The Maple Leafs (optional) and Florida Panthers skated at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.

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The race for top spot in the Atlantic Division takes centre stage on Thursday as the Leafs host the Florida Panthers.

"We’re preparing for a playoff-like game," said Leafs forward Steven Lorentz. "You can say that about a lot of games, but this one, it’s no secret that both teams are battling for first place."

"It’s certainly what we’re playing for," said Panthers winger Sam Reinhart. "It’s certainly what you want. We’ve been on both sides of it. The longer you go, the less travel and the more time at home is an advantage."

Florida hoisted the Stanley Cup last season after finishing first in the Atlantic Division. They lost in the Cup final as a wildcard team the previous year.

The Panthers lead the Leafs by two points, but Toronto has played one fewer game.

"We know it’s going to be a hard-fought game," said Lorentz, who played for the Panthers last season. "It’s not going to be a lot of pretty passing plays. It’s going to be fighting for every inch out there and that’s the game we want to play. So, we’re going to come out hard. We’re kind of excited for the opportunity to get at these guys."

It will be the first game between the teams since the Panthers won 5-1 on Nov. 27 in Sunrise, Fla.

Thursday will be the first of three meetings between the teams down the stretch.

"They’ve been at the top of the league for a significant period of time now," noted Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe. "Credit to them because it’s not an easy game to play the way they do night in and night out. That’s what most teams are chasing. We’ve shown throughout the course of the year that we can play that stifling game and that's what we’re trying to get to this last month of the year."

The Panthers had their six-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday in Boston.

"We’re not going to play harder tonight because it could be first place," said Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. "We........

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