Maple Leafs' Domi: Winning Atlantic Division 'doesn't matter to us'

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi isn't concerned about the race for the Atlantic Division title ahead of Thursday's matchup with the Florida Panthers.

"That shit doesn't matter to us," Domi said. "We're just trying to beat every team we play against, and every game is just as important."

The Maple Leafs enter Thursday two points back of the Panthers for first in the division with one game in hand. The Tampa Bay Lightning are also in the mix, sitting five points back of the Panthers with a game in hand.

A division title for the Maple Leafs would likely mean avoiding both Florida-based teams in Round 1. One of the Panthers or Lightning have represented the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final five years in a row.

Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz, who was part of the Panthers' 2024 Cup-winning team, was willing to acknowledge the stakes of Thursday's tilt.

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

He added, "We're excited for the opportunity to get at these guys. There's no friends out there."

The Panthers beat the Maple Leafs 5-1 in the teams' lone meeting this season. Including Thursday, Toronto and Florida will play each other three more times.

The Maple Leafs have made the playoffs in each of the last eight seasons - tied for the longest active streak in the league - but their only division title in that span came when they won the North Division in the pandemic-shortened 2021 campaign.