Photo Credits: Wilfredo Lee/AP
The Toronto Maple Leafs (42-22-9) vs. The Florida Panthers (47-22-5) tonight at Scotiabank Arena in a Divisional matchup.
Toronto is back home after defeating the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night 3-0.
Auston Matthews needs one more goal to reach 61 on the season. He also needs six even-strength goals to become the all-time leader in that category.
Tonight’s meeting will be the third of the season between these two teams. Toronto won the last meeting 2-1 in a shootout.
Sam Reinhart leads the Florida Panthers with 86 points. He has 51 goals and 35 assists.
If the Leafs win tonight, they will be four points behind the Panthers in second place in the Atlantic Division.
The Maple Leafs can clinch a playoff spot tonight if they defeat the Panthers in regulation AND both of the following occur:
- the Red Wings lose to the Lightning in regulation
- any result in the Flyers-Islanders game other than an Islanders win in overtime
OR
If they defeat the Panthers in overtime or shootout AND both of the following occur:
- the Red Wings lose to the Lightning in regulation
- any result in the Flyers-Islanders game other than an Islanders win in overtime or shootout
Sergei Bobrovsky will start in the net for the Panthers.
Ilya Samsonov will be on the net for Toronto.
The puck drop for tonight’s game is at 7:00 p.m. on Sportsnet.
