Scotiabank Arena will be hosting an intriguing showdown as the Florida Panthers square off against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This divisional matchup gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 20 and it can be viewed live on Sportsnet Ontario.
Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto comes into the matchup as the heavy favorite with a -215 moneyline. The line for Florida sits at +180, and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -130 for the under and +110 for the over.
Netting 3.4 units for moneyline bettors, the Maple Leafs are 22-12 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, second-best in the NHL so far in this young season, isn’t too far off from to what the team produced during last year’s regular season (49-33). Through 34 regular season contests, 16 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 9-6 SU at home this season.
Toronto’s converted on 21.7 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.8 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Toronto has been penalized just 3.0 times per game overall this season, and 1.4 per game over its last five outings home outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for a whopping 14.8 minutes per game over its last five matchups, overall.
Averaging 30.0 saves per game with a .923 save percentage, Frederik Andersen (18-10-1) has been the principal goalkeeper for the Maple Leafs this year. If head coach Mike Babcock chooses to rest him, however, the Leafs may roll with Garret Sparks (4-3-3 record, .913 save percentage, 2.84 goals against average).
Mitchell Marner and John Tavares will each lead the offensive attack for the Maple Leafs. Marner (44 points) is up to nine goals and 35 assists and has recorded multiple points 14 times this year. Tavares has 21 goals and 15 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 23 contests.
On the visiting bench, Florida is 13-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 17 of its outings have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under the total and just three have pushed. As the visiting team this season, Florida is 6-10 SU.
Florida has converted on 27.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for fourth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.6 percent of all penalties.
Florida’s skaters have been called for penalties 3.7 times per game this season, and 2.6 per game over their past five match ups. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
James Reimer (3.47 goals against average and .889 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Florida. Reimer is averaging 23.5 saves per game and has six wins, 12 losses, and three OT losses to his credit.
For the visiting Panthers, the offense will be facilitated by Jonathan Huberdeau (nine goals, 31 assists) and Aleksander Barkov (15 goals, 18 assists).
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their last five matchups.
- The Panthers are 8-13 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 5-15 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
- Toronto skaters have averaged 8.8 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 9.1 takeaways per game (ranked 6th).
- Florida skaters have forced 7.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 9.5 takeaways per game (ranked fourth overall).
- Toronto could hold the upper hand if it’s a close one late. The team’s 5-3 in games decided by one goal, while Florida is 6-11 in such games.
