The Toronto Maple Leafs have received 4 straight video games. The Florida Panthers have misplaced 4 straight video games.
Toronto is 7-1-0 in its previous eight video games. Florida is 1-6-0 in its previous seven.
On Wednesday night time, these tendencies can be examined because the Panthers will host the Leafs in Dawn, Fla.
Oddly, Toronto is on this sizzling streak regardless of taking part in with out seven-time All-Star Auston Matthews, who had led the NHL in targets in three of the earlier 4 years.
Matthews, Toronto’s captain, is on injured reserve as a result of an upper-body harm.
“Do not get me fallacious — we would like Auston again as quickly as attainable,” Leafs star John Tavares mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s nearly believing within the group and … the depth we’ve. Everybody is part of it.”
Certainly, Mitch Marner leads Toronto in assists (20) and factors (28). William Nylander leads the Leafs in targets (14). And Tavares has 20 factors, rating third behind Marner and Nylander.
Marner has been notably sizzling, as he has a four-game multi-point streak. Throughout that span, he has scored 4 targets and dished 4 assists.
“He is an elite participant,” Tavares mentioned. “He makes performs. He does so many good issues with out the puck. He performs in all conditions, and he brings a component to our locker room that’s distinctive.
“We’re fortunate to have him.”
The Leafs additionally really feel fortunate to have the goalie duo of Anthony Stolarz — who performed for the Panthers final season — and Joseph Woll.
Stolarz has but to face the Panthers since signing a two-year, $5 million contract with Toronto in July. However he has been good with the Leafs, posting a 7-3-2 report, a .927 save proportion and a 2.18 goals-against common.
Woll is 5-2-0 with a .922 save proportion and a 2.00 goals-against common.
Florida will seemingly begin goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who was rested in Monday’s 4-1 loss to Washington.
Bobrovsky is 9-5-1 with an .885 save proportion and a 3.18 goals-against common. For his profession in opposition to Toronto, Bobrovsky is 13-8-1 with a .904 save proportion and a 2.82 GAA.
In that loss to Washington, Panthers middle Sam Reinhart had his 13-game factors streak snapped. It’s the longest such streak within the NHL this season.
Reinhart, who began this week tied for the league lead in targets scored (16), additionally tops the Panthers in factors (31). He has 11 targets and eight assists over his previous 14 video games.
With stars resembling Bobrovsky, Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, it is simple to see why Panthers coach Paul Maurice hasn’t misplaced confidence in his staff.
However he’s additionally trustworthy.
“There is a piece of our recreation that is lacking proper now,” Maurice mentioned, “and we will have to seek out it.”
Added Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola: “We’re just a little bit off.”
Panthers backup goalie Spencer Knight admitted he is pissed off.
“However we have to keep it up,” Knight mentioned. “We have accomplished quite a lot of issues proper. We’re working arduous. Everyone seems to be shopping for in.
“Each staff on this league is nice. Anybody can beat anybody.”
–Subject Stage Media
