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(Sports Network) - A pair of teams outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture will meet tonight in Toronto, as the Florida Panthers visit the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.

The Panthers come into tonight's action 11th in the East and seven points behind Boston for the conference's eighth and final playoff berth. Toronto is 15th in the East but only five points in back of Florida.

The Maple Leafs have been playing their best hockey of the year in recent weeks. They are currently riding a three-game winning streak and have won six of seven and seven of their last nine outings. A win tonight would give Toronto its longest winning streak since a four-game tear from Feb. 22-28 of last season.

Toronto's most recent triumph came Saturday in a close decision against visiting rival Montreal. John Mitchell scored the winner in the third round of the shootout, lifting the Maple Leafs to the 3-2 victory.

In the third round, Mitchell slammed on the brakes in front of the net and hammered the puck into the net. Jonas Gustavsson then made a body save on Brian Gionta's wrister to seal the win.

Tyler Bozak had a goal and an assist while Phil Kessel scored the other goal for the Maple Leafs. Gustavsson made 25 saves in the win.

"We feel really good about this game," said Bozak. "We're a young group, but we're a confident group and we're just gonna keep riding this winning streak as long as we can."

Toronto is closing out a three-game homestand tonight and has won its last five games as the host. The Leafs are 16-14-5 at Air Canada Centre this year.

Meanwhile, the Panthers ended a three-game losing streak with Sunday's home win over Tampa Bay. Nathan Horton and Cory Stillman each had a goal and an assist to help Florida defeat the Lightning, 5-2, at BankAtlantic Center.

Florida center Stephen Weiss potted his 100th career goal 1:55 after Steven Stamkos scored on the power play to pull Tampa Bay within 3-2 at 2:08 of the third period.

"It's nice to contribute and score goals," Weiss said. "I got a great pass from (defenseman Bryan Allen) and was able to bang it in."

Radek Dvorak added an insurance tally in the late stages of regulation for the Panthers, who finished 1-2-1 on a four-game homestand. Florida goaltender Scott Clemmensen made 29 saves.

Florida is beginning a three-game road trip tonight and will also visit Montreal and Ottawa during the swing. The Panthers are just 14-18-3 as the guest this year.

The Maple Leafs have posted two wins in three meetings with Florida this year and tonight marks the final encounter of the season between the clubs. The Panthers have taken six of nine overall in the series and have four wins in their last six trips to Toronto.