Florida @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 15, 2018 ) Toronto 3, Florida 4

The Toronto Maple Leafs rebounded from two disappointing results with a dominating performance and look to build on that when they host the rejuvenated Florida Panthers on Thursday night. The Maple Leafs lost at Tampa Bay 4-1 despite recording 49 shots and were beaten at Florida in overtime Saturday before scoring early and often to knock off New Jersey 7-2 on Tuesday.

“We need to try and bottle all that up and find some consistency in that,” Toronto forward Connor Brown told reporters after joining teammate Nazem Kadri with three assists Tuesday. “That was the type of game we wanted to play - in their end and play heavy.” Florida captain Aleksander Barkov capped his first career hat trick with the overtime winner in the 4-3 triumph over the Maple Leafs last weekend and boasts 15 points (eight goals) in the last 11 games as the Panthers try to climb out of the Atlantic Division cellar. Florida followed up the win over Toronto by scoring four unanswered goals in the third period for a 5-2 victory at Buffalo on Tuesday to open a four-game road trip. “We’ve been in that situation so many times this year, one-goal games and trailing and coming back, letting a game fall again. …,” Panthers coach Bob Boughner told reporters. “I think we’re learning from our mistakes. If I have to say one thing, I think that we are getting more mature in those situations.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida, TVA, Sportsnet Ontario (Toronto)

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (13-13-6): Barkov scored Tuesday and has five points in the last two games to tie fellow forward Evgenii Dadonov for second on the team with 33 - six behind left wing Jonathan Huberdeau. The 25-year-old Huberdeau boasts 22 points in the past 12 contests after registering an assist Tuesday while veteran goalie Roberto Luongo posted his 478th career win to pull within six of Ed Belfour for third in NHL history. Forward Frank Vatrano scored his ninth goal Tuesday to pull within one of his career best in 2016-17 with Boston.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (22-10-2): Patrick Marleau recorded his 544th career goal in Tuesday’s victory to tie Maurice “Rocket” Richard for 30th on the NHL’s all-time list. “Growing up, I’d look at all the hockey cards and all the books,” Marleau told reporters. “You read about the great players and think it’s pretty cool to be in that same company. It’s always nice when a milestone like that comes in a win.” Mitch Marner owns three goals in the last two games and leads the team with 44 points while John Tavares recorded three of his team-best 21 goals in the past four contests.

OVERTIME

1. Toronto D Morgan Rielly entered Wednesday tied for the league lead in points among blue liners with 36 - nine in the past nine games.

2. Florida D Keith Yandle owns assists in each of the last two games and is four points away from 500 for his career.

3. Toronto has won the last five meetings at home and the visiting team dropped seven straight in the series.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 3