Maple Leafs at Panthers
The Toronto Maple Leafs may have clinched their first playoff berth since 2004 in a victory last Saturday, but that is the only win in their last four games. Fifth-place Toronto will try to get back on the winning track when it faces the lowly Florida Panthers on Thursday. The Maple Leafs lost 5-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday to fall to 12-8-3 on the road, but Toronto owns a 3-0 road victory over Florida on Feb. 18. The Maple Leafs, who also defeated Florida 3-2 at home on March 26, look for their first sweep of the Panthers since the 2005-06 season.
With three wins in its last 10 games, Florida sits last in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers, who have dropped two of four games at BB&T Center this month, defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 on Tuesday. That win snapped a six-game losing skid, during which Florida allowed a total of 30 goals. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom has started eight of 10 games in April, posting a 2-6-0 record with a 4.16 goals-against average and .881 save percentage.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Ontario, Sunshine Network
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (25-16-5): Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren were both scratched for the first time this month on Wednesday, giving a hint at what Toronto’s postseason roster might look like. Phil Kessel scored in the loss, extending his point streak to six in three games and raising his total this month to a team-leading 15 in 10 games. Joffrey Lupul also scored - his third goal in as many games and 10th in his last 11 contests. Goaltender James Reimer allowed four goals for his second loss in three starts, falling to 18-7-5. Defenseman Carl Gunnarsson has played the last two games for Toronto after missing a week with a lower-body injury, but looked sluggish in Wednesday’s loss.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (14-26-6): Tomas Fleischmann had a goal and an assist in Tuesday’s victory and leads the team with 10 points this month. With just three points in his last 10 games, Jonathan Huberdeau has fallen into a tie for the rookie scoring lead with Ottawa’s Cory Conacher at 28 points. Huberdeau leads all rookies with 14 goals. Fellow rookie Quinton Howden has not fared as well, failing to record a point in 16 games and missing Tuesday’s win with the flu. With the playoff race well beyond reach, the Panthers have used 10 different rookie players in April. Peter Mueller and Tomas Kopecky returned to the lineup on Tuesday. Mueller missed a week to attend the birth of his child, while Kopecky sat out Sunday’s game due to some minor injuries. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will miss the remainder of the season with an undisclosed injury.
OVERTIME
1. Toronto’s win on Feb. 18 snapped a five-game losing streak at Florida. The Maple Leafs were swept by the Panthers last season.
2. Kessel has a goal and two assists in the previous two meetings against Florida.
3. Kopecky's 15 goals tie his career-high, set over the course of 81 games in 2010-11.
PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 3