Toronto Maple Leafs Presented Golden Opportunity Against the Florida Panthers

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers are on two different trajectories right now as the Leafs have won four in a row and the Panthers have lost five in a row.

As a result, the Atlantic Division title has slipped away from the Panthers and now, it is a two horse race between the Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

While tonight's game could definitely help the Leafs win the Atlantic Division, there is something else at stake that is arguably just as important given the strength of the Eastern Conference.

According to Luke Fox of Sportsnet, a win tonight could give the Maple Leafs home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs where they would either play the Panthers or perhaps even the Ottawa Senators.

Right now, it seems like the easiest path to play the Senators is by winning the Atlantic but given the Panthers losing streak, you never know what could happen.

At the end of the day, it is impressive that the Maple Leafs have found themselves in this position with six games to go.

They are very clearly on another level this season and if there was a year for them to make a deep run, it would definitely be this one, even if it would be tough.

That said, the Panthers are a good team and we need to see the Leafs beat teams like this to gain the confidence of fans and pundits who make predictions.

Only time will tell whether or not Toronto gets the job done tonight and ensures home ice in the Eastern Conference quarter-finals.