Panthers vs. Maple Leafs NHL Playoffs Predictions (Wednesday)
The Stanley Cup playoffs resume on Wednesday evening, and we have a pair of heavyweight matchups on the ice. Below I'll touch on the odds and dive into my favorite bets for each of these NHL playoff games. Here are my top NHL bets tonight for Panthers vs. Maple Leafs.
Wednesday's NHL Best Bets: Panthers vs. Maple Leafs
(Odds courtesy of Bet365 Sportsbook)
Florida Panthers (-150) at Toronto Maple Leafs (+125) | O/U 5.5 (-115/-105)
The Maple Leafs (1-0) took care of business in Monday's series opener, beating the reigning champion Panthers (0-1) in a 5-4 affair. Game 2 is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON.
We saw a high-scoring affair in Game 1, and I'm expecting to see the scoring continue tonight in Ontario. For starters, Toronto will likely be without its top netminder, Anthony Stolarz (head), who departed Game 1 early. That sent Joseph Woll to the crease, where he posted a 6.05 GAA and .850 SV% (17-20) in relief. Woll was serviceable during the regular season with a 2.73 GAA (25th) and a .909 SV% (12th), but he's undoubtedly a step down from Stolarz (2.14 GAA, .926 SV%).
Florida's offense has been humming this postseason, ranking second in goals per 60 minutes (3.17) during 5-on-5 play, while cashing their power-play chances at a 26.32% clip (eighth). Right above them on the power play is Toronto at 27.27% (seventh). Overall in the postseason, the Cats have seen 6+ goals in five of their six games, while the Leafs have cleared the number in four out of seven contests. I think we'll see one more high-scoring battle before Florida dials it in defensively at home in Game 3. Give me the Over.
Pick: Over 5.5 Goals (-115)