner scored the winner at 2:51 of overtime after Andrew MacDonald was called for tripping to give Toronto a four-on-three man advantage.

It could have been worse, though, as the Flyers trailed 3-1 entering the final stanza but found a way to earn a point by forcing the extra session. They now trail Boston by one point for the second wild-card spot (see standings).

Wayne Simmonds scored the equalizer on a deflection with 58 seconds left in the third and Steve Mason on the bench. MacDonald brought the Flyers within one on a snap shot at 8:33.

The last time the Flyers (39-27-14) lost three straight was Feb. 6-9.

The Maple Leafs (29-41-11), who entered with an NHL-low 67 points, were 1-6-0 in their last seven games and played Wednesday night. In fact, the Maple Leafs were just 3-10-2 in the second game of back-to-back situations this season.

The Bruins close the regular season on Saturday (12:30 p.m.) at home against the Senators. Boston currently owns the second tiebreaker over the Flyers with 38 regulation/overtime wins to the Flyers’ 36.

Notable goals
The Flyers twice hung Mason out to dry as the Maple Leafs scored on a pair of point-blank looks.

The first came when Toronto gained possession in its own zone and charged the other way. Colin Greening got behind the Flyers’ defense, received an outlet pass from William Nylander and beat Mason one-on-one for a 2-0 lead at 15:03 of the first period.

Nylander opened the game’s scoring 5:28 into the action by burying an easy goal off a beautiful cross-ice pass from Martin Marincin.

Stuck in a 2-0 hole, the Flyers came out with energy in the second period and cut the deficit to one just 29 seconds into the stanza. Sean Couturier stopped on a dime and hit Brayden Schenn with a highlight-reel reverse pass to make it 2-1, giving Schenn his 26th goal of the season.

But Toronto quelled the momentum shift with another breakaway. With the Flyers threatening to tie the game, Wayne Simmonds had a pass intercepted by Michael Grabner, who raced up ice and beat Mason for a 3-1 lead midway through the second.

Goalie report
Mason, making his 16th start in the last 17 games, had little help. He finished with 22 saves on 26 shots.

Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier was outstanding, making 41 saves. He weathered a furious storm by the Flyers in the second period, stopping 15 shots to stake Toronto to a two-goal advantage at second intermission.

He topped his second-period performance with 18 saves in the third.

Power play
After scoring 29 seconds into the second period, cutting Toronto’s lead to 2-1, the Flyers went on a four-minute man advantage courtesy of a high-sticking penalty by Tobias Lindberg.

Despite numerous looks, the Flyers came up empty. It appeared they tied the game at 16:31 when a Jakub Voracek shot in traffic found its way past Bernier, but it was immediately waved off by officials.

Dave Hakstol challenged the ruling, but to no avail.

The Maple Leafs fed off the kill, ballooning their lead back to two on Grabner’s takeaway and goal.

All in all, the Flyers went a costly 0 for 4 on the power play.

The Maple Leafs went 1 for 2, the goal coming as the game-winner.

Penalty kill
Toronto entered with the 29th-ranked power play but the Flyers couldn’t keep it off the board in overtime.

The Maple Leafs quieted the Flyers, including the massive four-minute power play in the second.

Roster moves
Michal Neuvirth returned to the lineup and backed up Steve Mason (see story).

To make room on the roster, Anthony Stolarz was sent back to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley (see story).

Awards
The Flyers presented their annual end-of-the-regular-season hardware.

Here are the winners:

Bobby Clarke Trophy — team MVP: Claude Giroux

Toyota Cup — most stars of the game: Claude Giroux

Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy — most improved player: Brayden Schenn

Yanick Dupre Class Guy Award — Flyer with character, dignity and respect on and off the ice: Wayne Simmonds

Barry Ashbee Trophy — outstanding defenseman: Shayne Gostisbehere

Gene Hart Memorial Award — Flyer who demonstrates most heart: Shayne Gositsbehere.

Scratches
Nick Cousins sat out for the first time in 31 games. He was replaced by Scott Laughton, who compiled 8:12 of ice time in his first game action since March 22.

Other healthy scratches for the Flyers included: Centers Jordan Weal and R.J. Umberger, defenseman Evgeny Medvedev and goalies Ray Emery and Alex Lyon.

Next up
The Flyers finish the regular season with another back-to-back set.

They take on the Penguins Saturday at home before traveling to Brooklyn to face the Islanders Sunday.

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