TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS at FLORIDA PANTHERS
Thursday, 7 p.m. BB & T CENTER
TV: TSN4: Radio: 590 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
G Frederik Anderen vs. G Sergei Bobrovsky
A swing game in a tight playoff race comes down to a tale of the twine. Both men have taken abuse, Florida’s ‘Bob’ for his early failures to live up to a big new contract, but he’s finishing the schedule strong. Andersen can be very good, or take on the worst traits of his team when they get pushed into mistakes.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
Put the kids to bed
The Panthers dodge trouble with physical Leaf defenceman Jake Muzzin joining a long Leafs injury list, but no doubt wanted to see rookies Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren paired together so they could be targeted with a heavy forecheck. Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe indicates they will be split up.
Welcome home
The Panthers came through a long Western U.S. road trip with three wins in five games. But the quick turnaround to Eastern time could leave them a little flat. Aleksander Barkov had six points in as many games at BB & T before the trip and is a known threat to the Leafs. The new Panthers acquired at the trade deadline, Erik Haula and Lucas Wallmark from Carolina, will also be making their home debuts.
Third and long odds
The Leafs have had a few rocky finishes in the third period, but not so the Cats. In the 26 games they have held a lead after two periods, it’s as good as won with a record of 25-0-1.
Auston overdue
Toronto’s leading scorer, Auston Matthews, does not have a goal in three games, stuck on 43, his longest dry spell since early December. His shooting eye was off a bit on some nice power-play chances Tuesday night. But linemate Mitch Marner, who described his efforts in Saturday’s loss to Carolina as doggy doo-doo, looked much better against Tampa Bay.
Help wanted
With so many holes at the back end, Keefe was asking his forwards on Wednesday to be more dedicated on the back check. “It puts a little more onus on our collective group, particularly the forwards, to do a good job of protecting,” he said. “Even when we’re healthy, that’s part of what we talk about all the time, helping our defence.”
MAPLE LEAFS GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Zach Hyman Auston Matthews Mitch Marner
William Nylander John Tavares Denis Malgin
Pierre Engvall Alex Kerfoot Kasperi Kapanen
Kyle Clifford Jason Spezza Frederik Gauthier
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Rasmus Sandin Tyson Barrie
Travis Dermott Justin Holl
Martin Marincin Timothy Liljegren/Calle Rosen
GOALIES
Frederik Andersen
Jack Campbell
SICK BAY
D Morgan Rielly (foot)
D Cody Ceci (ankle)
LW Andreas Johnsson (knee)
RW/LW Ilya Mikheyev (wrist)
D Jake Muzzin (hand)
PANTHERS GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Jonathan Huberdeau Aleksander Barkov Evgenii Dadonov
Mike Hoffman Erik Haula Frank Vatrano
Aleksi Saarela Lucas Wallmark Brett Connolly
Colton Sceviour Noel Acciari Mark Pysyk
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
MacKenzie Weegar Aaron Ekblad
Riley Stillman Anton Stralman
Keith Yandle Mike Matheson
GOALIES
Sergei Bobrovsky
Samuel Montembeault
SICK BAY
G Chris Driedger (lower body)
C Brian Boyle (upper body)
LW Dryden Hunt (lower body)
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Toronto 24.4% (3rd)
Florida 22.4% (8th)
PENALTY KILLING
Toronto 76.5% (26th)
Florida 77.9% (22nd)
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