"It's kind of a bizarre time of the schedule here for everybody," Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette said. "You're cognizant of making sure you're ready in 10 days [for the playoffs], but once the puck drops the competitive juices flow for everybody. I think both teams would like to put a good show on, play a good game and keep building for the next week."
Securing the franchise's third division title, the Panthers enter tonight's matchup following a 5-2 win over the Red Wings on Thursday. Aleksander Barkov, Mason Marchment, Noel Acciari and MacKenzie Weegar all scored against Detroit, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves in net.
Dishing out a pair of assists in the win, Jonathan Huberdeau increased his career-high point total to 113. With five games left to play, the all-star winger trails Edmonton's Connor McDavid (116) by just three points for the NHL's scoring crown with one extra game in his back pocket.
Making a late push, Huberdeau has tallied 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in his last 16 games. "Obviously, with McDavid it's not easy," Huberdeau chuckled.
"He's getting three points every night. It would be great [to win it], but who knows what's going to happen at the end? Every night I just really want to come in and help our team offensively. We'll see what happens."
In the midst of an impressive run of his own, Bobrovsky, who will man the crease against the Maple Leafs, has won each of his last 12 decisions. Owning a 38-6-3 record with a .913 save percentage, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner is currently tied for first in the league in wins.
Across the ice, Jack Campbell, who's 30-9-5 with a .913 save percentage, will go for Toronto.
Given the amount of firepower on the ice, both goaltenders will be put to the test.
Second to only the Panthers in goals per game, the Maple Leafs have won four of their last five games, but head into tonight's tilt looking to rebound from a lopsided 8-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Thursday in which they gave up four straight goals in the second period and never recovered.
With a record of 51-21-6, the Maple Leafs can lock down second place in the Atlantic Division and secure home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs if they defeat the Panthers in this matchup and if the Lightning lose to the Predators in regulation across the state tonight.
Splitting their two previous meetings so far this season, the Panthers overcame a daunting 5-1 deficit come from behind and win 7-6 in overtime in their most-recent matchup back on April 5.
"They got beat in Tampa pretty bad, so we know they're going to be angry," Huberdeau said. "We know it's a good team, a good offensive team. We obviously don't want a game like [last time]. We came back, but we've got to be better defensively and keep their big guys quiet."
Those "big guys" come in form of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
Matthews leads the Maple Leafs in goals (58) and points (102), while Marner is second in points (95) and first in assists (61). Behind them, four other players have eclipsed the 60-point plateau: William Nylander (76), John Tavares (75), Morgan Rielly (65) and rookie Michael Bunting (63).
"They're dangerous offensively," Panthers defenseman Ben Chiarot said. "They're dangerous without the puck, forechecking, they know where to go and know where you're trying to put the puck. They're quick with their sticks. Not so much physical, but just in the way with their sticks. They're quick and they can turn the puck over and put it in the back of your net pretty fast."
With only two games left to play in their own barn before the postseason, the Panthers, who have won 10 straight at FLA Live Arena, lead the NHL in wins (33) and goals (184) at home.
Not looking too far ahead, tonight's game should be good playoff tune-up for both teams.
"You're just trying to play and win the day," Brunette said. "That's been our attitude all season."
