The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers face off in one other version of their rivalry on Tuesday night time at Amerant Financial institution Area.
It is going to be the fourth and closing time they play this common season. Toronto has misplaced two of its three matchups with Florida this yr, though they most just lately earned a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Panthers on April 2.
Nonetheless, that recreation noticed Florida lacking their captain and finest participant, Aleksander Barkov. The famous person middle has been sidelined for the final three video games due to an upper-body damage, suffered on April 1 in Montreal. The excellent news for Panthers followers is that he might be returning on Tuesday night time for the rematch with the Maple Leafs.
Barkov’s return to the lineup poses a a lot better problem for Toronto, and head coach Craig Berube is aware of that. The Leafs’ bench boss spoke extremely about Barkov throughout his pregame media availability, shared on Youtube.
“Nicely, he is an important participant. He is top-of-the-line 200-foot gamers within the Nationwide Hockey League. So, um, he is tough. He is onerous. He is a tough opponent to go towards, you already know, who’s ever on the market towards him. And, uh, you already know, he makes their energy play higher, he makes their penalty kill higher, and he makes their five-on-five recreation higher,” Berube stated (12:42).
The 29-year-old has had one other typical, productive season with 67 factors (19 targets, 48 assists) regardless of enjoying in solely 64 video games to this point. He ought to see loads of the top-line facilities, Auston Matthews and John Tavares, on Tuesday night time.
The Toronto Maple Leafs wish to get one other step nearer to successful to Atlantic Division
The Toronto Maple Leafs presently discover themselves ready that they’ve by no means been within the historical past of the Atlantic Division, first place.
With a 47-25-4 file and 98 factors, the Maple Leafs enter Tuesday holding the division lead, simply two factors forward of the Lightning (96 factors) and one other six forward of the Panthers (92 factors), with one recreation in hand on each groups.
Beating Florida in regulation on Tuesday night time would assure that Toronto finishes forward of them within the standings, whereas on the identical time securing dwelling ice benefit within the first spherical of the playoffs. That would depart Tampa Bay, who the Leafs play on Wednesday night time, as the one crew left within the Atlantic that would catch them.
The Maple Leafs start their mini two-game highway journey in Florida on Tuesday night time with a large recreation towards the Panthers. The puck drops at 7 p.m. EST at Amerant Financial institution Area.
