The Importance Of Tonight's Panthers, Maple Leafs Matchup Is Different This Time Around
We've become accustomed to Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs matchups holding plenty of playoff implications, but tonight, the results affect the draft lottery instead.
The Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs have built a bit of a rivalry over the past three seasons. Because they play in the same division, they’ve met three to four times during the regular season, and they’ve also faced off in the playoffs twice, with the Panthers collecting series wins both times. While recent encounters between the two teams have been fast-paced, physical and vital to their season’s success, tonight’s matchup is the complete opposite, and if we are being frank, the loser of tonight’s game will likely be happier due to their improved draft lottery odds.
The Panthers and Maple Leafs sit in sixth and seventh last place in the NHL with 78 points in 79 games. Due to regulation wins, the Panthers sit a spot ahead in the standings. Additionally, the Seattle Kraken remain a point behind both clubs with a game in hand, and the St.
Louis Blues sit ahead in the standings due to points percentage, as they have 78 points in 78 games. While losing helps both teams, the Maple Leafs need to finish in the bottom five to retain their draft selection, and the Panthers need to finish in the bottom 10 to keep theirs. Players on both clubs have repeatedly stated that they are not actively trying to lose.
But it’s been a real challenge for these teams to string extended runs of success. Panthers Visit Maple Leafs In Matchup Holding Deep Draft Lottery Implications Panthers and Maple Leafs clash, with their standings dictating crucial draft lottery odds. A loss could surprisingly benefit Florida's future.