The Toronto Maple Leafs will finish their swing through the Sunshine State when they face Atlantic Division rival Tampa Bay on Saturday night.
In a strong November that saw coach Craig Berube’s group move near the top of the division standings, the Leafs were slowed Wednesday night by the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
That game had the look of a playoff matchup and brought back memories of Toronto fans famously chanting “We want Florida!” in the postseason two seasons ago.
On the night before Thanksgiving, the Leafs got Florida — got the Panthers’ recent best, actually — and it was more than the visitors could handle.
After dropping six of its past seven games, Florida jumped Toronto, built a three-goal advantage and disposed of Berube’s club 5-1 in their first meeting this season.
The Panthers were the better team from the drop of the puck, and they repeatedly hemmed in the Leafs and forced numerous icings that came back for faceoffs in front of starting goalie Anthony Stolarz, a member of the Panthers last season.
Berube was most upset about losing the battle of special teams.
“We talked before the game and knew 5-on-5 would be tight, but special teams were the difference,” he said. “We gave up two power-play goals to them and a shorty. That was the difference in the game.
“We were trying to come back and took six minutes of penalties in the third. That makes it difficult.”
The Maple Leafs could get a big boost Saturday should center Auston Matthews return from an upper-body injury that has sidelined him since Nov. 3.
Matthews informed reporters Friday that he intends to return against the Lightning.
The three-time NHL goals champion has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 13 appearances this season. The 27-year-old met with reporters Friday, saying, “In my mind, I’m back and excited to play tomorrow.”
Still, the Leafs have points in eight of their past 10 matches (7-2-1) and beat the Lightning 5-2 on Oct. 21 in Toronto.
Against the Panthers, forward Bobby McMann left the game in the second period and is listed as day to day.
In Nashville on Friday, the Lightning deposited two hard-earned points in the standings with a 3-2 overtime win over the Predators to sweep the season series.
Nikita Kucherov missed the second period with an ailment, but returned in the third period to set up Brayden Point’s game-winning tally early in overtime as the Lightning improved to 5-2-1 in their past eight contests.
Beneath the goal line following a faceoff, Kucherov fed Point out front for his 16th goal to beat goaltender Juuse Saros. It was the center’s NHL-leading ninth power-play goal.
Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel, who scored his 100th career goal, said the team stayed focused after the Washington Capitals rallied past them 5-4 on Wednesday night.
“I think we kept it simple,” Hagel said. “I think we had a good vibe the entire game, and going into the third, we just knew what we had to do. We learned from last game, and we went out there and finished the job.”
Added coach Jon Cooper of the game-winning marker: “Pointer in tight. I don’t know if there’s anybody better.”
Victor Hedman stands on the threshold of franchise history. The defenseman recorded his 588th career assist on Hagel’s 10th goal for a 2-1 lead in the second frame.
The helper tied Hedman, in his first year as the club’s captain, with Martin St. Louis for the all-time assist lead for the organization.
–Field Level Media
