"We don't overlook anyone," coach Gerard Gallant told the Miami Herald. "We're the Florida Panthers. We're in first place because we play well most nights. But any team in the League can beat you. Toronto is a good team.
"We had a great weekend, but hey, that's over with. It's going to be a battle and we have to be ready to take that game. Don't pack your bags for vacation just yet."
The Panthers announced center Aleksander Barkov signed a six-year contract extension. Financial terms of the contract were not released but the Miami Herald reported the full value of the contract to be $35.4 million.
"We are thrilled to sign Sasha [Barkov] to a multiyear contract," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said. "He is a highly-skilled, intelligent and dynamic young center that plays an exceptional game at both ends of the ice. Sasha is an important part of the foundation of our future and a cornerstone player who is continuing to develop into one of the League's elite centers."
Barkov, 20, has 12 goals and 30 points in 39 games this season and is a big reason the Panthers have a three-point lead in the Atlantic Division heading into Tuesday.
"I never thought about the contract," Barkov said. "When I signed the entry-level contract three years ago, I was thinking only about the next game and just before [signing] this contract, I was thinking about the next game, the Toronto game tonight, but it's good to know I am going to be here for the next six years."
Florida has won 14 of its past 18 games (14-3-1).
"Here we go; we have 34 games left and every game is big starting Tuesday night," forward Derek MacKenzie said. "Simply put, we want to keep this going into the break and then roll with it coming out of it."
Toronto, which did not hold a morning skate, has lost seven of its past eight games and scored a total of 10 goals in that span.
Here are the projected lineups:
MAPLE LEAFS
Shawn Matthias - Tyler Bozak - PA Parenteau
Michael Grabner - Nazem Kadri - Leo Komarov
Joffrey Lupul - Peter Holland - Nick Spaling
Daniel Winnik - Byron Froese - Brad Boyes
Matt Hunwick - Morgan Rielly
Jake Gardiner - Dion Phaneuf
Martin Marincin - Roman Polak
James Reimer
Jonathan Bernier
Injured: James van Riemsdyk (foot), Stephane Robidas (lower body)
Scratched: Frank Corrado, Josh Leivo, Rich Clune
PANTHERS
Jonathan Huberdeau - Aleksander Barkov - Jaromir Jagr
Jussi Jokinen - Vincent Trocheck - Reilly Smith
Quinton Howden - Nick Bjugstad - Logan Shaw
Corban Knight - Derek MacKenzie - Shawn Thornton
Brian Campbell - Erik Gudbranson
Dmitry Kulikov - Aaron Ekblad
Steven Kampfer - Alexander Petrovic
Roberto Luongo
Al Montoya
Injured: Willie Mitchell (lower body), Dave Bolland (lower body)
Scratched: Brandon Pirri
Status report: Mitchell will miss his third straight game. … Pirri will be scratched for the third straight game.
Who's hot: Kadri has three points in four games. … Smith has goals in three straight games. … Luongo has allowed four goals in his past three games.
