Game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers

There are 19 games left in the Maple Leafs 2014-2015 season. Another long summer awaits us. Our next big thing to really go for is the Lottery mid-April and then the Draft at the end of June, right here in Sunrise Florida.

Enough about the future, tonight the Leafs play a team fighting with Boston for that last Wild Card spot, the Florida Panthers.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers
7:30PM, TSN4, 590AM
SBN: Litter Box Cats

As I covered earlier today in the Cheering Guide, we don't need to cheer for a loss, but it does help us in the race for last place. The Maple Leafs will see a few newcomers in Tim Erixon and Joakim Lindstrom, Eric Brewer will not play tonight.

Joakim Lindstrom a maybe to be on the ice for Leafs morning skate today. Eric Brewer won't make it in time per @LeafsPR.

— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) March 3, 2015

New Leaf Joakim Lindstrom on the ice this morning wearing no. 15. Tim Erixon also joining the team wearing no. 33.

— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) March 3, 2015

The Florida Panthers after making some moves that have confused some people, moving Bergenheim and adding Jagr for example, are on a 4 game win streak and sit two points out of the final wild card spot in the East.

NHL.com Line ups
Toronto

Interesting look to Toronto's defence: Gardiner-Phaneuf. Rielly-Polak. Erixon-Robidas.

— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) March 3, 2015

Eric Brewer is outof the line up tonight as mentioned above, but here is the NHL's previewed lines

James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel
Joffrey Lupul - Nazem Kadri - Richard Panik
Leo Komarov - Peter Holland - David Booth
Zach Sill - Joakim Lindstrom - Brandon Kozun

Dion Phaneuf - Roman Polak
Eric Brewer - Morgan Rielly
Jake Gardiner - Stephane Robidas

Jonathan Bernier
James Reimer

Scratched: Tim Erixon
Injured: Trevor Smith (lower body)

Florida

#FlaPanthers going with Sundays lineup v #Leafs so Kopecky in, Thornton out

— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) March 3, 2015

Jonathan Huberdeau - Aleksander Barkov - Jaromir Jagr
Jussi Jokinen - Nick Bjugstad - Brad Boyes
Brandon Pirri - Vincent Trocheck - Jimmy Hayes
Tomas Kopecky - Derek MacKenzie - Scottie Upshall

Brian Campbell - Aaron Ekblad
Dmitry Kulikov - Erik Gudbranson
Steven Kampfer - Alex Petrovic

Roberto Luongo
Al Montoya

Scratched: Shawn Thornton
Injured: Willie Mitchell (upper body), Dave Bolland (upper body)

Maple Leafs Notes:

Get familiar with #nocomment

— Joffrey Lupul (@JLupul) March 3, 2015

Phil Kessel had a moment with the assembled media after the morning skate.

Kessel was asked specifically if he wants out: "No. I love Toronto. I love playing here, I love the city, I signed for eight years."

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) March 3, 2015

Panthers Notes:

Jagr will take sole possession of fifth all time on NHL scoring records if he scores 1 goal tonight. He is currently tied at 717 with Phil Esposito.

Former #FlaPanthers coach Peter Horachek stays positive amongst all the #Leafs losses... http://t.co/UACMeazy7J

— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) March 3, 2015

An interview with the former Panthers coach and Current Leafs coach

Willie Mitchell had some thoughts on Glen Healy on deadline day (via SBN)

Hey #GlenHealy shove it up your ass! @SNHockeyCentral @FlaPanthers are a tad bit "mightier" then your career save percentage. #Catsarecoming

— Willie Mitchell (@Willie_Mitch33) March 2, 2015

Willie Mitchell is f***ing awesome.

My Thoughts: I hope the Leafs have a good game, play well as a team, Phil scores some goals, and the new guys show us what management saw in them. it's conflicting because hey, who doesn't love wins, but who also doesn't want Boston to miss the playoffs?