The BB&T Center plays host to an intriguing showdown as the Florida Panthers take the ice against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. Fox SportsNet Florida will broadcast this Atlantic Division matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 27.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers Odds
Playing the role of favorite will be Toronto (-115), whereas Florida is a dog showing moneyline odds of -105, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been placed at 7 goals. If bettors want to play the matchup’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -105 money on the over and -115 for the under.
The Panthers are 33-30 straight up (SU) and have netted 0.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the Atlantic Division so far this season, is a welcomed improvement compared to what the team managed during the 2018-19 season (36-46). Through 63 regular season matches, 37 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and just three have pushed. This season, the team’s 16-14 SU at home.
Florida has connected on 22.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for eighth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.0 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Florida has been penalized just 3.3 times per game overall this season, 3.0 per game over its past five contests total, and 3.6 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 6.6 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Sporting a .900 save percentage and 27.1 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (24-24-5) has been the top option in goal for the Panthers this year. If they decide to rest him, however, the team could turn to Sam Montembeault (5-8-8 record, .890 save percentage, 3.37 goals against average).
Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov will both spearhead the attack for the Panthers. Huberdeau (77 points) has produced 22 goals and 55 assists and has recorded multiple points 21 times this year. Barkov has 20 goals and 42 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 38 contests.
Toronto has lost 9.7 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 33-31 straight up (SU). Through 64 regular season matches, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under the total and just three have pushed. Toronto’s 17-15 SU as a road team this season.
Toronto currently touts the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 24.2 percent of its extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 26th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Toronto’s players have been penalized only 3.2 times per game this season, 3.4 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.0 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Frederik Andersen (2.98 goals against average and .906 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Toronto. Andersen is averaging 27.6 saves per game and has 26 wins, 22 losses, and six OT losses to his credit.
Auston Matthews (43 goals, 31 assists) will pace the attack for the visiting Maple Leafs.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers Betting Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Florida is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Toronto is 1-4 in shootouts.
For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their last five matchups.
This game features two clubs that have pounded opponents’ nets with shots. Toronto has taken the league’s seventh-most shots on goal (33.0) and Florida has attempted the 10th-most (32.4). The Leafs have averaged 27.0 shot attempts over their last five road games and the Panthers have taken 29.6 shots over their last five home outings.
Toronto skaters recorded 18.8 hits per game last season, while the Panthers logged 23.2 hits per matchup.
