The NHL playoffs are in full swing, and one of the most exciting matchups in the first round is the Toronto Maple Leafs versus the Florida Panthers. This series features two high-scoring teams with plenty of star power, making it a must-watch for hockey fans everywhere. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take a closer look at the odds, preview, schedule, and prediction for this exciting series.
Odds
The odds for this series are relatively close, with the Maple Leafs being slight favorites to win. According to BetMGM, Toronto is currently listed at -135 to win the series, while Florida is listed at +115. This means that if you bet $100 on the Maple Leafs to win, you would win $74.07 if they come out on top. On the other hand, if you bet $100 on the Panthers to win, you would win $115 if they pull off the upset.
Preview
Both the Maple Leafs and Panthers had strong regular seasons, finishing with identical records of 35-14-7. Toronto boasts one of the most potent offenses in the league, led by superstar Auston Matthews, who scored 41 goals in just 52 games this season. The Leafs also have plenty of depth up front, with players like Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander all capable of putting up big numbers.
Florida also has a high-powered offense, led by Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. The Panthers finished third in the league in goals scored this season, averaging 3.36 per game. They also have a solid defense and goaltending, with Sergei Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger both capable of stealing games.
Schedule
The Leafs and Panthers will play a best-of-seven series, with the winner advancing to the second round of the playoffs. Here’s a look at the schedule for this series:
Game 1: Thursday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET (in Florida)
Game 2: Saturday, May 22 at 7 p.m. ET (in Florida)
Game 3: Monday, May 24 at 7 p.m. ET (in Toronto)
Game 4: Tuesday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET (in Toronto)
Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, May 27 (in Florida)
Game 6 (if necessary): Saturday, May 29 (in Toronto)
Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, May 31 (in Florida)
Prediction
This series has all the makings of a high-scoring, back-and-forth battle between two talented teams. While the odds slightly favor the Maple Leafs, the Panthers have the firepower to pull off the upset. Ultimately, we predict that this series will go the distance, with the Leafs narrowly coming out on top in a thrilling Game 7. Look for Matthews and Marner to lead the way for Toronto, while Barkov and Huberdeau will do their best to keep Florida in the series. Regardless of the outcome, this should be an exciting matchup for hockey fans everywhere.