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SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -Mats Sundin gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a reason to be glad he refused to be traded away.

Sundin’s second goal with 1:08 left in regulation forced overtime, and the Leafs went on to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Florida Panthers.

“He’s the man here, and he’s always been,” said defenseman Tomas Kaberle, who scored the only goal of the shootout. “Everybody follows him and tries to play like him.”

The rebuilding Maple Leafs hoped to convince Sundin, the longtime captain, to waive his no-trade clause before the NHL’s dealing deadline on Tuesday. Sundin decided he’d rather stick around Toronto instead of being a hired gun.

For at least one night, it paid off for the Leafs.

Kaberle scored on Toronto’s first attempt of the shootout when he slid the puck between Tomas Vokoun’s legs on a deke.

Vesa Toskala sealed the victory when he blocked Olli Jokinen’s wrist shot on the final attempt of the shootout. Toskala also stopped Rostislav Olesz, who hit the post on a deke attempt, and Ville Peltonen.

Toronto is six points below the postseason cutoff in the Eastern Conference.

“Six points is not much,” Kaberle said. “We need to get on a roll. It’s wide open if we keep winning.”

Sundin, among five Toronto players who declined to waive no-trade clauses before Tuesday’s deadline, had two goals and an assist.

Jeremy Williams had the other goal for the Leafs, who have won five of six.

Jassen Cullimore, Brett McLean and Olesz scored for Florida, which has lost five of six.

Toskala made 37 saves in regulation and overtime. Vokoun stopped 34 shots.

Florida beat the Leafs 8-0 in the last meeting between the teams Feb. 5, the most lopsided victory in Panthers history.

Sundin tied the game after Toronto pulled Toskala, sending a wrist shot from the high slot between Florida forward David Booth’s legs and past Vokoun to the glove side.

“He probably saw that hole and put it through there. That’s how good he is,” Booth said. “I can’t believe he put it through there.”

Giving up a late lead was nothing new for the Panthers, who have allowed six tying or winning goals in the final minute this season.

Florida squandered two-goal, third-period goals in three consecutive games earlier this month.

“We’ve just got to be better and win some games,” Jokinen said. “This is not fun.”

The Panthers took a 3-2 lead at 11:45 of the third when Olesz scored 5 seconds into a power play.

Jay Bouwmeester’s wrist shot from the point was blocked in front, and Olesz then beat Toskala with a backhand.

Toronto trailed 2-0 in the second period before Williams, recalled on Tuesday after the Leafs traded three players for draft picks, scored his third goal in three NHL games.

Williams took a pass from Sundin to the side of the net and beat Vokoun.

“He made a great goal,” Sundin said. “He would have 100 goals if he played 100 games, it seems like. He’s really smart finding the spot where the goalie has the holes.”

Sundin tied it with a power-play goal at 2:49 of the third period. He took the puck along the boards and outmuscled defenseman Steve Montador to the front of the net before flipping the puck over Vokoun’s right shoulder.

Cullimore opened the scoring at 9:27 of the first period when his wrist shot deflected off Williams. McLean made it 2-0 at 17:13 when he skated through three Toronto players and put the puck past a sprawling Toskala.

“We lost some momentum,” McLean said. “Their top players really stepped up and made some plays for them. You have to give them credit, they continued to battle.”

Notes: Florida’s Wade Belak played against his former team after being acquired in a trade Tuesday. … Florida D Bryan Allen missed the game because of a leg injury sustained in Sunday’s loss to the Rangers. … Toronto D Bryan McCabe played in his 900th NHL game. … C Kris Newbury also was recalled by the Leafs. … Toronto won the season series 3-1.

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The Panthers added some toughness to their lineup Tuesday, acquiring Wade Belak from Toronto in exchange for a fifth round pick in the upcoming draft.

Later Tuesday afternoon, the Panthers sent defenseman Ruslan Salei to Colorado for defenseman Karlis Skrastins and a third round draft pick. Florida later sent that draft pick to Toronto for left wing Chad Kilger (10 goals, seven assists).

Salei, 33, signed with the Panthers as a free agent prior to the 2006-07 season and had two years left on his contract, averaging $3.15 million per season. Skrastins is signed through the 2008-09 season, making $2.4 million.

And how did Salei find out about the trade? Salei was showering after practice at the team’s training facility when he heard the news on a nearby television.

”When you’re in the shower and you hear about your trade, yeah, it’s a surprise,” Salei said before leaving BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise. “We’re all in this business and I knew it was possible. That’s what happens. It’s a first time for me, and I don’t know what to expect. I am excited about going to a new team, a new challenge.”

Salei will try to fly to Vancouver to meet the Avalanche. Colorado visits Calgary on Tuesday night, but there is no way Salei can make it in time for that game. Colorado plays at Vancouver on Wednesday, and Salei is expected to make his Colorado debut then.

Belak, who could be in uniform for the Panthers Wednesday night against his old team, said he hopes to help get the Panthers into the playoffs. Florida hasn’t been to the postseason since 2000, and sits six points out of first place in the Southeast Division with 17 games remaining.

”I knew there was change coming,” Belak said on Canadian all-sports network TSN moments after the deal was announced.

“I’m happy. I didn’t know what [Toronto's] plans were for me. It’s kind of unbelievable. I’ve been playing in cold weather my whole life. I almost felt like someone was playing a joke on me.”

In 30 games this year, Belak — who makes $625,000 this season and will be a free agent — has one goal and no assists. Kilger is signed through the following season, making $700,000 this season and inked for $800,000 in 2008-09.

Toronto, coincidentally, is in South Florida and plays the Panthers in Sunrise on Wednesday. Belak and Kilger’s Florida debut could be delayed because of U.S. immigration although both were expected to be at BankAtlantic Center by Tuesday afternoon.

”Once I’m on the ice, it’s all about business,” he said about facing his former teammates.

After practice Tuesday, a number of Panthers praised general manager Jacques Martin for acquiring a tough guy like Belak, with Natha Horton saying it was something the Panthers have needed for a long time.

”We need a guy like that,” Horton said. “It probably would have been better had we gotten him earlier in the year. He would have helped us out a lot.”

• The trade deadline is 3 p.m. Tuesday, and center Olli Jokinen — target of many trade rumors in Canada — remains with the Panthers.

Just as he always expected.

”Everyone understands [trade talk] is part of the business, but it is a distraction,” Jokinen said before heading to his home in western Broward County.

Thanks to George Richards of the Miami Herald.

As for my thoughts on the trades, you’ll just have to wait until tomorrow.

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