Forward Injury Forces Paul Maurice and the Panthers to Tweak Top 6

With Wednesday's Game 5 expected to bring a lot of fireworks, one of the central figures of the animosity seemingly won't be showing up in what could be a critical absence for the reigning champions.

Florida Panthers head coach revealed that Jesper Boqvist will replace Evan Rodrigues after the forward is unable to go for Game 5.

Rodrigues is most likely still suffering from the hit delivered by Oliver Ekman-Larsson during Game 4.

So far, Rodrigues isn't having the same type of postseason he had last year, and only has three assists thus far for the Panthers.

Boqvist is going to line up with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, with Barkov potentially reeling from the Max Domi hit at the end of Game 4.

So far this postseason, Boqvist is pointless in seven games, with a minus-3 rating, but is adding four blocks and 14 hits.

Typically on a fourth line role, the 26-year old forward will be called upon to be a huge part of Florida's game plan, and is more than likely expected to help replace some of the ruggedness that Rodrigues brought.

Maurice didn't make any other changes, feeling confident that his team can come out of Toronto with a win and close things off at home.

He's going to need to keep an eye on both the Maple Leafs and his own players, as the tension stemming from last game is no doubt going to carry over into some potential violence on Wednesday night.

Rodrigues himself has been the center of some controversy himself. First he laid in a high elbow to John Tavares, then took an embellishment penalty for a dive after a Scott Laughton hit.

Then he got knocked loopy from Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and suffice to say it's been a rollercoaster playoffs for the veteran center.

But for now, it seems he'll sit on the sidelines as he watches Boqvist and the rest of his teammates try and take a victory on the road at a raucous Scotiabank Arena.