Most importantly, after Florida’s 3-2 shootout win over Detroit this afternoon, the Leafs are looking to keep the gap in the home-ice advantage race in the Atlantic Division at six points with a game in hand for Toronto (with two of the Leafs‘ remaining nine games coming against the Panthers).
Tonight, the Leafs will face a third opponent in a row who is fighting to stay alive in the Eastern Conference wildcard race, although the Sabres are facing steep odds at six points back with two more games played than Washington. Still, the memory of the 9-3 loss to Buffalo shouldn’t be forgotten, nor the recent 6-3 loss to New Jersey, the two 6-5 OT losses to Columbus this season, or the three losses to the Senators in which the Leafs conceded a combined 15 goals; they are all pertinent reminders of the fact that many teams on the outside of the playoff picture in the East still possess the offensive talent to inflict serious damage if the Leafs‘ structure and detail isn’t where it needs to be.