Maple Leafs-Florida Panthers: Thursday game preview
AIR CANADA CENTRE Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. TV: Sportsnet Ontario Radio: TSN Radio 1050
Key matchup: Nazem Kadri vs. Aleksander Barkov. Leafs centre Kadri often faces the other team’s top centre, and he will have his hands full facing Florida’s top line of Barkov, Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau. Jagr, at age 44, is playing like a kid and is the team’s top scorer, with 54 points. He’s hard to move off the puck. Against Mon- treal on Tuesday, Jagr logged over 19 minutes and contributed an assist. He recently passed Gordie Howe for third place on the all-time scoring list behind Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier . . . Huberdeau comes into the Leaf game on a five-game point streak.
Need to know: Panthers centre Vincent Trocheck had a goal and assist in the 4-1 win over the Canadiens on Tuesday; he also took a high stick that sent him for dental repairs afterward. His status for Thursday is uncertain . . . The Panthers (39-22-9) moved back into first place in the Atlantic Division with the victory over Montreal, combined with losses by the Lightning and Bruins . . . Florida defenceman Erik Gudbranson and centre Jussi Jokinen did not play on Tuesday because of lower-body injuries each sustained blocking shots on Monday. They are doubtful for Thursday.
Up next: Saturday, Sabres at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m., CBC. Curtis Rush