On a night that belonged to Eric Lindros, the Philadelphia Flyers paid tribute to the Hall of Fame centre with a gritty comeback.
Sean Couturier scored 18 seconds into overtime and the Flyers rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Thursday after retiring Lindros' No. 88 jersey.
"A huge comeback win on a special night," said rookie Nolan Patrick, who scored his first goal in 25 games.
Couturier continued his hot streak with his eighth goal in six games. He took a feed from Travis Konecny and beat Frederik Andersen with a wrist shot.
Couturier's 26th goal and 46th point in his already career-best season lifted the Flyers to their fifth win in six games.
"Coots is playing on another level right now," Flyers defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere said. "We're trying to match it. He's definitely carrying us."
Sean Couturier scored just 18 seconds into overtime to complete the Flyers comeback as they top the Maple Leafs 3-2 . 1:41
Patrick, Simmonds answer for Flyers
Patrick and Wayne Simmonds scored early in the third period for the Flyers. Michal Neuvirth stopped 29 shots in just his second start since Nov. 28, including a sprawling pad save on Patrick Marleau with 2:48 left in regulation.
"Three at least 10-bell saves by Neuvy," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said of his backup goalie. "I don't think that's lost on anybody in the building and certainly in the dressing room. He was tremendous."
Fourth-liners Connor Brown and Frederik Gauthier scored 28 seconds apart in the second period for Toronto in its season-high fourth straight loss. Andersen made 34 saves.
Lindros had his No. 88 raised to the rafters in a pregame ceremony before the Flyers game against the Maple Leafs 3:33
Toronto, in a 2-3-4 stretch, last won in regulation on Dec. 28 at Arizona, and Andersen let his teammates have it.
"I don't think we're tired. I think it's a lack of effort at certain points," he said. "It's something that can't happen. If we want to play any meaningful hockey later, we need to figure it out."
Patrick ended Philadelphia's streak of seven unanswered goals allowed with an unassisted tally 2:07 into the third. It was the third of the season for the 19-year-old forward, the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft.
The Flyers tied it just over a minute later with only their second short-handed goal of the season, with Simmonds picking up his 16th goal with Jori Lehtera in the box.
'Something to learn'
Toronto dominated the second period. Brown scored on a breakaway at 12:57 after Gostisbehere's giveaway in the neutral zone. The 22-year-old Gauthier then made it 2-0 with his first goal of the season and No. 3 for his career.
"We can't let the lead go every time we are up by one or two goals," Gauthier said. "There's something to learn here."
The Flyers had more energy late on an emotional night for the franchise.
The big and skilful Lindros, who grew up watching the hometown Maple Leafs in Ontario, spent eight seasons with the Flyers. He won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 1995 and helped Philadelphia reach the Stanley Cup Final two years later.
Back on good terms with the organization after an ugly 2001 departure, Lindros received several standing ovations before his number was hoisted to the rafters in a ceremony that delayed the start by an hour.
Lindros attended Flyers practice Wednesday and the morning skate before the game, spending time with veterans Simmonds and Jakub Voracek and marveling about how the game has evolved.
"Those guys are just machines," Lindros said. "They're built for speed. The hands and skill level of today's player is far greater than even five years ago."
As Lindros watched from a suite, the Flyers improved to just 3-8 in overtime.
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Travis Konecny carried the puck into the Maple Leafs zone and passed across to Couturier, who scored his 26th of the season.
PHILADELPHIA -- Sean Couturier scored 18 seconds into overtime to give the Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.
"Lately, it seems like every time I shoot the puck it seems to find the back of the net," said Couturier, who has 11 goals in his past 12 games. "That's what I'm trying to do, keep shooting the puck every time I can get it off, get it on net and try to get a goal, and things are going my way."
[WATCH: All Maple Leafs vs. Flyers highlights]
Nolan Patrick and Wayne Simmonds scored in the third period for the Flyers (21-16-8), and Michal Neuvirth made 29 saves.
Video: TOR@PHI: Simmonds one-times Filppula's pass for SHG
It was Philadelphia's fourth straight home win and fifth in six games. The Flyers had a four-game winning streak end with a 5-1 loss at the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
Connor Brown and Frederik Gauthier scored for the Maple Leafs (25-17-5), and Frederik Andersen made 34 saves. It was Toronto's fourth straight loss (0-1-3), all by one goal.
"We've got to regroup, we've got to figure out who wants to commit to playing as a team," Andersen said. "... We've got to look at the attitude. We played well enough for two periods, but we've got to find a way to keep the foot on the gas the whole game. We can't be satisfied with two periods."
The Maple Leafs led 2-0 entering the third period, but the Flyers scored twice early in the period to tie the game. Toronto was 15-1-1 when leading entering the third, and Philadelphia was 1-12-2 when trailing.
Video: TOR@PHI: Gauthier puts loose puck past Neuvirth
"It's huge for us," Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. "Coming off a loss like that (against the Rangers), going down 2-0 (against the Maple Leafs), it was huge for our team to get back and have a huge third period and finish it off in overtime."
Patrick started Philadelphia's rally when he stripped the puck from forward Mitchell Marner to the left of the Toronto net and beat Andersen to the far side at 1:33 to make it 2-1. It ended a 24-game goal drought for Patrick.
"Slumping for a while there," Patrick said. "I tried to forget how many games in a row and just play. Thought I've been playing good hockey lately."
Couturier said it was good to see Patrick get the goal that started the comeback.
"It was huge, especially early in the third," he said. "Gave us some wings, gave us a chance to get back in the game. Especially coming from him. Kind of got that monkey off his back. Nice to see him contribute ... especially lately, he's been working pretty hard, playing well. It's nice to see him rewarded like that."
Video: TOR@PHI: Neuvirth splits to make fantastic early save
Simmonds finished a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush with Valtteri Filppula to tie it 2-2 at 3:25.
Brown made it 1-0 after Gostisbehere failed to hold the puck in the Maple Leafs zone. Brown broke in alone on Neuvirth and scored between the goaltender's legs at 12:57 of the second.
Gauthier's first of the season gave the Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead. Jake Gardiner got the puck on left side of the Flyers zone and threw it into traffic in front of the net. The puck popped in the air, and Gauthier found it and scored at 13:25.
Goal of the game
Couturier's goal 18 seconds into overtime.
Video: TOR@PHI: Couturier slots home game-winner in overtime
Save of the game
Neuvirth stopping Patrick Marleau with his right pad with 2:48 left in the third period.
Video: TOR@PHI: Neuvirth stretches to rob Marleau
Highlight of the game
Patrick's goal 1:33 into the third period.
Video: TOR@PHI: Patrick steals puck and pots wraparound
They said it
"We got a game two days from now so we should all walk out of here feeling terrible, but we'll get through that. Let's get up in the morning, let's go to practice. We're in a great spot in the League, we like our team, so let's play the best we can." -- Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock
"Our mindset is they can score two in a minute, why can't we? We had a full period to do it. It's a big comeback win for us." -- Flyers forward Nolan Patrick
Need to know
Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov played his 300th NHL game. ... Toronto's four-game losing streak is its longest since it lost five straight Feb. 23-March 3 (0-2-3). ... Simmonds has four goals and two assists during a six-game point streak. ... Prior to the game, the Flyers retired No. 88 to honor Hockey Hall of Famer Eric Lindros, who played his first eight NHL seasons with the Flyers (1992-2000) and played for the Maple Leafs in 2005-06.
What's next
Maple Leafs: At the Ottawa Senators on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, CITY, TVA Sports 2, NHL.TV)
Flyers: Host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; NBCSP, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Video: Couturier scores in OT as Flyers rally past Leafs
