Leafs on the Brink of Clinching Playoff Berth Against Panthers
The Toronto Maple Leafs are just one point away from securing a Stanley Cup playoff spot, and they have the opportunity to do so on Wednesday night when they face the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena.
“It’s an expectation here,” said Jake McCabe following the team’s optional morning skate. “This organization has been making the playoffs for years. Seeing that ‘X’ beside our name in the standings is always satisfying. We’ve known we would get in, but now the focus is on winning the division.”
If the Leafs clinch, it will mark their ninth consecutive playoff appearance—the longest active streak in the NHL. However, the race for the Atlantic Division title remains tight, with Toronto (94 points), Tampa Bay (93 points), and Florida (92 points) all within striking distance.
The Leafs and Panthers will meet twice down the stretch, including Wednesday’s game, while Tampa and Florida also have one more head-to-head clash on April 15.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz is expected to start for Toronto, but head coach Craig Berube remained noncommittal about a potential goalie rotation in the playoffs.
“I’ve never done it,” Berube said. “I’ve had to switch goalies in certain situations, but it’s not something I’ve stuck with. We’ll have that discussion if needed.”
For Toronto to prevail, they must improve their net-front presence, which was an issue in their last meeting with Florida on March 13. That night, Sam Bennett scored two power-play goals, proving to be the difference in a 3-2 Panthers win.
“We need to be stronger around the net and more aware of their playstyle,” Berube emphasized. “They generate a lot of low plays and quick shots from the flanks. We got burned twice last time.”
Florida, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Montreal on Tuesday, has struggled with consistency, going 3-4-1 since beating Toronto. The Leafs, by contrast, have surged with a 6-2-1 record in that span.
Despite Florida playing on the second half of a back-to-back, Berube is not expecting an easy matchup.
“Sometimes teams play even better the second night,” he said. “It’s going to be a tight, tough game. We need to bring energy, stay patient, and not get frustrated. They defend well, and space will be limited, so we must remain composed.”
With the chance to punch their ticket to the postseason, the Leafs will aim to capitalize on home ice and secure the all-important ‘X’ in the standings.
