Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs Game 2 odds and predictions
The Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafsmeet in Game 2 of a best-of-7 Eastern Conference semifinals series Thursday. The Panthers lead the series 1-0. Puck drop from Scotiabank Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Panthers vs. Maple Leafs odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Panthers doubled up the Maple Leafs in Game 1 in a 4-2 victory at Scotiabank Arena as the Under (6.5) just came through.
Florida got off to a good start when Nick Cousins opened the scoring with the only goal of the 1st period. Sam Bennett added to the lead at 7:58 of the 2nd period, before Matthew Knies responded just 11 seconds later to slice the lead in half.
At 2-1, Michael Bunting scored his 1st of the playoffs to level the game. The good times lasted less than 3 minutes, though, as Carter Verhaeghe scored his 11th career postseason goal at 17:47 of the second period. Not only did that goal give him the most in Florida’s postseason history, but it stood up as the game-winning goal. Brandon Montour tacked on an insurance marker at 12:24 of the 3rd period.
The Leafs pulled the tendy with over 3 minutes to go, but there was no goal with an extra attacker, nor did Over bettors benefit from an empty-net goal by the Panthers.
Panthers at Maple Leafs odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:13 a.m. ET.
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Panthers at Maple Leafs projected goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky (24-20-3, 3.07 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO – regular season) vs. Ilya Samsonov (27-10-5, 2.33 GAA, .919 SV%, 4 SO – regular season)
Bobrovsky allowed just 2 goals on 36 shots in the series opener win. He has now won 4 consecutive starts after suffering a setback in Game 4, his 1st start of the postseason. He had allowed 3 or more goals in each of the previous 4 outings, too.
Samsonov was on the short end of a 4-2 setback, and he coughed up 4 goals on 28 shots. He is now 0-2 with a 6.17 GAA and .825 SV% in his 2 Game 1 appearances in the playoffs. The good news is that he is 4-1 with a 2.42 GAA and .919 SV% in his other 5 postseason appearances.
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Panthers at Maple Leafs picks and predictions
Prediction
Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 3
The Maple Leafs (-185) are a little on the pricey side for Game 2, especially since they laid a giant egg in the series opener on home ice for the 2nd consecutive series.
My personal limit is -180 for a standalone moneyline bet. There is just no value betting heavy favorites at this mark, or any higher.
PASS, and look to the puck line instead.
The MAPLE LEAFS -1.5 (+135) should show up with a lot more urgency in Game 2, which will be a must-win situation on home ice. Toronto cannot afford to go into an 0-2 hole before the series shifts to South Florida.
It responded with a 7-2 win in Game 2 against Tampa Bay after an embarrassing Game 1 setback. I expect the Maple Leafs to respond in similar fashion.
The OVER 6.5 (-130) is a little on the expensive side, but it might be the best play on the board in Game 2.
We had a total of 6 goals on the board midway through the 3rd period in Game 1, and with an extended period of time with an extra attacker, and an empty net for the Leafs, we should have gotten a 7th goal either way. It never came into fruition, and Over bettors were left scratching their heads.
The Over is still 10-5-1 in the past 16 meetings in this series, while going 5-2-1 in the previous 8 encounters in T-Dot.
