<p>Another major test is coming, as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena. After <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/scenes-toronto-maple-leafs-morning-skate-stolarz-starts-florida-panthers-berube-coy-playoff-rotation">practice Wednesday</a> morning, Leafs forward Bobby McMann spoke to media about the big match in store.</p>
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<p>&#8220;Yeah, definitely a big one,&#8221; McMann said. &#8220;Something that, it&#8217;s gonna be a big determiner of where we land in the standings. Obviously it&#8217;s tight. And you never know who you&#8217;re going to see down the road, so it&#8217;s good.&#8221;</p>
<p>Toronto currently leads the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/mapping-out-remainder-atlantic-division-race-toronto-maple-leafs-lightning-panthers">Atlantic Division</a> with 94 points, directly followed by the Tampa Bay Lightning with 93, then the Panthers who have 92. All three teams have eight games remaining. With the standings this tight, first place is anyone&#8217;s for the taking, and with that in mind, either of the Florida teams could very well be Toronto&#8217;s first round opponent in the playoffs.</p>
<p>When it comes to the particulars of the standings, that&#8217;s not where the team&#8217;s focus is. Asked what it would mean to secure at least a point in this contest, McMann acknowledged the importance, but said the focus is on a bigger goal.</p>
<p>&#8220;Yeah, I think that&#8217;d be cool, it&#8217;d be nice to lock that in,&#8221; McMann said. &#8220;But I think we&#8217;re just trying to get our game to the point where details and everything are going to be the best they can be going into playoffs, I think that&#8217;s the goal.&#8221;</p>
<p>While Berube has been experimenting with the bottom-six, especially following the trade deadline, McMann has been a key part of a consistent second line recently for the Leafs, playing alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. The three have combined for 32 points over the last 10 games — 24 when excluding power play points, where McMann plays on the second unit.</p>
<p>In the March 13 matchup against the Panthers, Calle Järnkrok played alongside Tavares and Nylander, with each of them registering a point in the 3-2 loss. But with Florida&#8217;s second line now featuring <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/brad-marchand-mitch-marner-centre-of-hockey-universe">Brad Marchand</a> and Sam Bennett, McMann brings some necessary physicality in combatting those pesky players, and the 6&#8217;2&#8243;, 215 lb. forward says he&#8217;s ready for the challenge.</p>
<p>&#8220;I think they&#8217;re both really good players,&#8221; McMann said. &#8220;They play hard, they play an in-your-face type of game. For us, I think it&#8217;s just initiating. Making sure we&#8217;re taking it to them. Rather than letting them dictate anything, we&#8217;re gonna be the ones initiating.&#8221;</p>
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Another major test is coming, as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena. After <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/scenes-toronto-maple-leafs-morning-skate-stolarz-starts-florida-panthers-berube-coy-playoff-rotation">practice Wednesday</a> morning, Leafs forward Bobby McMann spoke to media about the big match in store.
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"Yeah, definitely a big one," McMann said. "Something that, it's gonna be a big determiner of where we land in the standings. Obviously it's tight. And you never know who you're going to see down the road, so it's good."

Toronto currently leads the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/mapping-out-remainder-atlantic-division-race-toronto-maple-leafs-lightning-panthers">Atlantic Division</a> with 94 points, directly followed by the Tampa Bay Lightning with 93, then the Panthers who have 92. All three teams have eight games remaining. With the standings this tight, first place is anyone's for the taking, and with that in mind, either of the Florida teams could very well be Toronto's first round opponent in the playoffs.

When it comes to the particulars of the standings, that's not where the team's focus is. Asked what it would mean to secure at least a point in this contest, McMann acknowledged the importance, but said the focus is on a bigger goal.

"Yeah, I think that'd be cool, it'd be nice to lock that in," McMann said. "But I think we're just trying to get our game to the point where details and everything are going to be the best they can be going into playoffs, I think that's the goal."

While Berube has been experimenting with the bottom-six, especially following the trade deadline, McMann has been a key part of a consistent second line recently for the Leafs, playing alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. The three have combined for 32 points over the last 10 games — 24 when excluding power play points, where McMann plays on the second unit.

In the March 13 matchup against the Panthers, Calle Järnkrok played alongside Tavares and Nylander, with each of them registering a point in the 3-2 loss. But with Florida's second line now featuring <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/brad-marchand-mitch-marner-centre-of-hockey-universe">Brad Marchand</a> and Sam Bennett, McMann brings some necessary physicality in combatting those pesky players, and the 6'2", 215 lb. forward says he's ready for the challenge.

"I think they're both really good players," McMann said. "They play hard, they play an in-your-face type of game. For us, I think it's just initiating. Making sure we're taking it to them. Rather than letting them dictate anything, we're gonna be the ones initiating."
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Bobby McMann outlines the challenges presented by Brad Marchand ahead of key Panthers matchup

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