SUNRISE, Fla. — “We’ve had a lot of games over the years without much meaning but this is a big one for us,” former Bruin Shawn Thornton said this morning after the Panthers’ practice and before the biggest game in South Florida in quite some time. “Obviously [Boston’s] five ahead of us with three games against them. We gotta to do a lot of good things here to get past but it starts tonight.”

Even in the games-played category, Boston holds a five-point bulge in the quest for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference among the likely trio of Boston, Ottawa and Florida with 11 or so to go in the regular season for each.

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“I like the way we’ve been playing lately — Montreal, New York [Rangers], we actually controlled the game,” Thornton said. “Didn’t get the result we wanted, but it’s been pretty good. We know we’re up against a pretty good team that’s fairly desperate too; we’re in for a big match.”

What has been the key to Florida staying in the hunt?

Or the reason for being on the bubble?

“There’s a bit of learning curve here; games we should have had we didn’t. The younger guys carry us, but the older guys bring the intangibles and hope it’s contagious. Kind of waiting for the shoe to drop instead of just taking it and get the wins,” Thornton stated. “We’ve got a good team. I like this team.”

Don’t expect anything else to drop in tonight’s battle.

One other subplot to all recent and future Boston-Florida games is the depth of feeling Thornton holds for his former team with the juxtaposition of opposing locker rooms for Thornton in less than year.

“No ill will towards them,” he said about the Black and Gold. “I want to get in the playoffs; that’s the only motivation we need. I got treated unbelievable over there. I’m excited for tonight not vengeful. I was telling [another writer], I prefer it’s somebody else but we’re here so you embrace it and try to make the most of it.”

What goes in when he catches up with Bruin buddies?

“When I meet those guys for a beer, we don’t talk hockey. Just catching up about life,” Thornton said about socializing with his former teammates. “I don’t ask about their locker room; I’ve got one here I have to worry about. That’s the old locker room. They’re a good team and right in it. I prefer they didn’t have success, because it means we have a chance but I love those guys over there. Hoping they do well. Just not against us.

“It’s been great here; unbelievable. I walk into the rink everyday with a smile.”

A Panthers’ win and will bring a broader smile to Thornton on his way out of the rink tonight, but he will be smiling regardless.