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Tuesday game preview: Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
The Panthers are 3-1 on their trip through Canada.
Tuesday game preview: Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto Star
Florida's Aleksander Barkov is scoring at almost a point-per-game pace (54 points in 55 games). (Mike Ehrmann / GETTY IMAGES)
By Kevin McGranSports Reporter
Mon., Feb. 19, 2018
AIR CANADA CENTRE
PUCK DROP: 7 p.m.
TV: Sportsnet Ontario
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Barkov/Marner
Aleksander Barkov has five goals and six assists in his last eight games and leads the Panthers with 54 points in 55 games . . . The Leafs’ Mitch Marner has nine points (4-5-9) in his past five games and has registered at least one point in eight of his last 10 games (7-5-12).
NEED TO KNOW
The Panthers are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games are and trying to make a run for a playoff spot. They are 3-1-0 on this five-game Canadian road trip that ends with the game against Toronto . . . Panthers forward Evgenii Dadonov has seven goals in his last 13 games. Defenceman Aaron Ekblad has six goals in his last 13 games . . . Florida may be looking to move veteran forward Radim Vrbata, active recently after long stretches as a healthy scratch . . . Since Feb. 1, the Panthers are operating at the best rate in the NHL on the power play, going 12-for-32 (37.5 per cent).
UP NEXT
Thursday, vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Game Day: Panthers at Maple Leafs
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan
Game Day: Panthers at Maple Leafs
FLORIDA PANTHERS at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Tuesday, 7 p.m., Air Canada Centre,
TV: Sportsnet Ontario, Radio: 1050 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
Jonathan Huberdeau vs. Morgan Rielly
It’s probable the top-five picks — Jonathan Huberdeau was taken third overall in 2011 and Morgan Rielly went fifth in 2012 — will cross paths more than a few times. The two were teammates for Canada at the 2013 world junior, so there is a bit of a history. Huberdeau is putting together a career year, as he is on pace for personal bests in goals, assists and points. Rielly needs three points to hit 37, which would be a career high.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Lock it down
The Maple Leafs are facing a Panthers club that still thinks it can secure a playoff berth, but coach Mike Babcock was pleased with his players’ effort in Detroit on Sunday, 24 hours after a loss in Pittsburgh. The Leafs will leave nothing to chance. “Florida has been hot lately so you want to make sure you are prepared,” Auston Matthews said.
2. Barkov on fire
Look past the fact Aleksander Barkov has three goals in 16 career games against the Leafs. The Panthers’ best player has been hot, recording 11 points in his past eight games. Whether Barkov gets proper recognition does not matter to coach Bob Boughner. “We know how good he is,” Boughner said. “His game speaks for itself.”
3. Take your best shots
While few expect a game full of end-to-end rushes with an abundance of scoring chances, there is the potential for goalies Frederik Andersen and Roberto Luongo to be busy. The Panthers have allowed an average of 34.7 shots on goal, second-most in the NHL; right behind them in third are the Leafs, who give up an average of 34.1.
4. First up
There’s always an emphasis in the Leafs room on starting right and scoring the first goal. The Leafs have an NHL-best 29 victories when going up 1-0, and they also lead the NHL with 22 wins when leading after the first period. The Panthers don’t often come back, winning nine of 28 games in which they have allowed the first goal.
5. Louie on the line
Leafs fans might have wanted to see ex-Leaf James Reimer in the Panthers net, but coach Bob Boughner said on Monday that his plan was to start Roberto Luongo. At 38, Luongo is well past his prime years, but has been a thorn in the side of Toronto, compiling a career record of 21-9-3 with a .929 save percentage with two shutouts.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Zach Hyman-Auston Matthews-William Nylander
Patrick Marleau-Nazem Kadri-Mitch Marner
James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Connor Brown
Leo Komarov-Dominic Moore-Kasperi Kapanen
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott-Connor Carrick
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
PANTHERS LINES
LW-C-RW
Evgeny Dadonov-Aleksander Barkov-Nick Bjugstad
Jonathan Huberdeau-Vincent Trocheck-Denis Malgin
Jamie McGinn-Jared McCann-Maxim Mamin
Micheal Haley-Derek MacKenzie-Colton Sceviour
Defence pairs
Aaron Ekblad-Keith Yandle
Michael Matheson-Mark Pysyk
Mackenzie Weegar-Alex Petrovic
Goaltenders
Roberto Luongo
James Reimer
INJURIES
Panthers — None.
Maple Leafs — None.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Panthers: 19.9% (17th)
Maple Leafs: 20.2% (15th)
Penalty kill
Panthers: 79.2% (22nd)
Maple Leafs: 82.9% (6th)
