The BB&T Center plays host to a divisional showdown as the Toronto Maple Leafs visit Florida to take on the Panthers. Sportsnet Ontario will showcase the game, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 22.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers Odds
Toronto (+105) is entering this one as the underdog to Toronto (-125), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -110 money on the over and -110 for the under.
Toronto is 14-8 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.6 units this year. 11 of its matches have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and just three have pushed. The Leafs are 6-4 SU as the road team in 2017-18.
Toronto has converted on 22.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it has successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.
The Leafs, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.0 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, 4.2 per game over its past five total, and 4.6 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The teams had to kill penalties 10.8 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
With a .914 save percentage and 30.4 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (12-7) has been the best option in goal for Toronto this season. If head coach Mike Babcock decides to rest him, however, the team might roll with Curtis McElhinney (2-1 record, .910 save percentage, 3.05 goals against average).
Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri will both lead the way for the visiting Maple Leafs. Matthews has 21 points on 12 goals and nine assists, and has recorded multiple points in seven different games. Kadri has 10 goals and nine assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 13 games).
Florida is 7-13 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 12 of its games have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 4-5 SU at home this season.
The Panthers have converted on just 16.7 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 72.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Panthers players have been sent to the penalty box 4.5 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their past five match ups. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Roberto Luongo (33.2 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Panthers. Luongo has four wins, six losses, and one OT loss to his name and has registered a .925 save percentage and 2.78 goals against average this season.
The home team will be led on offense by Vincent Trocheck (nine goals, 12 assists) and Jonathan Huberdeau (seven goals, 14 assists).
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- Six of Florida’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 2-4 overall in those games.
- The Maple Leafs are 5-3 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 9-6 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total.
- Toronto could hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The teams 6-1 in one-goal games, while Florida is 2-6 in such games.
- The under has hit in four of Florida’s last five games.
- Florida skaters have averaged 19.4 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 12.8 giveaways per game (ranked 28th in the league).
- Toronto has averaged 9.4 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 13.0 giveaways per game (ranked 29th overall).
- Toronto skaters have accounted for the ninth-most hits in the league (22.9 per game).
