NHL Hockey

Panthers Continue Cinderella Run Against Stunned Maple Leafs

2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Second Round Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers

Posted by Nick Brown
May 10, 2023

At the onset of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Florida Panthers were the biggest longshot of all with the NHL lines. Florida barely got into the Eastern Conference Playoffs as the 8-seed. Their “reward” was a matchup against the Boston Bruins. Boston was coming off the greatest regular season in NHL history. Thus, Florida was written off for dead. Especially when they fell behind 3-1. Now, Florida is one win away from the Eastern Conference Final. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the brink of another playoff catastrophe.

2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Second Round

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers

CashBet Odds: Toronto Maple Leafs +630 vs. Florida Panthers -1050

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers Series Schedule

Game 1 (at TOR): Panthers 4, Maple Leafs 2
Game 2 (at TOR): Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2
Game 3 (at FLA): Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT)
Game 4 (at FLA): May 10, 7 ET (ESPN)
Game 5 (at TOR): May 12, Time TBD
Game 6 (at FLA): May 14, Time TBD
Game 7 (at TOR): May 16, Time TBD

All times listed are Eastern. (* – if necessary)

Maple Leafs Falling Fast

First among Toronto scorers is Mitchell Marner with two goals, ten assists, 12 points, and a +6. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov has a .898 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average. His record is 4-4 with no shutouts.

Toronto has best sportsbook online NHL rankings of 9^th for goals scored and 2^nd for power play efficiency. In comparison, on defense, the Maple Leafs rank 7^th for goals against and 12^th for penalty killing.

Late on, Toronto has covered one out of their last five games. While the Maple Leafs have gone over the betting on NHL total in one of its previous six matchups. The Toronto Maple Leafs finished 50-21-11 straight up and 36-42-4 over/under the total.

Panthers Make Giant Leap Forward

First among Florida scorers is Matthew Tkachuk, with five goals, ten assists, 15 points, and a +9. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has a .909 save percentage and 3.13 goals-against average. His record is 6-1 with no shutouts.

Florida has pro hockey betting rankings of 6^th for goals scored and 10^th for power play efficiency. In comparison, on defense, the Panthers rank 21st for goals against and 23^rd for penalty killing.

Late on, Florida has covered four out of their last six games. In comparison, the Panthers have gone over the total in five of its previous six matchups. Overall, the Florida Panthers finished 42-37-8 straight up and 42-30 over/under the total.

Last Game – Maple Leafs Face Death

Florida briefly limited ticket sales for their series against Toronto to fans with American credit cards. Of course, it was a decision that some Maple Leaf fans thought was designed to keep them from coming to Games 3 and 4. Now the Panthers might be able to keep them from a Game 5 in Toronto, too.

To illuminate, Sam Reinhart scored 3:02 into overtime for Florida. And the Panthers are on the brink of their first conference finals appearance since 1996. Florida topped Toronto 3-2 on Sunday night, taking a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Certainly, Florida has had numerous players with huge contributions on their improbable run. None bigger than Reinhart to win it. Reinhart dumped the puck off the boards behind the net to set up his game-winner. Next, he headed behind the goal to take a pass back from Anton Lundell. Reinhart twirled his way to the front and tapped the puck home. Thus, Florida had its first series lead in 27 years.

Also, Anthony Duclair and Carter Verhaeghe scored for Florida. Sam Lafferty and Erik Gustafsson scored for Toronto. And then Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 shots for the Panthers. By contrast, Joseph Woll stopped 18 of the 21 he faced for the Maple Leafs. Woll relieved starter Ilya Samsonov, who stopped all eight shots he saw before leaving early in the second period with an injury.