Panthers vs Maple Leafs

The Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs battle at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.

They’re facing a Maple Leafs team that appears to be stuck in neutral, too. Only the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets (.830) have faired worse. Sergei Bobrovsky owns an abysmal .871 save percentage across his last eight appearances, allowing three or more in six of those contests. [ Panthers over 0.5 power-play goals (-112) ](http://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2NCZsPTEzNTM0Nzg5JnA9MTcxMjg%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2023_NorthStarBets_&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink): We’re digging these odds on a Florida power-play goal for a couple of reasons. Toronto’s save percentage isn’t quite as bad, but it’s not great. We’re also really liking the over in this contest. [ Panthers moneyline (+128) ](http://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2NCZsPTEzNTM0Nzg5JnA9MTcxMjg%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2023_NorthStarBets_&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink): Florida’s a desperate team, sitting directly behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wild-card spot. The Panthers have the second-worst save percentage in the NHL over the last seven days (.844), Key stat: The over on this total has come through in eight of Toronto’s last 10 games and seven of Florida’s past 10. [ Best Bet ](https://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUyODU0NyZsPTEzNTI4NTQzJnA9MTQ5OTc%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2022_NorthStarBets__&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink): Over 6.5 goals - regular time (-124) [ NHL odds ](http://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2NCZsPTEzNTM0Nzg5JnA9MTcxMjg%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2023_NorthStarBets_&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink) as of 9:03 a.m. The Cats are a desperate bunch and we’re expecting a complete effort from the road team that includes a power-play goal.

The Maple Leafs have their second opportunity inside a week to deal another blow to Florida's playoff aspirations in Toronto's first game back on home ice ...

In the playoffs, everything equalizes in terms of scheduling. This is a Florida team that is aggressive offensively, will threaten off the rush, and is dangerous creating off of the cycle in the zone with a group of defensemen eager to activate into the attack. In saying that, we still have a handful of games left where we need to ramp our game up, too. In terms of lineup changes since last week’s game in Florida, Noel Acciari is dealing with a minor short-term injury, which means Wayne Simmonds will dress for the second consecutive game and the Leafs will run 11 and 7. Pretty dangerous team offensively with a lot of skill and speed off the rush. All the work the Panthers did to get themselves back into the wildcard mix with a 6-0-1 stretch earlier in March is on the verge of completely unraveling during their current four-game losing streak in which they have conceded 21 goals.

Greg Liodice breaks down Wednesday's NHL game between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

They’re 30th in xGA/60 at 3.58 and the penalty kill is starting to slip, allowing a power play goal in three straight. While the Leafs have had a couple of clunkers during this past week, they’re still more reliable than their opposition. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. Captain Aleksander Barkov is still producing at a high level, as is Carter Verhaeghe and Brandon Montour, but the team has suffered this season. The two-time Vezina winner is posting a .917 SV% in March, along with an overall +6.2 goals saved above expected (GSAx). Even though the record doesn’t show it, Toronto has created ample opportunities over the past week. The Maple Leafs will need more out of William Nylander, though, as he only has two points in his last seven. The addition of Matthew Tkachuk was a big one as he closes in on his second consecutive 100-point season. Get up-to-the-minute [NHL Odds](https://www.actionnetwork.com/nhl/odds)here. Last week, the Panthers hosted the Leafs and got walopped 6-2, and will seek revenge on their division rivals. Toronto has gone 6-3-1 in its last 10 games, including a win in Nashville on Sunday.

Check out our NHL betting preview and free score prediction for this pivotal matchup between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

And keep reading for our final Panthers vs Maple Leafs prediction. As noted, they’ll square off with Toronto twice, but the Leafs are locked into their postseason position. It will be interesting to monitor how much either side reveals so close to the playoffs. They dropped four consecutive games, including one to the Leafs just last Thursday at home. [NHL schedule](https://insidersbettingdigest.com/schedules/nhl/) of betting previews and predictions is a pivotal showdown in the Eastern Conference between the [Florida Panthers](https://insidersbettingdigest.com/nhl/teams/florida-panthers/) (36-31-7, 15-19-3 Away) and [Toronto Maple Leafs ](https://insidersbettingdigest.com/nhl/teams/toronto-maple-leafs/)(44-20-9, 25-7-5 Home) on Wednesday night. Florida Panthers vs. Toronto and Tampa are set to meet in the Leafs’ penultimate regular-season game. Florida Panthers Preview Florida Panthers Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs The puck drops at 7:30 pm EST from Toronto and is available on NHLPP The Panthers have dug themselves a bit of a hole lately.

The Toronto Maple Leafs return home after a five-game road trip (3-2 SU) to face a desperate Florida Panthers team that sits three points out of a playoff ...

