The Panthers enter this game with a full forward lineup but are without Aaron Ekblad and Oliver Ekman-Larsson on defense, while the Leafs are fully healthy on defense but missing Max Domi, Bobby McMann, and Calle Jarnkrok up front. Neither team will play its Game 1 starter in net (Anthony Stolarz starts tonight for Florida, and Joseph Woll for Toronto).
Beyond some pre-playoff prep against a potential round-one opponent, Toronto really only has a big-time individual milestone to play for, while Florida could still win the division if they get help elsewhere. They could still play the Lightning instead of the Leafs in round one and guarantee home-ice advantage for themselves in the first two rounds, but they would need to win tonight and Boston would need to lose to Ottawa, so it’s not fully in their own hands.