The Toronto Maple Leafs have won four straight games. The Florida Panthers have lost four straight games.
Toronto is 7-1-0 in its past eight games. Florida is 1-6-0 in its past seven.
On Wednesday night, those trends will be tested as the Panthers will host the Leafs in Sunrise, Fla.
Oddly, Toronto is on this hot streak despite playing without seven-time All-Star Auston Matthews, who had led the NHL in goals in three of the previous four years.
Matthews, Toronto’s captain, is on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury.
“Don’t get me wrong — we want Auston back as soon as possible,” Leafs star John Tavares said. “But it’s just about believing in the group and … the depth we have. Everyone is a part of it.”
Indeed, Mitch Marner leads Toronto in assists (20) and points (28). William Nylander leads the Leafs in goals (14). And Tavares has 20 points, ranking third behind Marner and Nylander.
Marner has been particularly hot, as he has a four-game multi-point streak. During that span, he has scored four goals and dished four assists.
“He’s an elite player,” Tavares said. “He makes plays. He does so many good things without the puck. He plays in all situations, and he brings an element to our locker room that is unique.
“We’re lucky to have him.”
The Leafs also feel lucky to have the goalie duo of Anthony Stolarz — who played for the Panthers last season — and Joseph Woll.
Stolarz has yet to face the Panthers since signing a two-year, $5 million contract with Toronto in July. But he has been brilliant with the Leafs, posting a 7-3-2 record, a .927 save percentage and a 2.18 goals-against average.
Woll is 5-2-0 with a .922 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average.
Florida will likely start goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who was rested in Monday’s 4-1 loss to Washington.
Bobrovsky is 9-5-1 with an .885 save percentage and a 3.18 goals-against average. For his career against Toronto, Bobrovsky is 13-8-1 with a .904 save percentage and a 2.82 GAA.
In that loss to Washington, Panthers center Sam Reinhart had his 13-game points streak snapped. It is the longest such streak in the NHL this season.
Reinhart, who started this week tied for the league lead in goals scored (16), also tops the Panthers in points (31). He has 11 goals and eight assists over his past 14 games.
With stars such as Bobrovsky, Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, it’s easy to see why Panthers coach Paul Maurice hasn’t lost confidence in his team.
But he is also honest.
“There’s a piece of our game that’s missing right now,” Maurice said, “and we’re going to have to find it.”
Added Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola: “We’re a little bit off.”
Panthers backup goalie Spencer Knight admitted he’s frustrated.
“But we’ve got to stick with it,” Knight said. “We’ve done a lot of things right. We’re working hard. Everyone is buying in.
“Every team in this league is good. Anyone can beat anyone.”
–Field Level Media
