Maple Leafs captain John Tavares welcomed birth of his daughter, hours before scoring OT winner against Lightning

John Tavares, the 14-year NHL veteran, is doing just fine after scoring a series-clinching goal to lead the Maple Leafs into the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2004.

John Tavares, the family man, is doing even better after he became a father for the third time on the weekend.

“It’s been busy, so it’s been great, obviously the highlight of my daughter being born is very special,” Tavares told reporters after the morning skate Tuesday.

“Things have been great on the home front and I’m really thankful for that. It’s been great for my family and competing in the playoffs, so along with that, a lot of emotions, a lot going on.”

His story is the latest chapter in local sports lore where Raptors guard Fred VanVleet emerged from a shooting slump during the 2019 playoffs after his son was born to help lead Toronto to its first ever NBA title.

Tavares led the Leafs into the second round of the playoffs Tuesday against the Florida Panthers, who just knocked off the Boston Bruins — the team which just set an NHL record for most points in a season. The Panthers won a seven-game, first-round thriller that ended with an overtime win Sunday.

Tavares scored in overtime Saturday to end the Leafs-Tampa series, which was historic on its own. Toronto ended a 19-year stretch where the team did not advance past the first round of the playoffs.

Hours before his turnaround shot from the left faceoff circle won the Leafs their series against Tampa, Tavares and wife Aryne welcomed their daughter into the world. (The Leafs say Tavares hasn’t publicly revealed what her name is yet.)

Tavares had to be at the rink Saturday for the morning skate and then the game. He credited his wife and family for allowing him to be a hockey player and a father at the same time.

“A lot of support from my family and everyone that’s involved in my daily life, have kept things running and functioning, but a big credit to my wife,” Tavares said. “Doing what I need to do to play, and when I go home, just really enjoying the time with my little one. So it’s been a great week, and we want to keep things going here and turn the page from last year.”

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe was amazed with his captain, who he said is “a details guy.”

“He makes sure that no matter what, he takes care of himself and his preparation,” Keefe said. “He makes sure details are handled, for himself and for his family. It’s crazy how things work, he gets that overtime goal and there’s the birth of his daughter … it’s an exciting time for him.”

The Leafs captain and coach were talking ahead of Tuesday night’s Game 1 vs. the Panthers. Keefe praised Panthers coach — and ex-Leaf coach — Paul Maurice, while acknowledging Florida star forward Matt Tkachuk.

“Tkachuk has so many things in his game that can change a game and drive a line,” Keefe said. “Both with Sam Bennett and Tkachuk, both of them have a special skill set, and both are relentless. They don’t give you a second to relax.”

Tkachuk relished the fact the Panthers are in this position — having just dispatched the best team in hockey, and facing another elite club.

“Not many people thought we’d be in this position, and people may think we can’t pull this one (series) off like they thought we couldn’t pull the last one off,” Tkachuk said.

“Those are the things that bring us together. That last series, we knew we were the crazy underdogs. The prize, I guess, is knowing we beat the best team in hockey (Bruins), and now we play the second-best team (Leafs).”

Added Tkachuk: “it may come out weird, but we’re almost oblivious to the situation we’re in. The outside noise … but we’re here, and in that last series, we didn’t want our season to end … one last day together, one last game together. There were a lot of doubters, everyone but us.”

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