UPDATE 4:15pm: According to DailyFaceoff.com, Roberto Luongo will make his 30th start of the year for the Panthers. Frederick Anderson gets the nod for Toronto.
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As the race for the final wild card spot continues, the Florida Panthers get no help from the Carolina Hurricanes who couldn't stave off a late surge by the New Jersey Devils, despite carrying a 2-1 lead into the final nine minutes of the third period. The Devils won 4-3 in regulation. Out west, the Dallas Stars managed a 3-2 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Most people are focused in on the Devils as the team for the Cats to catch, but the Flyers are also vulnerable should Florida continue it's late nice heroics.
As much as following the out-of-town scoreboard is important, the Florida Panthers do control their own destiny. With two games in hand on the Devils, and three on the Flyers, winning guarantees Florida a playoff spot. With that said, the Panthers head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs tonight at 7:30pm EST.
The Leafs have shown they have little concern about what goes on the rest of the year. They're doing their best to avoid injuries and playing a rather lackadaisical game as they've all but locked up the third spot in the Atlantic. It's not to say that tonight will be an easy win for the Panthers. This Maple Leafs squad can score in bunches and are takeaway machines so the Cats need to be on their best behavior moving through the neutral zone.
Currently, the Panthers own the season series going 2-1-0, winning their last meeting in overtime 3-2. Florida obviously has much more to play for and that should be what gives them the edge over Toronto. Barkov and Co. have proven they match-up well against the Buds. This definitely isn't a game the Panthers can lose if they expect to make the playoffs.