Game Two, Panthers vs Maple Leafs Betting Preview

The Toronto Maple Leafs fans chanted that they wanted the Panthers after their first-round win against the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Their wishes were granted after the Panthers outlasted the Boston Bruins in seven games to send a shockwave throughout the league. Unfortunately, for Toronto fans after celebrating like they won the cup for the first time since 1967, the Leafs took it on the chin in game one 4-2. Let’s expand our Panthers vs Maple Leafs betting preview with an in-depth look at both teams followed by our game two opinion.

Panthers Hopes to Extend Playoff Win Streak to Five

NHL playoff odds certainly have changed since the Panthers decided to wake up after hibernating for much of the regular season. Florida is now +700 to win the Stanley Cup after shocking not only the 135-point Boston Bruins but also the Toronto Maple Leafs in game one.

The Panthers will head into game two as a -190 underdog after the public started the early betting by pounding the Leafs, who opened -170 at some spots. 83% of the moneyline dollars are on Toronto which is in a must-win situation. The total is 6.5 (-130 over), a number the public is lining up to bet over. In order for the Panthers to have success they must be able to lean on goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky who was good for 34 saves in game one.

Like his team, the 34-year-old goaltender was good enough in the regular season after posting a 24-20-3 record with a less-than-stellar goals-against average of 3.07 to complement a .901 save percentage. Not exactly the kind of numbers that scream Stanley Cup champion.

Despite the 1-0 lead, there is still plenty of firepower that is certain to show up Thursday to test Bobrovsky who has been fortunate to have an offense that has been able to outscore his 3.58 GAA in the postseason. In order for the Panthers to advance they must get more of what their Russian netminder has given in his last two starts (5 goals allowed in 123 minutes). Florida is still just 3-9 in Toronto over their last 12 meetings. Let’s continue our Panthers vs Maple Leafs betting preview with a look at the Maple Leafs.

No Panic in Toronto

Usually, bettors rely heavily on NHL player stats to give them some direction as to where to put their money but game the game one box score also shows a stat that should be considered when betting on game two. The Leafs gave up just 28 total shots in game one and were the recipient of four power-play chances (0-4). These numbers are not a formula for series success for the Panthers who bullied the Leafs.

Toronto owned a 13-8 blocked shot advantage as well as a 17-3 advantage in the takeaway category. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice stated that his club plays its best hockey when faced with the most difficulty, but we think you can say the same about the Leafs after losing game one against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Like the early bettors, we think the Panthers will face the full onslaught of Toronto’s top six who are as good as anyone in the league.

The hesitation to bet Toronto may come from the play of the Toronto goaltender Ilya Samsonov who allowed four goals on those 28 shots. In his last five starts the 26-year-old Russian has allowed 15 goals on 160 shots or on par with what Bobrovsky has given the Panthers, making this a difficult wager. Let’s conclude our Panthers vs Maple Leafs betting preview, but first, let’s give our official selection on game two.

We’re Convinced, Let’s Stay With Florida in Game Two

If we know anything about the 2023 postseason, it’s that everything you just saw in the regular season has very little to do with what we’re going to see in the NHL’s second season. Florida has won 565 units using a base of $100 per wager. That’s the best mark in the playoffs, just ahead of the Seattle Kraken (+496). We don’t think it’s time to jump ship until Paul Maurice’s team starts to show signs of sliding back to old regular-season habits. If bettors continue to get a solid effort from Bobrovsky, not only are the Panthers a play in this game but for the rest of the series. That does it for our Panthers vs Leafs game two previews, we wish you the best with your wagers tonight.

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