Tonight could be intense. The Florida Panthers come into town to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in a crucial divisional matchup. Both teams are locked in a tight race for first place in the Atlantic Division, with the Panthers leading the way with 83 points in 65 games, while the Maple Leafs trail closely behind with 81 points in 64 games.
Item 1: Panthers Face Challenge Without Ekblad on Road Trip
The Panthers will be without defenseman Aaron Ekblad. He was suspended for 20 games because he failed a performance-enhancing drug test. In his place, the Panthers will put in newcomer Seth Jones, who came over at the trade deadline from the Chicago Blackhawks. Jones will likely jump into a more significant role that includes power-play time to help fill the void left by Ekblad.
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Florida is in the middle of a six-game road trip, and both teams enter this high-stakes game wanting a win. Although their last game was a disappointment against the Boston Bruins, the Panthers are coming off a dominant stretch. They had shut out their opponents in two straight games and outscored them 12-1 over their last four. Now, they’ll look to get back to that kind of dominant play in tonight’s game in Toronto. By the way, for those anxious to see Brad Marchand play in a new (not brown) sweater, it would seem tonight is not his night. He’s still healing from an injury.
Item 2: Who to Watch Tonight – Key Players for the Maple Leafs
Tonight’s game against the Panthers should be exciting, and there are a few key players Maple Leafs fans should watch. Foremost, Auston Matthews is on a bit of a goal-scoring drought. He needs to get off the schneid and find the back of the net. Although he scored in the shootout, he didn’t get a point in his last game against the Utah Hockey Club. While he’s been racking up assists, his goal-scoring has been quieter than usual, making tonight a prime chance for him to start building momentum.
Mitch Marner is on a roll, extending his point streak to seven games (five goals, four assists). He has stepped up in key moments. During the Maple Leafs’ shootout win against Utah, he too scored in the shootout to help the Maple Leafs snap a three-game losing streak.
William Nylander is another player to watch. He’s been a consistent producer…
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