Toronto @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 28, 2018 ) Florida 3, Toronto 4

The Toronto Maple Leafs have run roughshod away from Scotiabank Arena this season, using their high-powered fifth-ranked offense to remain among the Eastern Conference's elite while posting a sterling 12-5-0 mark on the road. Their recent travels haven't been as productive, however, as the Maple Leafs have lost two of three to begin a five-game road trip heading into Saturday's tilt versus the Florida Panthers.

Kasperi Kapanen's unassisted goal early in the first period was all Toronto could muster against Andrei Vasilevskiy despite unleashing 49 shots on net in Thursday's 4-1 setback to white-hot Tampa Bay. The 22-year-old Finn has four points (two goals, two assists) in his last five games overall and has recorded eight of his 12 goals on the road in what has the makings of a banner season for the soon-to-be restricted free agent. While Toronto is just 4-4-1 versus Atlantic Division representatives, Florida has secured at least a point in seven of eight such encounters (4-1-3) -- although it has lost a season high-tying four in a row and 11 of 15 (4-8-3) to reside in the basement. "We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We've got to figure this out. The only solution to this is winning a game," Panthers coach Bob Boughner said after Thursday's 5-1 setback in Minnesota.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, Sportsnet 1, CITY (Toronto), FS Florida

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (21-10-1): While Toronto's division record screams mediocre at best, coach Mike Babcock isn't placing extra importance on the games against Atlantic adversaries. "Every game adds up exactly the same," Babcock said on Friday. "... I think there are some teams that, because of their level, you're more interested in beating just because of the emotional side of it. In the end they all add up the same." The Maple Leafs' power play hasn't added up to much of late, as they failed on all six opportunities versus the Lightning to fall to 1-for-18 overall in their last five games.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (11-13-6): Jonathan Huberdeau has boosted his team-leading assist (28) and point (36) totals with 17 and 21, respectively, in his last dozen games. The 25-year-old scored three goals and set up another against Toronto in 2017-18 while fellow Quebec native Roberto Luongo turned aside 141 of 149 shots to help Florida salvage a split of the four-game season series. The 39-year-old netminder has yielded four goals in each of his last three outings on the heels of turning aside all 33 shots he faced in a 5-0 win versus Boston on Dec. 4.

OVERTIME

1. Florida C Denis Malgin has recorded six points (two goals, four assists) in 18 games while earning a larger role in the absence of injured Vincent Trocheck.

2. Toronto LW Zach Hyman will draw back in the lineup after serving his two-game suspension for interference on Boston D Charlie McAvoy.

3. The Panthers' potent fifth-ranked power play has converted at least one opportunity in 18 of the last 21 games.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 1