Panthers Top-Six Forward Ruled Out for Game 6 After Statement Win in Toronto

Florida appears to be going without forward Evan Rodrigues tonight in Game 6 against Toronto, according to head coach Paul Maurice.

Rodrigues missed the Panthers' blowout 6-1 win over the Leafs due to an injury suffered in Game 4 after a hit from Toronto defenseman and former teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Both Ekman-Larsson and Rodrigues were members of last year's Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers roster.

Rodrigues, 31, has three points in nine playoff games with Florida this postseason.

Jesper Boqvist, who had replaced Rodrigues for Game 5, is expected to continue in his role, taking over for Rodrigues.

Boqvist had a goal and an assist in Game 5 against Toronto as a part of a dominant performance by Florida's bottom-six in shutting down the Leafs at both ends.

The Florida Panthers will need to have a lot more coming from their offence to punch their ticket to the next round.

Up against a Toronto Maple Leafs team expected to increase its intensity coming off a horrendous loss that puts them in elimination territory, Florida will need to replicate their scoring prowess once again to send the Leafs packing.

Also important will be the domination of Sergei Bobrovsky in the net, looking for a statement win coming off an unusually rocky .899 SV% in 10 postseason games so far.

Toronto will also be without a piece in forward Nick Robertson.

Robertson, who scored Toronto's lone goal in their 6-1 defeat, is once again resuming his role as a healthy scratch tonight against Florida.

Along with Robertson, David Kämpf also now returns to the sidelines with Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok back in the roster after being swapped with Robertson & Kämpf for Game 5.

Offence will also be important on the Leafs' end as their only goal in the fifth game came from a depth player.

Captain Auston Matthews has failed to net a goal against Florida so far in the series, adding pressure for a big game from the former Rocket Richard winner.

Joseph Woll appears likely to get the start for Toronto as Anthony Stolarz did not make the trip to Florida, still dealing with an unknown injury issue that has kept him out since exiting Game 1.

Woll was pulled after allowing five goals on 25 shots, replaced by Matt Murray, but given one more chance to redeem himself in the Toronto Maple Leafs' net.