Florida enters play Wednesday three points behind Pittsburgh for the final Wild Card spot
The Florida Panthers were given a gift on Tuesday night in the form of a Pittsburgh Penguins loss, keeping the Cats dimming playoff hopes from fading farther into darkness.
Entering Wednesday night’s game in Toronto, the Panthers sit three points behind Pittsburgh for the second Wild Card spot. Both teams have eight games to go.
The Penguins next two are at home; Thursday against Nashville, currently in the same spot as the Panthers in that they’re both three points back of the last Wild Card spot, and Saturday against Boston, far and away the best team in the NHL.
Florida’s next two are Wednesday and Thursday in Toronto and Montreal.
After climbing back into a playoff spot as recently as last Monday, the Panthers have dropped four straight games and find their season on life support.
Turning things around against a top team like Toronto would be a massive boost to the confidence of a Florida team in desperate need of some positive vibes.
Perhaps that boost will come in the form of Sam Bennett returning to the lineup, though that won’t be known until, at least, after the Panthers morning skate at Scotiabank Arena.
Florida has dropped each of the four games Bennett has missed since being injured during their last win, nine days ago in Detroit.
If Bennett misses his fifth straight game, Florida will have to find a way to grind out two points in a building that has proven to be incredibly tough to play in this season (Toronto is 25-7-5 at home).
UPDATE: Bennett will not play Wednesday in Toronto, his fifth straight game out of the lineup.
“Benny’s a great player and we’re definitely missing him,” said Panthers winger Carter Verhaeghe. “Guys have been stepping up and we need guys to step up tonight. It’s always tough when you lose one of those guys from our lineup. Guys need to step up."
Head Coach Paul Maurice also said he wouldn’t be announcing a starting goalie until game time.
With Florida heading into the back-to-back, it's possible Maurice starts Sergei Bobrovsky one night and backup Alex Lyon the other.
It's also conceivable that if whichever goalie starts on Wednesday has a big game, Maurice decides to ride the hot hand.
At this point, all bets are off. Get the wins however you can.
UPDATE #2: Florida recalled goaltender Mack Guzda from the AHL's Charlotte Checkers.
There was no corresponding move, and both Bobrovsky and Lyon remain on the Panthers active roster.
If Bobrovsky was going to start, there is no reason to think Maurice wouldn't come out and say so as he has all year, so speculation is that Lyon will get the nod.
FINAL UPDATE: Lyon will start in goal for the Panthers with Guzda backing up.
Bobrovsky is not injured, instead just under the weather, according to George Richards of Florida Hockey Now.
WHAT (ELSE) THEY’RE SAYING
Verhaerghe on facing Toronto: "They’re really skilled. They come with a lot of speed and pace. It’s just matching them, keeping them to the outside, having good sticks and containing them."
Paul Maurice on Pittsburgh losing Tuesday: "We’re watching the score on every game. We’ve got more hope coming to the rink today than if (Detroit) had lost (to Pittsburgh)."
Brandon Montour on shutting down the Leafs: "We know their personnel and the talent that they’ve got. We just have to stay on them, get in their face, have good sticks, match their speed and challenge them in any way. They’re going to make plays, they’re going to get chances, it’s just about maintaining that."
Verhaeghe on the playoff chase: "We're in the mix. We want to be in the playoffs, and want to compete tonight."