Gameday Preview: Leafs vs. Panthers
Monday, 03.03.2003 / 1:49 PM
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Toronto Maple Leafs
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GAME: Florida Panthers (19-25-12-9) at Toronto Maple Leafs (37-23-4-1).
TIME: Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST.
Having missed several opportunities to gain ground in the race for the Eastern Conference's last playoff spot, the Florida Panthers are hoping a tough schedule doesn't push them even further back in the pack.
The sputtering Panthers close out a three-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.
Winless in their last four games (0-3-1), the Panthers have slipped eight points behind the eighth-place Boston Bruins, who have held onto the spot despite going eight games without a win.
The Panthers will play five of their eight games next on the road, and return home Wednesday to take on the red-hot Colorado Avalanche.
Florida suffered its third straight loss Saturday, dropping a 5-2 decision to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Olli Jokinen scored his team-leading 33rd goal for the Panthers, who have scored just six goals in their last four games, going 2-of-11 on the power play.
Florida's top priority Monday will be shutting down Toronto winger Alexander Mogilny, who has registered a point in eight straight games, collecting four goals and nine assists.
On Saturday, Mogilny scored his 26th goal in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto's second victory in three games.
Forward Shayne Corson, back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch for seven straight games, had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs.
"It sure was nice to score," Corson said. "I wanted to come back and have a good game. But the most satisfying thing for me was that I came back and we won the game with me in the lineup."
Corson, 36, has five goals and seven assists in 34 games this season.
STANDINGS (through March 1):
Panthers - 59 points, 3rd place, 12 PB, Southeast Division.
Maple Leafs - 79 points, 2nd place, 9 PB, Northeast Division.
TEAM LEADERS:
Panthers - Jokinen, 33 goals and 60 points; Jokinen and Viktor Kozlov, 27 assists; Peter Worrell, 180 PIM.
Maple Leafs - Mats Sundin, 30 goals; Mogilny, 43 assists and 69 points; Tie Domi, 121 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through March 1):
Panthers - Power play: 15.0 percent (42 for 280), 20th in NHL. Penalty killing: 79.7 percent (231 for 290), 30.
Maple Leafs - Power play: 17.3 percent (51 for 294), 12th. Penalty killing: 87.5 percent (193 for 255), 2nd.
GOALTENDERS:
Panthers - Roberto Luongo (15-27-6, 6 SO, 2.86 GAA); Jani Hurme (4-7-6, 1, 2.70).
Maple Leafs - Ed Belfour (30-17-3, 6 SO, 2.26 GAA); Trevor Kidd (6-6-1, 0, 3.10).
SEASON SERIES: tied, 1-1-1.
LAST MEETING: Feb. 5; Maple Leafs, 6-0. Toronto scored three goals in the first 4:11 of the second period to grab a 4-0 lead en route to their third straight win.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Panthers - 12-11-5-4 on the road; Maple Leafs - 21-11-2-0 at home.
TIME: Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST.
Having missed several opportunities to gain ground in the race for the Eastern Conference's last playoff spot, the Florida Panthers are hoping a tough schedule doesn't push them even further back in the pack.
The sputtering Panthers close out a three-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.
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| Shayne Corson returned to the lineup and picked up two points. Graig Abel Photography |
The Panthers will play five of their eight games next on the road, and return home Wednesday to take on the red-hot Colorado Avalanche.
Florida suffered its third straight loss Saturday, dropping a 5-2 decision to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Olli Jokinen scored his team-leading 33rd goal for the Panthers, who have scored just six goals in their last four games, going 2-of-11 on the power play.
Florida's top priority Monday will be shutting down Toronto winger Alexander Mogilny, who has registered a point in eight straight games, collecting four goals and nine assists.
On Saturday, Mogilny scored his 26th goal in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto's second victory in three games.
Forward Shayne Corson, back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch for seven straight games, had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs.
"It sure was nice to score," Corson said. "I wanted to come back and have a good game. But the most satisfying thing for me was that I came back and we won the game with me in the lineup."
Corson, 36, has five goals and seven assists in 34 games this season.
STANDINGS (through March 1):
Panthers - 59 points, 3rd place, 12 PB, Southeast Division.
Maple Leafs - 79 points, 2nd place, 9 PB, Northeast Division.
TEAM LEADERS:
Panthers - Jokinen, 33 goals and 60 points; Jokinen and Viktor Kozlov, 27 assists; Peter Worrell, 180 PIM.
Maple Leafs - Mats Sundin, 30 goals; Mogilny, 43 assists and 69 points; Tie Domi, 121 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through March 1):
Panthers - Power play: 15.0 percent (42 for 280), 20th in NHL. Penalty killing: 79.7 percent (231 for 290), 30.
Maple Leafs - Power play: 17.3 percent (51 for 294), 12th. Penalty killing: 87.5 percent (193 for 255), 2nd.
GOALTENDERS:
Panthers - Roberto Luongo (15-27-6, 6 SO, 2.86 GAA); Jani Hurme (4-7-6, 1, 2.70).
Maple Leafs - Ed Belfour (30-17-3, 6 SO, 2.26 GAA); Trevor Kidd (6-6-1, 0, 3.10).
SEASON SERIES: tied, 1-1-1.
LAST MEETING: Feb. 5; Maple Leafs, 6-0. Toronto scored three goals in the first 4:11 of the second period to grab a 4-0 lead en route to their third straight win.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Panthers - 12-11-5-4 on the road; Maple Leafs - 21-11-2-0 at home.
