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Toronto Maple Leafs (27-37-11, 30th in NHL) vs. Florida Panthers (42-24-9, 8th in NHL)

Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. ET
Arena: BB&T Center
Watch: TSN4


Game Day Notes

– Former Leaf Dave Bolland, on injured reserve with a lower body injury, has played just 24 of 75 games this season for the Florida Panthers due to various injuries and healthy scratches. Bolland has averaged 34 appearances a year over his last four seasons.

Jonathan Bernier starts for the Leafs having allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last five starts. He is 3-2-0 with a .958 save percentage over that span.

Roberto Luongo starts for the Panthers having won three in a row against the Maple Leafs, allowing just a single goal in each game. He has won 15 of his last 18 against the Leafs dating back to 2010, posting a .921 save percentage over those 33 meetings.

– Mike Babcock was straightforward about William Nylander‘s performance last night in Tampa Bay: “His biggest challenge is he didn’t have the puck enough. Until you learn how to really play hard and compete, and create space when there is no space, you don’t end up with the puck. So that’s part of the process he’s here for.”

Nylander, looking for his first career road point, will face some tough matchups tonight against a Panthers deep that’s replete with young talent down the middle (Barkov, Trochek, Bjugstad).

– Former Leaf Greg McKegg will play his 13th game for the Panthers this season and is seeking his first NHL point. He’s averaged 7:30 TOI/game in his appearances this season.


Who’s Hot

  • Ben Smith: 3 points (1g,2a) in last 4 games
  • Brooks Laich: 3 points (3a) in last 4 games

Who’s Cold

  • Michael Grabner: 0 points in last 5 games
  • Rinat Valiev: 0 points in last 9 games

Matchup Stats

Screenshot 2016-03-29 15.45.48

StatTorFla
Points6593
Record %0.4390.62
Home Winning %0.4430.609
Away Winning %0.3330.556
Shootout Winning %0.50.7
Goal Differential Per Game-0.490.37
Shot Differential Per Game0.72-1.23
Hits Per Game26.823.9
PIM Per Game9.310.6
Opponent PIM Per Game8.810.7
Goals Per Game2.362.79
Even Strength Goals Per Game1.882.13
Power Play Goals Per Game0.470.59
Shots Per Game3128.5
Shots Per Goal13.110.2
Team Shooting %7.60%9.80%
Power Play %15.00%17.20%
Goals Against Per Game2.852.41
ES Goals Against Per Game2.091.73
PP Goals Against Per Game0.650.63
Shots Against Per Game30.2729.69
Shots Against Per Goal10.6212.3
Opp. Team Shooting %9.40%8.10%
Penalty Kill %80.20%80.80%
Save %0.9060.919
Goals Against Average2.82.38
Shutouts44
Opponent Save %0.9240.902
Opponent Goals Against Average2.332.75
Opponent Shutouts84

Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines

Milan Michalek – Nazem Kadri – Michael Grabner
Zach Hyman – William Nylander – PA Parenteau
Brad Boyes – Tyler Bozak – Connor Brown
Colin Greening – Brooks Laich – Ben Smith

Martin Marincin – Morgan Rielly
Jake Gardiner – Connor Carrick
Rinat Valiev – Frank Corrado

Starting Goalie: Jonathan Bernier
Garret Sparks

Injured: Leo Komarov (lower body), Peter Holland (upper body), Nikita Soshnikov (upper body), Matt Hunwick (sports hernia), James van Riemsdyk (foot), Joffrey Lupul (sports hernia), Byron Froese (hand), Stephane Robidas (knee), Viktor Loov (upper body)

Florida Panthers Projected Lines

Jonathan Huberdeau – Aleksander Barkov – Jaromir Jagr
Jussi Jokinen – Vincent Trocheck – Reilly Smith
Jiri Hudler – Nick Bjugstad – Teddy Purcell
Garrett Wilson – Greg McKegg – Logan Shaw

Brian Campbell – Aaron Ekblad
Dmitry Kulikov – Steve Kampfer
Jakub Kindl – Alex Petrovic

Starting Goalie: Roberto Luongo
Al Montoya

Injured: Dave Bolland (lower body), Derek MacKenzie (foot), Erik Gudbranson (foot), Willie Mitchell (concussion)
Scratched: Quinton Howden, Shawn Thornton


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