Atlantic Department foes combat as Florida arrives in Toronto having a look to stay 1st position

Nov 27, 2024; Dawn, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers middle Aleksander Barkov (16) and Toronto Maple Leafs middle John Tavares (91) face-off all over the primary length at Amerant Financial institution Enviornment. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Pictures)A difficult highway go back and forth will proceed on Thursday for the Florida Panthers as they go back and forth north of the border.The Panthers will play their subsequent two video games in Canada, starting with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Each the Cats and the Leafs had been fighting for the highest spot within the Atlantic Department for a lot of the season.Lately, it’s Florida retaining a two-point edge over Toronto within the standings, regardless that the Maple Leafs do dangle a recreation in hand.The Panthers arrive in Toronto recent off Tuesday’s irritating 3-2 loss in Boston through which Florida surrendered a 2-0 3rd length lead.It used to be the primary loss for the Cats’ in seven video games, as Florida has been rolling in recent years, to the song of an 11-3-0 stretch since overdue January.The Maple Leafs had additionally been getting some forged effects till a up to date stretch towards some Western Convention fighters supplied just a little of a pace bump.After reeling off wins in 8 of 9 video games, Toronto dropped 3 in a row to San Jose, Vegas and Colorado earlier than wrapping up their highway go back and forth with a shootout win in Utah.The Panthers are nonetheless adjusting to existence with out Matthew Tkachuk and Aaron Ekblad, either one of whom will likely be out till least the postseason.Newly received Brad Marchand may be no longer anticipated to go back from an damage till the latter levels of the common season.Florida has proven they’re slightly in a position to search out luck with out key gamers and can most likely proceed to take action, regardless that they’ll face some difficult challengers alongside the way in which.Listed below are the Panthers projected strains and pairings for Thursday’s matchup with the Maple Leafs:Carter Verhaeghe – Sasha Barkov – Sam ReinhartMackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Evan RodriguesEetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Jesper BoqvistA.J. Greer – Nico Sturm – Tomas NosekGus Forsling – Seth JonesNiko Mikkola – Dmitry KulikovNate Schmidt – Uvis BalinskisScratches: Jonah Gadjovich, Brad MarchandLATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS – FLORIDAFlorida Panthers drop off Stanley Cup Ring at Hockey Corridor of FameWATCH: Pictures of Brad Marchand skating with Florida Panthers in BostonThree takeaways: Panthers burn themselves in Boston collapsePanthers blow 2-goal 3rd length lead, lose in Boston 3-2Brad Marchand joins Panthers for morning skate in Boston, skates on Florida’s best line