The Leafs are back in action tonight against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena. The Leafs have put together three consecutive strong games, but have only mustered a 1-1-1 record over that span, for reasons only the Hockey Gods can likely explain.

The Panthers, meanwhile, may not be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention yet, but their story of the season has been all but written. They’ll look to play spoilers tonight against the Leafs as our boys in blue in closer to punching their ticket to the 2018-19 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Leafs Lines

LW	C	RW	Forwards
ZACH HYMAN Rating: 74.1#42 LW	JOHN TAVARES Rating: 82.6#10 C	MITCH MARNER Rating: 79.2#16 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 78.64#12 FL1
ANDREAS JOHNSSON Rating: 76.3#30 LW	AUSTON MATTHEWS Rating: 85.0#5 C	WILLIAM NYLANDER Rating: 76.1#31 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 79.11#2 FL2
PATRICK MARLEAU Rating: 72.8#67 LW	NAZEM KADRI Rating: 77.1#36 C	KASPERI KAPANEN Rating: 74.1#43 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 74.70#2 FL3
TREVOR MOORE Rating: 73.0#64 LW	FREDERIK GAUTHIER Rating: 68.8#190 C	CONNOR BROWN Rating: 70.5#101 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 70.75#17 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS	Defense
MORGAN RIELLY Rating: 79.8#6 LD	RON HAINSEY Rating: 73.2#46 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 76.47#14 DL1
JAKE MUZZIN Rating: 76.8#19 LD	NIKITA ZAITSEV Rating: 71.7#76 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 74.22#14 DL2
JUSTIN HOLL Rating: 72.9#61 LD	IGOR OZHIGANOV Rating: 71.4#81 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 72.18#12 DL3

No changes for the Leafs tonight, which means that Tyler Ennis continues to sit while Connor Brown keeps playing, which is just laughable at this point.

In better news:

Kristen Shilton

@kristen_shilton

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Travis Dermott going out for #Leafs optional morning skate in a black defence sweater, not a red no-contact one. Might not be playing tonight, but clearly getting closer.

2:24 PM · Mar 25, 2019

306

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Chris Johnston

@reporterchris

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The #leafs plan to recall Calle Rosen after he plays another game for the Marlies next weekend, per Mike Babcock.

2:45 PM · Mar 25, 2019

874

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Pierre LeBrun

@PierreVLeBrun

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Jake Gardiner out there once again pre-skate this morning ...

2:19 PM · Mar 25, 2019

129

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The blue line inches closer and closer to being fully optimized!

Panthers Lines

LW	C	RW	Forwards
JONATHAN HUBERDEAU Rating: 80.9#8 LW	ALEKSANDER BARKOV Rating: 84.4#6 C	EVGENII DADONOV Rating: 78.6#18 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 81.32#2 FL1
MIKE HOFFMAN Rating: 76.6#28 LW	VINCENT TROCHECK Rating: 75.5#50 C	JAYCE HAWRYLUK Rating: 71.5#83 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 74.52#18 FL2
FRANK VATRANO Rating: 73.4#76 LW	RILEY SHEAHAN Rating: 69.3#181 C	TROY BROUWER Rating: 69.1#120 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 70.59#31 FL3
JAMIE MCGINN Rating: 70.5#120 LW	HENRIK BORGSTROM Rating: 71.9#114 C	COLTON SCEVIOUR Rating: 71.1#141 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 71.13#13 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS	Defense
MICHAEL MATHESON Rating: 73.5#54 LD	AARON EKBLAD Rating: 75.4#27 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 74.46#19 DL1
KEITH YANDLE Rating: 77.7#10 LD	MACKENZIE WEEGAR Rating: 72.3#61 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 74.99#10 DL2
MARK PYSYK Rating: 71.4#82 LD	JOSH BROWN	DL3 Rating Rating: 71.37#18 DL3

The Leafs and Panthers are no strangers at this point. Tonight, they’ll meet for the fourth and final time this season.

The Leafs trounced the Panthers 6-1 back in December, but looked terrible in their other two games down in Sunrise. They’re 1-1-1 against the Panthers on the season.

Who’s Hot

Auston Matthews has finally “found his groove”, i.e. he’s having just a wonderful time playing with William Nylander. Look out for him tonight.
For the Panthers, Sasha Barkov is no longer the NHL’s best-kept secret. He’s been unreal for the Panthers this season, with 35 goals and 87 points through 75 games, including four in his last 3 GP.

Starting Goalies

For the Leafs, Frederik Andersen (.918) gets the nod.
For the Panthers, it’s… Sam Montembault? He’s got an .893 through 8 career games played, so he’s guaranteed to get a shutout tonight.

Puck Drop is at 7pm on TSN4.