GAMEDAY: Against struggling Panthers, Maple Leafs go for fifth win in a row

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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (47-25-4) at FLORIDA PANTHERS (44-29-4)

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Amerant Bank Arena

TV: TSN4 Radio: TSN 1050

Odds: Maple Leafs +109, Panthers -135

The buzz

When we looked ahead at this game a few weeks ago, we figured it would have had serious ramifications on first place in the Atlantic Division. Instead, the Leafs are hot and the Panthers are not, and Toronto is six points ahead of Florida, which sits third behind Tampa Bay. The Leafs have six games remaining, the Panthers five … Since going on a six-game winning streak from Feb. 25-March 8, the Panthers are 4-8-1 in their past 13 games, and they have lost their past five (0-4-1) … The Leafs are 8-1-1 in their past 10 and will attempt to win five consecutive games for the third time in 2024-25 … Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews goes into the game two goals shy of 400 for his career. He has some company closing in on the milestone, as Leon Draisaitl of Edmonton and Jamie Benn of Dallas each has 399 career goals. The first of the three to reach 400 will become the 110th player in NHL history to do so …The Panthers have scored two goals or fewer in each of their past six games … The Leafs are 3-5-2 in their past 10 regular-season visits to Sunrise. They have lost the previous three meetings in south Florida and have been outscored 13-4 … With 22 road wins, the Leafs are two shy of tying the franchise mark for one season. They have four road games remaining.

The news

Leafs coach Craig Berube confirmed to media after the morning skate in Florida on Tuesday that Joseph Woll will start in net, noting that Anthony Stolarz has started the previous three games against the Panthers. That would put Stolarz on tap to start on Wednesday night in Tampa as the Leafs finish their 15th of 16 back-to-back sets this season … As they deal with other injuries and absences, the Panthers didn’t have forwards Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart and defenceman Gustav Forsling for their game in Detroit on Sunday, which finished as a 2-1 Red Wings win. After the Panthers’ morning skate, coach Paul Maurice told media that Reinhart and Forsling, as well as captain Aleksander Barkov, were in line to play against the Leafs. Barkov missed three games with an upper-body issue. Bennett, also dealing with an upper-body problem, will be rested for the remainder of the regular season but is expected to be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs, Maurice said. Forward Nico Sturm, who also has missed three games with an upper-body injury, is not yet ready to return … Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad, serving a 20-game suspension for violating terms of the NHL/NHLPA performance enhancing substances program, will be eligible to return for Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs.

The quote

“We just want to keep playing good hockey and consistent hockey. Outcomes are outcomes. Just focus on (the next game). Focus on our process of what we’re doing lately and how we’re building our game, and keep building it.”

— Leafs coach Craig Berube on his club controlling its own destiny

The projected Leafs lineup

Forwards

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner

Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander

Scott Laughton-Max Domi-Calle Jarnkrok

Steven Lorentz-Pontus Holmberg-Nick Robertson

Defence

Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo

Oliver Ekman-Larsson—Chris Tanev

Simon Benoit-Philippe Myers

Goal

Joseph Woll

Anthony Stolarz

The injuries

TOR: D Jake McCabe (undisclosed), C David Kampf (upper body), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed).

FLA: F Matthew Tkachuk (groin), D Dmitry Kulikov (upper body), F Sam Bennett (upper body), F Nico Sturm (upper body).

The prediction

The Leafs are playing sound hockey and the Panthers are banged up. 4-2 Toronto.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun