Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs: NHL Best Bets (5/5)

Tonight we begin the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Florida Panthers for Game 1 of this series. The Maple Leafs closed out the Ottawa Senators in six games in the first round, while the Panthers were able to take down their in-state rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning in just five contests. Now these two go head to head for a spot at the conference finals.

The squads faced off four times this season, with the Panthers taking three of those contests, including both at home. Florida tied Toronto on shots in the first two while blowing them away in the most recent contests, outshooting them 37-18 on April 8th on their way to a 3-1 victory. Will that success carry over into the postseason?

There’s been no sign of a championship hangover for the Ice Cats, while Toronto looked like they tried to give things away last series. After starting off 3-0, they had a four minute power play in overtime to seal the sweep but couldn’t convert. Instead, they lost that game, got shutout 4-0 at home in the next matchup, before winning the series. This forced them to play an extra couple of games. Certainly the Leafs will try to come out firing once again, especially after their showing last time at home.

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Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Game 1

Matchup Information – Panthers vs Leafs

• Venue & Location: Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, Ontario)
• Date: Monday, May 5th, 2025
• Puck Drop: 8:00pm Eastern
• Broadcast: ESPN

Betting Odds

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Puck Line

• Panthers -1.5 (+205)
• Leafs +1.5 (-248)

Money Line

• Panthers -121
• Leafs +108

Total

• Over 5.5 (+106)
• Under 5.5 (-122)

It’s Game 1, and between two offensive driven teams, I certainly lean with the over for plus chicken. However, Sergei Bobrovsky is between the posts for Florida. He is always a threat to opposing offenses, and I certainly wouldn’t want to bet on an over involving him. Despite the Panthers missing defenseman Aaron Ekblad for a second straight game, they contained the Lightning in their first series, and I see them doing so again against Toronto.

Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs Best Bets

Panthers vs Maple Leafs Prediction: Panthers Win, Over 5.5

Best Bets: Panthers ML (-121)BetOnline

Give me the Panthers to come out firing in Game 1. Against Tampa Bay on the road, they scorched the Lightning, beating them 6-2 before stealing a second on the road. I am done betting against the Panthers in the playoffs, and although I’m not going to back them every game, I see Toronto coming out a bit discombobulated.

Florida is incredible, on both sides of the ice. They shoot nearly 32 times on frame per contest while only allowing 26 from their opponents. They’re equipped with the personnel to play aggressive on offense while also containing any attack they face. As far as the Maple Leafs go, Anthony Stolarz is not playing as well as he did during the regular season. The Leafs will need to rely on on their offense to try and keep up with the Panthers, but I’m not sure they have it in them. I lost a lot of confidence in this team from Toronto after not sweeping the Senators. Not the fact that they didn’t end it in four games, but after the extended power play in OT, you can’t drop the next game at home. I’ll tip my cap to them for rallying and not letting it get to seven games by stealing on from Ottawa on the road, but regardless, I think it takes them a game to recoup for this next opponent.

Give me Florida to steal Game 1 up north tonight.

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