In this article we will formulate a Maple Leafs vs Panthers prediction for this NHL game on Sunday, May 18th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Preview
The Toronto Maple Leafs were able to tie the series at three with a 2-0 win against Florida in game six. Toronto played great defense for the majority of the game and they broke through with two goals in the third for the win. The Maple Leafs recorded 17 shots on goal, won 61.4% of the face-offs, and went 0-2 on the power play in the game. Toronto got goals from Matthews and Pacioretty, while Lorentz added six hits in the game. Joseph Woll stopped all 22 shots that he faced for the shutout win.
Prior to that win, the Maple Leafs won games one and two by scores of 5-4 and 4-3, but they lost the next three games by scores of 5-4, 2-0, and 6-1. In the first round, Toronto defeated Ottawa in six games, but they were up 3-0 in the series. The Maple Leafs dropped games four and five, but they rebounded with a 4-2 win in game six. Toronto has scored 3.26 goals per game and they have allowed 2.79 goals against per game, while also going 24.8% on the power play and 77.9% on the penalty kill this season. William Nylander has led Toronto with six goals, nine assists, and 35 shots on goal, while Mitch Marner has added two goals, 11 assists, and 14 shots on goal. Joseph Woll is 3-3 with a 3.29 goals against average and an .893 save percentage this postseason.
Florida Panthers Betting Preview
The Florida Panthers were unable to close out the series in game six and they will have to travel into enemy territory for the decisive game seven. In game six, Florida played very strong defense in the game, but they struggled to generate scoring chances and missed a few golden chances late in the game for the loss. The Panthers recorded 22 shots on goal, won 38.6% of the face-offs, and went 0-4 on the power play in the game. Florida was led by Verhaeghe and Ekblad, who both had four shots on goal, while Boqvist led the way with eight hits. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 15 out of 17 shots in the game, which was just an .882 save percentage in the loss.
Prior to this series, the Panthers defeated the Lightning in five games to advance out of the first round. In that series, Florida led 2-0 after two road wins, but they lost game three at home, before winning games four and five to close out the series. Florida has scored 3.00 goals per game and they have allowed 2.72 goals against per game, while also going 23.5% on the power play and 80.7% on the penalty kill this season. Sam Reinhart has led Florida with three goals, seven assists, and 40 shots on goal, while Lundell, Bennett, Marchand, Luostarinen, and Tkachuk have added nine points each in the series. Sergei Bobrovsky is 7-4 with a 2.43 goals against average and an .898 save percentage in the postseason.
Why the Maple Leafs will beat the Panthers
- The Panthers have lost four of their last five games as road favorites following a loss.
- The Maple Leafs have won three of their last four games as home underdogs.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in 11 of the Panthers’ last 12 games at Scotiabank Arena.
- The Panthers have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games as road favorites following a loss.
- The Panthers have lost the second period in six of their last seven games at Scotiabank Arena when trailing after the first period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Panthers’ last five games following a loss have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Six of the last seven games between teams from the same division have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Five of the Maple Leafs’ last six games as underdogs following a road win have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in five of the Panthers’ last six games as road favorites.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Maple Leafs’ last three games following a road win.
Toronto Maple Leafs Player Prop Facts
- William Nylander has scored at least one goal in four of the Maple Leafs’ last five playoff games as home underdogs.
- Auston Matthews has recorded a point in eight of the Maple Leafs’ last nine playoff series closeout games.
- Brandon Carlo has recorded an assist in each of his three previous appearances in playoff series closeout games against the Panthers.
- William Nylander ranks T1st in the league for multi-goal games (10) this season.
Florida Panthers Player Prop Facts
- Anton Lundell has recorded at least one assist in each of the Panthers’ last six playoff games as road favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Sam Reinhart has scored a goal in each of the Panthers’ last five playoff games when facing elimination.
- Aleksander Barkov has recorded at least one point in each of his last 10 Sunday appearances against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Aleksander Barkov ranks T1st in the league for shootout goals (4) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Toronto Maple Leafs rank T7th in the league for goals per game this season (3.26).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of seven teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.
- The Florida Panthers rank 7th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.72).
- The Florida Panthers rank 1st in the league in penalty minutes this season (843).
Maple Leafs vs Panthers Prediction
Toronto shocked a lot of people by playing so well in game six for the win, as they looked horrible in games four and five, but they have earned a game seven at home here. The Maple Leafs were 27-13-1 at home during the regular season, while the Panthers were 20-19-2 on the road. Florida looked elite in their game five win, but they struggled to generate chances in game six and Bobrovsky let in a soft goal to break the scoreless tie. This should be another very tight game, but Toronto’s building should give them a boost, so I am taking the Leafs at plus money.