Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour speaks after practice on April 15. The Florida Panthers took the ice on Monday for their final practice of the regular season. Florida hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night at Amerant Bank Arena in what will be Game 82 on the 2023-24 campaign. We already know the Panthers are playoff-bound for the fifth straight season, though who they face is still in question. Entering play Monday, Florida sits in second place in the Atlantic Division with 108 points, one point back of the Boston Bruins for first. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] Boston has two games remaining: Monday night on the road in Washington and Tuesday at home against Ottawa. If the Bruins win on Monday (or Tuesday), they'll lock up the division and face the Tampa Bay Lightning in round one. If that happens, the Panthers will face Toronto. Florida will hold the tiebreaker against Boston, so if both teams end up with the same amount of points, the Panthers would win the division due to having more regulation victories. How the Panthers approach Tuesday's battle with Toronto will depend on what happens between the Bruins and Capitals on Monday. "If there's something to play for tomorrow, we're playing our full lineup," Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said. "If there's not, then we'll take a look at one or two guys that have a lot of minutes on them, a couple of guys have some minor, minor injuries we might consider, and then I'll fill the roster." That full lineup will not include Aaron Ekbald or Carter Verhaeghe, both of whom have been out with injuries but are expected to be ready for the start of the postseason. Ekblad and Verhaeghe were on the ice Monday, skating in regular (non-non-contact) jerseys, and remain trending on the aforementioned timeline. "They won't play tomorrow, but they're close enough that we can say with pretty strong confidence that they'll be in for Game 1," Maurice said. A couple players who were not on the ice for Monday's practice were Sasha Barkov and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. OEL left Saturday's game during the first period with an undisclosed injury that Maurice indicated afterwards wasn't anything serious. "I don't know that he plays Tuesday, but we fully expect him to be ready (for the playoffs)," Maurice said after Saturday's game. Barkov arrived at the practice facility on Monday not quite 100% and the team, which has taken a very cautious approach with all its nicked up players over the past couple months, saw no reason to have its captain skate. "I put him in the OEL department," Maurice said Monday of Barkov. "He just came in stiff this morning and couldn't loosen up, so we didn't put him on the ice. There's no injury from the last game." Maurice said if Barkov comes in on Tuesday feeling good, and if the team has something to play for, he may end up playing against the Leafs. Florida will hold a morning skate in Fort Lauderdale ahead of the tilt with Toronto. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Panthers General Manager Bill Zito signs multi-year contract extension [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-general-manager-bill-zito-signs-multi-year-contract-extension] Five Favorites: A gift from Jack Eichel to his son is on Kyle Okposo's list [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/five-favorites-a-gift-from-jack-eichel-to-his-son-is-on-kyle-okposos-list] Three Takeaways: Panthers survive 'tight' game, forwards defending well again [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/three-takeaways-panthers-survive-tight-game-forwards-defending-well-again] Brandon Montour wants extension with Panthers but remains hyper-focused on playoffs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/brandon-montour-wants-extension-with-panthers-but-remains-hyper-focused-on-playoffs] Stingy Panthers host Buffalo looking to lock up home ice in round one [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/stingy-panthers-host-buffalo-looking-to-lock-up-home-ice-in-round-one] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
