The first-round playoff clash of the Stanley Cup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers will take place on May 8 at Scotiabank Arena. The series score is 1-0 in favor of Toronto. Toronto vs. Florida: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Craig Berube's team took the lead in the series by winning the previous home game 5-4. In this match, William Nylander stood out for Toronto, earning three points (2+1). Notably, the club remains one of the highest-scoring teams in the current Stanley Cup, with 24 goals scored. Additionally, they are among the top five in penalty killing (77.8%).
It is worth mentioning that the club's goalie, Anthony Stolarz, was unable to finish the last match and left the arena on a stretcher.
- Toronto has not scored more than three goals in regulation time in 7 of their last 9 home NHL meetings.
- The club has won 10 of their last 11 home league games (3 in OT).
- Florida has conceded at least three goals in 60 minutes in 9 of their last 11 NHL home games.
Florida Panthers
Paul Maurice's squad ended a three-game playoff winning streak on the road, losing the last game. Two Florida players, Carter Verhaeghe (0+2) and Brad Marchand (0+2), each scored two points in this match. In this playoff, the team remains the most reliable, having conceded only 17 goals in total. Florida also ranks second in the current Stanley Cup for penalty killing (91.3%).
- Florida has scored at least three goals in regulation time in 5 of their last 8 NHL meetings at Toronto's venue.
- The team has lost 7 of their last 10 away league games (1 in OT).
- At least six goals have been scored over three periods in 4 of their last 5 away NHL games.
Toronto vs. Florida: Match Prediction
Paul Maurice's team lacked sufficient time to complete a comeback in the last match, although they attempted to rally from 1-4. The substitution of the opponent's goalie played a significant role, which could affect Toronto in the future. I believe that in the upcoming match, Florida will not allow a similar situation and will apply pressure from the start. In any case, I do not believe the club will head home trailing 0-2 in the series.
Florida has three regulation-time wins in their last four NHL away games. Additionally, they have won after three periods in 4 of their last 6 head-to-head league meetings. Overall, Paul Maurice's team appears to be the favorite in this series, and they should not allow their opponent to extend their lead. I think lessons will be learned.
My prediction: Victory for Florida Panthers
