Panthers (39-22-9 87P) vs Maple Leafs (24-34-11 59P)
- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 7:00ish
- WHERE: Air Canada Centre – Toronto, ON/
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- ON THE TUBE: FOX Sports Florida, Sportsnet Ontario, TVA
- ON THE DIAL: 560 AM, 640 AM; Official App
- SOCIALS: #FlaPanthers, #MapleLeafs #Leafs, #FLAvsTOR @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: Pension Plan Puppets
- SB NATION: Game Hub /
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- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 2 of 4 (1-0-0)
- ALL-TIME vs TOR: 31W-29L-7T 2OTL 3SOL 215GF 205GA
- ALL-TIME at TOR: 14W-15L-2T 1OTL 2SOL 101GF 102GA
- LAST FIVE vs TOR: 4-1-0 20GF 11GA
- LAST GAME vs TOR FLA 5 vs TOR 1 (Todd’s Recap) – 01/26/2016/
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- PROJECTED STARTERS: Luongo (29-17-6 2.36/.921 4SO), Bernier (9-18-3 2.95/.913 3SO)
- JAGR WATCH: All-time vs TOR (regular season): 56GP 32G-43A 75P 5GWG
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Toronto /
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Notes:
Despite being on opposite ends of the division, both teams come into tonight’s tilt with 7 points in the last 5 games. Florida has done it with offense (21 goals), while the Leafs have done it with a stingy defense, allowing just 12 against… Emergency recall Dylan Olsen was returned to the slumping Portland Pirates, who need all hands on deck right now… Toronto’s top prospect, William Nylander, has 2 goals in 9 games since making his season debut on February 29… Hot Panthers Jonathan Huberdeau and Vincent Trocheck are each two points away from joining Jaromir Jagr and Jussi Jokinen in the 50-point club. It could happen tonight… The teams will play twice more, March 29 in Sunrise and April 4 in Toronto, after tonight to finish the season series.
NHL.com Preview:
Jokinen (lower body) could return. He and defenseman Erik Gudbranson (lower body) missed a 4-1 win against theMontreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Gudbranson will not play; coach Gerard Gallant said he expects him to miss a week. Gallant also updated the status of Derek MacKenzie (foot), saying the forward likely will be out two weeks after missing the past two games. (More)
Yahoo.com Preview:
The Maple Leafs (24-34-11) have limited their last two opponents to one goal. That came in Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over Tampa Bay to begin a six-game homestand, putting them in position for their third three-game win streak of the season. It was also the first time they scored four non-shootout goals since a 5-4 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Feb. 20, going 3-7-1 between those efforts with 1.73 goals per game. (More)
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Last game for the Cats: 4-1 win at Montreal on Tuesday. Past five: 3-1-1 21GF 15GA (streak: 1W)
Last game for the Leafs: 4-1 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Past five: 3-1-1 12GF 12GA (streak: 2W)
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Thursday in the Atlantic Division (Standings / Panthers Playoff Chances):
- DETROIT (34-25-11 79P) at Columbus (28-33-8 64P), 7:00
- TAMPA BAY (40-25-5 85P) at Dallas (41-21-9 91P), 8:30
- Idle: BOS (71GP/86P), OTT (71GP/74P), MTL (71GP/72P), BUF (71GP/66P)/
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