Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds
Just two points separate Toronto, Florida and Tampa Bay for top spot in the Atlantic Division, so Wednesday night’s tilt between the Leafs and Panthers could have significant playoff implications. Toronto holds first in the Atlantic following a 3-2 win in Anaheim on Sunday, while back-to-back losses against the Montreal Canadiens has pushed Florida to third.
The Maple Leafs are slim -125 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 5.5.
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
The Panthers have won both previous meetings between the teams this season, including a 3-2 decision in Toronto on March 13. Overall, Florida holds an 8-3 edge in the last 11 head-to-heads, with the season series set to conclude on April 8 in Sunrise.
The Panthers are stumbling at the wrong time, dropping four of their last five road games and five of their last seven against Eastern Conference opponents. That suits the Leafs just fine. Toronto is 6-2 straight up in their last eight games overall and 14-5 SU in their last 19 against Eastern teams.
Neither team has been a browbeater when it comes to covering the spread. The Panthers are 31-43 against the spread and the Maple Leafs are 37-37 ATS. You can give the edge to Toronto in this one as they are 20-17 ATS at home, while the Cats are 16-21 ATS on the road.
Low scoring games have been a trend in recent head-to-head action. The total has gone Under in 10 of the last 13 games between the teams, including six of the last seven played in Toronto.
Florida Panthers
Florida will be kicking themselves after finishing a home-and-home series against the Habs with just a single point. The Panthers lost 4-2 at home before falling 3-2 in overtime at the Bell Centre on Tuesday. Niko Mikkola certainly made a name for himself in the two-game set. Mikkola was fined $5,000 by the NHL for unsportspanlike conduct after wiring a slap shot towards Montreal’s net as time expired in the first game and he was one of Florida’s goal scorers in the second game, along with Mackie Samoskevich.
Matthew Tkachuk (lower-body) remains out of the lineup, although he has started skating again so he should return sometime around Game 1 of the playoffs. Sergei Bobrovsky will get the start in net on Wednesday in the second half of a back-to-back for the Panthers. Bobrovsky has won three of his last four outings, stopping 82 of 89 shots. For the season, the 36-year-old has a 31-16-2 record with a 2.44 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Max Domi, Steven Lorentz and Mitch Marner had the goals for Toronto on Sunday. It capped off a successful three-game California road trip that saw the Leafs pick up five of a possible six points to regain the Atlantic Division lead. Marner, who leads the team with 91 points, and Nylander, who leads the team with 42 goals, have been the pace cars all year. It’s great timing for the pending UFA Marner, who will look for a sizeable raise from his $10.9 million cap hit.
Anthony Stolarz is getting the start in net against Florida, the team he won a Stanley Cup with last year. Stolarz and Joseph Woll have been splitting starts recently as each goalie looks to make his case to be the Game 1 starter in the playoffs. The 31-year-old Stolarz is riding a three-game win streak, posting a 2.00 GAA and .929 SV in that stretch. For the year, he is 16-8-3 with a 2.35 GAA and .919 SV.
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