Panthers vs. Maple Leafs prop bets, Game 2: Bet on Matthews to perform on the power play

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in danger of falling into a 2-0 series hole against the Florida Panthers.

The pregame narrative: Sam Bennett is on a tear and playing meaningful minutes for the Panthers. We’ll gladly back him to record a point at reasonable odds tonight. Meanwhile, William Nylander’s shot total is promising as is Auston Matthews’ opportunity to record a point on the man advantage.

Find our Panthers vs. Maple Leafs props bets for May 4 below.

NHL odds as of 9:54 a.m. on 05/04/2023.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs prop bets

Best Bet: Bennett to record 1+ point (-125)

Bennett is playing like a guy who was drafted fourth overall right now.

He’s never truly lived up to that billing — his career high in points is 49 — but the 26-year-old is rolling with seven points and four goals in seven playoff games.

He buried a goal and an assist against Toronto in Game 1 and ranked fourth among Florida’s forwards in ice time (19:02). That marks six games out of seven that he’s found the scoresheet. It certainly helps that he’s centring a line with Matthew Tkachuk.

The first-year Panther is second among all skaters in points (14) and is tied for fifth in goals (five). Tkachuk, Bennett and Nick Cousins played together for 10:55 of even-strength ice time in Game 1 and generated a whopping 75.0% of chances for (15-to-5), according to Natural Stat Trick.

The Leafs didn’t have an answer for them on Tuesday, and it’s hard to imagine they’ll fare much better tonight.

At -125, the value on Bennett is fantastic — especially when considering his linemate Tkachuk sits at a juiced-up -345.

Key stat: Bennett has a point in seven of his last eight games.

Quick picks

Matthews to record 1+ PP (+123): The Maple Leafs went 0-for-4 on the powerplay in Game 1 and that was mainly due to Sergei Bobrovsky turning the clock back to his Vezina years. It’s likely Toronto will have a chance to right the ship tonight.

Florida took the third-most penalties during the regular season (291) and is currently tied for the playoff lead (31). The Panthers also own an abysmal 64.52 PK% this postseason. For context, the worst mark during the regular season was owned by the Vancouver Canucks (71.6%).

Matthews led the Leafs in PP chances last game (four) and had 26 PP points during the regular season.

Nylander over 3.5 SOG (-106): Nylander hasn’t scored since Game 2 against Tampa Bay and he’s also been held pointless in his last three.

But that’s not because of a lack of chances. Nylander is leading the Leafs in shots this postseason season (30) and he’s coming off a seven-shot Game 1.

This is a total he’s cleared in four of seven playoff games.

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