Maple Leafs at Panthers
THE STORY: With his future with the team secure, coach Ron Wilson can concentrate on helping the Toronto Maple Leafs match their longest winning streak of the season. Toronto goes for its third straight victory when it takes on the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Wilson, who is in the final year of a four-year contract, received an extension over the Christmas break. The 56-year-old is looking to lead the Maple Leafs to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Toronto is 1-0-0 on its four-game road trip and 2-0-1 in its last three overall. Florida enters with a three-game losing streak and setbacks in six of its last eight contests.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet Ontario (Toronto), Fox Sports Florida
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (18-13-4): According to general manager Brian Burke, Wilson's extension was agreed upon three or four weeks ago. Burke and many of the Maple Leafs sang the coach's praises on Monday. "This coach has earned this extension," Burke said. "It's not charity, it's not a gift." Said goaltender James Reimer stated: "Ron is a great coach, and you can see that by how many wins he has. We get guidance from him and it’s just a big congratulations for him." Added Clarke MacArthur: "He’s great at technical stuff, but he also knows how to ruffle a few feathers. He jokes around and chirps guys, and they chirp him back sometimes, too. It’s pretty cool."
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (18-11-7): Florida has earned at least one point in eight of its last nine home games (6-1-2). It has lost in regulation at the BankAtlantic Center only three times in 16 contests. The Panthers have dropped five of their last six against Eastern Conference opponents and 16 of 21 versus the Northeast Division. Stephen Weiss is questionable. Weiss, who already has missed one game with an upper body injury, has gone eight matches without a goal.
OVERTIME:
1. Florida has not posted a regulation victory over its last eight games, going 2-3-3 with one overtime win and a shootout triumph.
2. The Maple Leafs have lost five of their last six visits to the BankAtlantic Center.