All the work the Panthers did to get themselves back into the wildcard mix with a 6-0-1 stretch earlier in March is on the verge of completely unraveling during their current four-game losing streak in which they have conceded 21 goals. Three points back of the second wildcard spot with eight games to go, Florida is fast entering the do-or-die territory heading into the third game of the season series against the Leafs tonight (currently 2-0 in favour of Toronto).
The Leafs handed the Panthers a 6-2 loss last Thursday — a game in which Florida sought to run the Leafs a little bit physically and scored in the first period on the power play to tie the game, but Toronto took care of business at five-on-five and with their first 5-on-3 power play opportunity of the season to all but put the game in hand through 40 minutes.