Panthers 4, Maple Leafs 1: Brandon Pirri continued his torrid goal-scoring run with a pair of tallies as visiting Florida kept its playoff hopes alive while handing Toronto its seventh straight loss.

Pirri's second multi-goal game of the season paced the Panthers, who moved within three points of Ottawa and Boston for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman Steven Kampfer also scored, Aleksander Barkov added two assists and Roberto Luongo made 24 saves for Florida.

Sam Carrick's first career NHL goal provided the lone offense for the Maple Leafs, who fell four points behind Carolina for second-last in the Eastern Conference. Jonathan Bernier was pulled late in the second period after surrendering three goals on 16 shots and his replacement James Reimer turned aside all 11 shots he faced.

Huberdeau put the Panthers on the board 4:23 into the second period, securing a Barkov drop pass at the top of the right circle and snapping a shot past Bernier. Kampfer doubled the lead 30 seconds later, wiring a shot from the bottom of the circle past Bernier's shoulder.

Pirri ended Bernier's night with 5:26 remaining in the frame as his shot squeaked between Bernier's pads. Carrick ended the Toronto goose-egg near the midway point of the third, converting a Morgan Rielly feed from point-blank range, but Pirri iced things with his 20th of the season into an empty net.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Maple Leafs had a season-high seven of their own drafted players in the lineup - including Carrick, selected in the fifth round of the 2010 draft. ... Pirri has 17 goals in his past 22 games, while recording just one assist over that span. ... Toronto outhit the visitors 37-21 and won 40 of 61 faceoffs on the night.