Panthers’ Carter Verhaeghe expected to return to lineup Tuesday vs. Maple Leafs

Verhaeghe suffered an upper-body injury in a game against the Maple Leafs on April 1 and hasn’t played since. In 75 games this season, the 28-year-old has 33 goals and 38 assists for 71 points, two points shy of a career high he set last season with the team.

Through five NHL seasons, the 2013 third-round pick has 126 goals and 122 assists for 329 points in 329 career games with the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Panthers are 51-24-6 with 108 points, second in the Atlantic Division. They’re one point behind the Boston Bruins for the division lead. As it stands now, they would play the Maple Leafs in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a rematch of their second-round matchup from last season, which Florida won in five games.

However, if the Panthers win against the Maple Leafs and the Bruins lose in either regulation or overtime to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, Florida would clinch the division and face the Lightning in round one.

The Panthers are hoping to rekindle their magic from last summer, when they were Eastern Conference champions and faced the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final, losing in five games.

Puck drop vs. the Maple Leafs is at 7:30 p.m. EST.