Next up on our NHL schedule of betting previews and predictions is a pivotal showdown in the Eastern Conference between the Florida Panthers (36-31-7, 15-19-3 Away) and Toronto Maple Leafs (44-20-9, 25-7-5 Home) on Wednesday night. The puck drops at 7:30 pm EST from Toronto and is available on NHLPP | ESPN+.
This is one of only three NHL games on the slate on Wednesday and one that features a team in the Leafs that just clinched a playoff spot going up against a club in the Panthers trying to sneak their way in.
These two NHL teams will square off once more after tonight as Toronto leads the season series to this point, 2-0.
Continue reading for our free Panthers vs Maple Leafs prediction.
Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Information
Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Location of the game: Scotiabank Arena. Toronto, Ontario.
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 29, 2023. 7:30 pm ET.
How to Watch: NHLPP | ESPN+
Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Recent Scores
Florida Panthers
The Panthers have dug themselves a bit of a hole lately. They dropped four consecutive games, including one to the Leafs just last Thursday at home. Most recently, Florida fell to the Senators in Ottawa by a 5-2 final, giving them four straight defeats for the first time this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto has exchanged wins and losses over their last five skates, most recently defeating the Predators in Nashville on Sunday, 3-2.
Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Preview
Florida Panthers Preview
Back on March 20, the Panthers were flying high, having just won their third in a row and sixth of their last seven to climb into the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference portion of the NHL standings.
Now, predictor models are only giving Florida a 26% chance to make the playoffs, compared to 90% and 71% for the current occupiers of those WC spots, the Islanders and Penguins, respectively.
Beyond the troubling Florida Panthers stats as of late, their remaining schedule keeps the door open for a final-stretch surge. As noted, they’ll square off with Toronto twice, but the Leafs are locked into their postseason position.
In addition, they’ll face five lottery-level teams in succession after tonight, which puts everything right in front of them.
Toronto Maple Leafs Preview
The Leafs have the fourth most points in the East. They are only behind Boston, Carolina, and New Jersey, and appear on a collision course for a first-round matchup with the Lightning. Toronto and Tampa are set to meet in the Leafs’ penultimate regular-season game. It will be interesting to monitor how much either side reveals so close to the playoffs.
The rest of the Toronto Maple Leafs schedule sees them largely on the road, as four of their final five games are away from Scotiabank Arena.
Be sure to bookmark InsidersBettingDigest for all of our daily NHL picks and updated NHL player stats. And keep reading for our final Panthers vs Maple Leafs prediction.
Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Odds Breakdown
Toronto is the favorite on Wednesday night, laying 1.5 goals (+150) and they’re -145 on the moneyline with an over/under of 7.0 goals.
Florida is -175 on the puck line and +125 on the moneyline.
Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Pick and Prediction
The NHL injury report finds Florida’s Sam Bennett day-to-day (undisclosed), while Toronto will be without Ryan O’Reilly and Erik Gustafsson.
Bennett’s absence has coincided with the Panthers’ recent nose-dive, but they are in must-win mode now and could catch the Leafs in a nice letdown spot.
Toronto is the better team, though, so we’ll cover ourselves with the puck line in our final Panthers vs Maple Leafs prediction.
- Final Score Prediction: Maple Leafs 4 Panthers 3
- Pick: Panthers +1.5 (-175)
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