As far as regular season games go, Thursday night’s contest between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers was a key one. Both teams entered the game separated by just two points atop the Atlantic Division, in the first of three matchups down the stretch that could go a long way towards determining who claims the top spot at the end of the season.

The Leafs came out of the gates with the energetic pace befitting such a crucial, high-stakes matchup, and it looked like they were going to be up to the task against the defending Stanley Cup champs. As valuable as the two points were, this was also a measuring stick game where Craig Berube was looking for a better process than his team has shown despite solid results in recent weeks, and they were rewarded with an early lead after John Tavares got free on the back door to bury a slick feed from William Nylander.

Berube’s squad kept the foot on the gas in the early going, highlighted by a massive open ice hit and decisive victory in the ensuing fight by Max Domi, but penalty trouble zapped the momentum they had generated up to that point. The Leafs got their opportunities on the power play as well, but they were unable to convert or generate much in the way of sustained pressure on those chances, while the Panthers took full advantage when the Leafs had a man in the box. Sam Bennett’s goal to tie the game in the opening frame, as well as his eventual game-winner in the second period, came on the man advantage.

To the Leafs’ credit, they came out flying again in the third period, and a great shot off the rush by Domi brought them back within one with more than 15 minutes left on the clock. They maintained that strong push for most of the final frame, generating chances in the dirty areas around Florida’s net, but they couldn’t find the goal they needed, ultimately dropping an extremely valuable two points and falling four points back of the division lead with just 17 games left on the schedule.

The Leafs did a lot of good things in this game; they played with pace and energy, they matched the Panthers’ physicality, and they limited quality chances against at even strength. That has been enough against teams like Utah and Pittsburgh, but the Leafs are still searching for that consistency in their ability to put forth a full, 60-minute effort against upper echelon opponents like the Panthers, Avalanche, and Golden Knights.

Winning the division has been one of the primary goals for this Leafs team, but Thursday’s disjointed effort against the Panthers was a tough blow to that pursuit. With a couple more head-to-head matchups on tap, that goal isn’t out of reach just yet, but if the Leafs aren’t able to dial in their process and consistency over the final few weeks, they can expect similar results when the stakes get even higher.