Even a 3-0 lead could see Florida go for the extra attacker. There are some Toronto TT Over 3.5s out there at -130 and because of the possible goalie pull down three, there isn’t a scenario where the Leafs lead late and don’t see an empty net to hit that Over. If it weren’t for the ridiculous numbers Samsonov has been putting up at home, I’d have no issues hitting this high total. I’d set the total power play goals scored in this game at 1.5 with some juice on the Under. The high total is warranted as both clubs have been playing Over hockey of late and are a combined 13-3-4 to the Over in their last 10 games. Only Vegas has a worse save percentage shorthanded this month than Florida at 76.19, per He’s 0-3 SU in his last three starts and has allowed 13 goals, including five to the Leafs last week on 26 shots. Florida certainly has more to play for sitting three points out of a playoff spot with only eight games to go, but just because a team has more at stake, doesn’t always correlate to better results. The Panthers have struggled to beat the Leafs in Toronto and are 1-9 SU in the last 10 meetings at Scotiabank Arena. Verhaeghe has also collected 4+ shots in eight straight games and is 25-12 O/U on his 3.5 shot total since January 1. The opportunity and game script are certainly in Verhaeghe’s favor but so is the matchup. a team they’ve beaten once in the last 10 meetings in Toronto.

Brandon Montour scores in transition as the Panthers beat the Maple Leafs in overtime. ByAP. 25 minutes ...

Brodie's long shot out of the air and past Lyon. [Alex Lyon](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3654006/alex-lyon) stopped 38 shots as Florida pulled one point behind Pittsburgh for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. It was Matthews' 37th goal of the season and gave Marner 67 assists. [Anton Lundell](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/4697395/anton-lundell) and [Sam Reinhart](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3114722/sam-reinhart) also scored to help the Panthers get their first win since snapping a 6-0-1 stretch in a loss at Philadelphia on March 21st. [https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL](https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL) and [https://www.twitter.com/AP--Sports](https://www.twitter.com/AP--Sports) Aston-Reese tied it for the Maple Leafs at 3:13 of the second as he went to the front of the net and deflected T.J. [Zach Aston-Reese](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3988830/zach-aston-reese) and [Auston Matthews](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/4024123/auston-matthews) scored for the playoff-bound Maple Leafs, and [Ilya Samsonov](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3900505/ilya-samsonov) had 26 saves. [Calle Jarnkrok](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/2555316/calle-jarnkrok) appeared to give Toronto its first lead moments later on a 2-on-1, but the play was correctly challenged for offside on Matthews. [Eetu Luostarinen](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/4233877/eetu-luostarinen) in the slot and firing a shot past Samsonov just 1 minute into the game. [Brandon Montour](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3115032/brandon-montour) scored 1:41 into overtime and the [Florida Panthers](http://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/fla/florida-panthers) rallied to beat the [Toronto Maple Leafs](http://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/tor/toronto-maple-leafs) 3-2 on Wednesday night, snapping a four-game skid. [Aaron Ekblad](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3114717/aaron-ekblad) and fired a one-timer from above the left circle through traffic and past Samsonov. [Aleksander Barkov](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3041970/aleksander-barkov) brought the puck up the left side on a 2-on-2 rush and sent a cross-ice pass to Montour who quickly fired it past Samsonov for his 14th.

Brandon Montour scores in transition as the Panthers beat the Maple Leafs in overtime. ByAP. 1 hour ...

[Sergei Bobrovsky](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/5571/sergei-bobrovsky) on the front end of a back-to-back. “Not to sound like I’ve been through it all, but just spent a lot of time in the (minors) and played a lot of games. Brodie's long shot out of the air and past Lyon. It was Matthews' 37th goal of the season and gave Marner 67 assists. [Alex Lyon](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3654006/alex-lyon) stopped 38 shots as Florida pulled one point behind Pittsburgh for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. “Gave us every chance,” Barkov said of Lyon. “It’s a tough, tough league,” said Montour, who added an assist that gave him the franchise record for points by a defenseman in a season with 63. “Played a good game,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. Aston-Reese tied it for the Maple Leafs at 3:13 of the second as he went to the front of the net and deflected T.J. [Zach Aston-Reese](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3988830/zach-aston-reese) and [Auston Matthews](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/4024123/auston-matthews) scored for the playoff-bound Maple Leafs, and [Ilya Samsonov](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3900505/ilya-samsonov) had 26 saves. [Anton Lundell](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/4697395/anton-lundell) also scored to help the Panthers get their first win since snapping a 6-0-1 stretch in a loss at Philadelphia on March 21st. [Sam Reinhart](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3114722/sam-reinhart) tied it with 1 minute left in regulation and [Brandon Montour](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3115032/brandon-montour) scored 1:41 into overtime as the [Florida Panthers](http://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/fla/florida-panthers) rallied to beat the [Toronto Maple Leafs](http://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/tor/toronto-maple-leafs) 3-2 on Wednesday night, snapping a four-game skid.