{"id":343859,"date":"2025-05-03T16:16:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-03T20:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.northstargaming.ca\/admin\/nsgcms\/?p=343859"},"modified":"2025-05-04T10:44:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-04T14:44:47","slug":"panthers-vs-maple-leafs-best-bets-game-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.northstargaming.ca\/admin\/nsgcms\/panthers-vs-maple-leafs-best-bets-game-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 1 best bets: Expect Florida, Bennett to shine in second round series opener"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Florida Panthers for Game 1 of their second-round series on Monday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pregame narrative:<\/strong> The Panthers appear ready for another deep playoff run and are rightful favourites as well as my pick to win Game 1. Secondly, I’m taking the over with two capable offences doing battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out my Panthers vs. Maple Leafs best bets for Game 1 of the second round, featuring Sam Bennett.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs best bets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Best Bet: Panthers moneyline (-125)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Florida was far more impressive than its second-round opponent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Panthers downed a much stronger team in faster fashion than the Maple Leafs. The former only needed five games to oust the Tampa Bay Lightning, while the latter needed six to beat the Ottawa Senators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cats were able to win more convincingly than Toronto. They earned four multi-goal victories in the first round, while the Maple Leafs needed overtime for two of their wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular season results also favour Florida. It won three of its four contests against Toronto this past season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, I expect the Panthers to physically overwhelm the Maple Leafs. Florida found itself in an all-out battle with Tampa Bay, while Toronto’s series with Ottawa didn’t have quite the same intensity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expect the Panthers to look sharp in Game 1 and earn a win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key stat:<\/strong> Florida has won nine of 13 games versus Toronto since the two met in the 2023 playoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick picks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Over 5.5 goals (+100):<\/strong> Both these offences can score goals in bunches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toronto tied for seventh in the regular season in goals per game (3.26). Florida ranked a respectable 15th (3.00).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latter was able to light up a very talented Andrei Vasilevskiy in the first round, scoring 19 goals across five contests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Maple Leafs scored 19 goals in six contests, notching three-plus markers in five of their games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One situation to monitor in this series is how Anthony Stolarz holds up against his ex-team. He struggled across three regular-season contests, surrendering nine goals in three games while posting an .886 save percentage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bennett anytime goal (+225):<\/strong> There are several reasons why Bennett is my preferred goal-scorer bet for Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, the Panthers forward is putting plenty of pucks on net. He led the team with 17 shots on goal in the first round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That translated into offensive production as he tied for the team lead with three goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bennett terrorized Toronto in the regular season, too. The physical forward scored three goals and five points in three games against the Maple Leafs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs best bets made at 3:42 p.m. ET 05\/03\/2025.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Florida Panthers for Game 1 of their second-round series on Monday night. The pregame narrative: The Panthers appear ready for another deep playoff run and are rightful favourites as well as my pick to win Game 1. Secondly, I’m taking the over with two capable offences doing battle. Check […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":343764,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sidebar_plugin_meta_block_field":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[452,58,67],"tags":[49],"class_list":["post-343859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-com","category-nhl","category-toronto-maple-leafs","tag-nhl"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPanthers vs. Maple Leafs best bets: Game 1 predictions | NSB<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Check out our Game 1 Panthers vs. Maple Leafs best bets. 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