Puck Drop: 7PM SNET-O

Tonight. Seven pee em. It happens. Your Toronto Maple Leafs will host the red hot Florida Panthers in a game that will determine playoff lottery positions. Florida sits five points ahead of the Leafs but a win tonight narrows that gap to (carry the six...) about three-ish points.

With ten games left the Leafs have the Panthers, Hurricanes, Islanders and Lightning in their sight. They probably won't catch them all but here's what they're up against right now:

Team (Place) GP Points L10
Florida (25) 71 69 5-4-1
Carolina (26) 72 68 5-4-1
Islanders (27) 72 68 4-4-2
Lightning (28) 72 68 2-7-1
Maple Leafs (29) 72 64 7-2-1

The Leafs' 7-2-1 in their last ten puts them behind only Phoenix (9-1-0) and Washington (7-1-2). They're tied with Detroit and Montreal, so they're playing some pretty good hockey right here.Tampa Bay seems to be free falling so with continued strong play from the kids and some luck they might get caught by the Leafs. You can bet that this team knows that finishing on a huge run and dragging themselves into 4th or 5th in the draft is going to make them look very good in the eyes of their GM.

The Leafs' PK was outstanding on Saturday night against the Habs and despite having only one opportunity they potted a PP goal with some excellent sustained pressure on Halak. Ex-Leaf Scott Clemmensen gets the nod against Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Luca Caputi isn't 100% over his tummy ache but will probably be in the lineup anyways.

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