Thanks to the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 win over the Boston Bruins, the Florida Panthers find themselves in second place in the Atlantic Division today. At least the game didn’t go to overtime, so, there’s that. The Cats will hit the road for games against the Colorado Avalanche and Utah Hockey Club, looking to make up what could grow to a four-point deficit today as the surging Buds will host the struggling Philadelphia Flyers.
Sunday in the Atlantic (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances)
- New York Islanders (14-18-7 35P) at BOSTON (20-17-4 44P) 6 p.m.
- Philadelphia (17-18-4 38P) at TORONTO (25-13-2 52P) 7 p.m.
- TAMPA BAY (20-14-2 P) at Anaheim (16-18-4 36P) 8 p.m.
Idle: FLA (50), OTT (40P), MON (39P), DET (38P). BUF (33P)
Panthers prospect Linus Eriksson will play for a bronze medal today after Sweden fell 4-3 in overtime to arch-rival Finland at the World Junior Championship in Ottawa.
Eriksson logged 5:16 of ice time and won one of the two draws he took.
The United States beat Czechia 4-1 in the other semifinal, so the Americans will face Finland for the goal medal while the Czechia will take on the Swedes.
- Bronze medal game: Sweden vs. Czechia 3:30 p.m. (NHL Network)
- Gold medal game: United States vs. Finland 7:30 p.m. (NHL Network)
John Leonard notched his 15th goal of the season, with the lone assist going to Trevor Carrick, 1:12 into overtime to give the Charlotte Checkers a 3-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday. The visiting Checkers were down by two before Will Lockwood scored from Riley Hughes and Matt Kiersted at 10:03 of the second. They tied the game on Ben Steeves’ power-play goal with 3:32 left in regulation. Leonard and Carrick drew the helpers on the equalizer. Ken Appleby made 23 saves to up his record to 9-2-1. Charlotte is in second place in the AHL’s Atlantic Division with 41 points.