Toronto Maple Leafs face defending champion Florida Panthers in a second-round rematch of their 2023 playoff series

The Maple Leafs are back in the second round, and once again, it’s the Florida Panthers standing in their way. Toronto hasn’t forgotten the nightmare they suffered two years ago — a five-game ousting at the hands of the Cats after finally breaking their first-round curse.

Now, with a deeper blue line, a solid number one starting goaltender and a red-hot offence, the Leafs have revenge on their minds. Florida, though, isn’t blinking.

The Panthers enter this series having steamrolled their way past Tampa Bay for a 4-1 series victory. With Matthew Tkachuk’s edge, Aleksander Barkov’s two-way dominance, and Sergei Bobrovsky flashing playoff form, Florida remains a tough out and currently sit as the favourites to win this series and the Eastern Conference at large.

Expect a series packed with pace, animosity, and the kind of high-stakes drama only a recent playoff rivalry can provide.

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All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Series Points Leader - William Nylander (+800), Series Goal Leader - William Nylander (+800)

Toronto's last go-around with Florida was one to forget with almost no offence generated and scoring being led by defenceman Morgan Reilly with four points through five games. The Maple Leafs' stars had a tough series, with William Nylander netting a pair of goals, while Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies each tallied one.

Meanwhile, Auston Matthews and John Tavares were held without a goal. This time around the scoring should be more balanced as Toronto's top five forwards combined for 12 of the team's 19 first round goals. Nylander led the way with nine points as he got on the board in every game that the Leafs recorded a goal.

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Florida played one less game in the first round and their top scorer in Sam Reinhart recorded six points, three less than Nylander. The Swedish winger is listed at a great value to lead the series in goals after scoring a team-high 45 goals this season and placing second for the Rocket Richard trophy winner behind Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers.

Bobby McMann - 1+ Series Goals (-170)

It's been sometime since the 28-year-old Alberta native has scored as he rides a career-worst 17-game goal drought. The Maple Leafs still believe in McMann as he recorded 34 points this season as a third-line winger and still holds his spot while playing with winger Max Domi and Pontus Holmberg. He should still get chances as he finished with an assist and just over 13 minutes of average ice-time in the first round.

Panthers -1.5 Series Spread (+105)

The sportsbooks are being quite generous to the Maple Leafs considering they haven't won two playoff series since 2002 and are going against the defending Stanley Cup Champions. This Toronto team does appear different as they are doing things the franchise hasn't done in decades like winning a division title but we are still getting too much value here on the Panthers.

If the Leafs slip even just a little, this bet will hit, as they’d need to win the series or at least force a game seven. Given how the Panthers easily disposed of the Lightning in the first round and rolled through Toronto two years ago, it's not hard to believe they’ll likely win the series in five or six games.

Florida has won seven of their last eight playoff series over the past two years and if we learned anything from Tampa Bay during their hayday, you shouldn't bet against a team that knows how to handle the postseason better than anyone. 

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Matchup Trends: Potential Player Prop Targets

Toronto Maple Leafs:

• Auston Matthews has pair of goals and assists for four points over his last ten games versus the Florida Panthers. However, Toronto's captain has been red hot with 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points over his last 23 games, including points in eight of his last nine games. Matthews finished with seven points as he got on the board in every game that the Leafs recorded a goal during the first round versus Ottawa.
• Mitch Marner has 11 goals and 22 assists over his last 25 games versus the Florida Panthers. He finished with eight points but just one goal through six games in the first round versus the Ottawa Senators.
• Matthew Knies has pair of goals and assists for four points over his last five games versus the Florida Panthers. The Arizona native dazzled in the first round with three meaningful goals versus Ottawa and remains on a line with Matthews and Marner, which should make him a solid source for points at a great value.
• William Nylander has no goals and two assists over his last seven games versus the Florida Panthers. He's been red hot with three goals and six assists for a team-best nine points through six games in the first round versus the Ottawa Senators.
• John Tavares has 14 goals and eight assists for 22 points over his last 24 games versus the Florida Panthers, including a six-game stretch where he scored nine goals. He finished with five points through six games in the first round versus the Ottawa Senators.

Florida Panthers:

• Aleksander Barkov is a defensive centre but still has a goal and five assists for six points over his last five games versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. He finished with five points in as many games during their first round matchup versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• Matthew Tkachuk has no goals but nine assists over his last ten games versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. His 12-game goal drought in this matchup makes his a decent play for anytime goal bets. Tkachuk finished with five points in as many games during their first round matchup versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• Carter Verhaeghe had a slow first round with a pair of goals and an assist for three points through five games versus Tampa Bay. The 2013 third-round pick for the Maple Leafs has burned his former team with four goals and four assists over his last nine games versus the Toronto.
• Sam Reinhart has 11 goals and eight assists over his last 19 games versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. He finished with two goals and four assists for a team-best six points in through five games in the first round versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Toronto Maple Leafs versus Florida Panthers Series Schedule: 

• Game 1: Monday, May 5, Florida at Toronto
• Game 2: Wednesday, May 7, Florida at Toronto
• Game 3: Friday, May 9, Toronto at Florida
• Game 4: Sunday, May 11, Toronto at Florida
• Game 5: Wednesday, May 14, Florida at Toronto
• Game 6: Friday, May 16, Toronto at Florida
• Game 7: Sunday, May 18, Florida at Toronto