GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs welcome Florida Panthers for Atlantic Division clash

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FLORIDA PANTHERS (44-26-4) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (45-25-4)

When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Scotiabank Arena

TV: Sportsnet Radio: The Fan 590

Odds: Panthers -102, Maple Leafs -122

The buzz

It’s not a must-win for the Maple Leafs, but we don’t have to say how badly they want to beat the Panthers for the first time in three meetings this season — the Leafs would clinch a playoff spot for the ninth year in a row with a single point … The Leafs, who had a short practice on Tuesday as they returned to the ice after travelling home from California on Monday, should be primed to take advantage of a Panthers team that played in Montreal against the Canadiens on Tuesday night and lost in overtime … The Panthers outscored Toronto 8-3 in the two earlier meetings. The clubs will clash again in Sunrise on April 8 … Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was sitting one game shy of 750 in his NHL career going into Tuesday. He’s in line to start against the Leafs after Vitek Vanecek got the nod in Montreal. Versus the Leafs in his career, Bobrovsky is 15-8-1 with a .907 save percentage … Anthony Stolarz will start in net for the Leafs. He was in goal for both losses against Florida this season … The Panthers won’t have key defenceman Aaron Ekblad, who continues to serve a 20-game suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA performance-enhancing substances program … The Panthers have won just two games when trailing after two periods. The Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights have eight wins in that situation, tied for most in the NHL.

The news

Tuesday was not a positive work day for Leafs winger Nick Robertson, who practised as an extra forward, an indication he will be scratched for the third game in a row. Indeed, Leafs coach Craig Berube confirmed on Wednesday morning that there will be no changes among the Leafs forwards and defencemen from the win in Anaheim on Sunday … Forward Max Pacioretty and defenceman Jani Hakanpaa were participants in practice. “It’s good that they’re out there and they’ve been working with our development crew and people back here skating and trying to get healthy,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said, “so hopefully they can get healthy and be part of the team at some point.”

The quote

“Dialling in our special teams. Making sure we win that battle and doing the simple and ugly things that are going to win a hockey game — taking hits, making plays, getting it out of our zone, being good on the lines.”

— Leafs winger Matthew Knies on what Toronto has to do to beat Florida

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The projected Leafs lineup

Forwards

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner

Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander

Scott Laughton-Max Domi-Calle Jarnkrok

Pontus Holmberg-David Kampf-Steven Lorentz

Defence

Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev

Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo

Simon Benoit—Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Goal

Anthony Stolarz

Joseph Woll

The injuries

TOR: D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed).

FLA: D Dmitry Kulikov (upper body), F Matthew Tkachuk (groin).

The prediction

Maple Leafs keep their positive vibes going from southern California going with a 3-2 win.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun