Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers - Odds and Predictions

Toronto Maple Leafs (Away)

Head Coach: Sheldon Keefe{All-Time 24-13-4 TOR}

Currently sitting third in the Atlantic division, the Toronto Maple Leafs barely made a splash at the trade deadline as many expected them to do. They are only 5-4-1 in their last ten games but are coming into this matchup following an impressive 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Offense

For almost the entire season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have ranked within the top-three in NHL scoring. Currently, they sit second just behind the Tampa Bay Lightning with 210 goals – 165 of them at even strength.

These goals come from the fact that the Maple Leafs also have the third-most shots on goal this season. They create an incredible amount of scoring chances. However, they don’t all translate into goals of course, but the team still has a 10.5 shooting percentage, which is the fifth-best in the NHL.

The Leafs also rank within the league’s top-three when it comes to the power play. With the man-advantage this season, Toronto has a 24.84 percent. They have a combined 40 power-play goals this season.

This Maple Leafs power play has allowed seven shorthanded goals against as well, so it hasn’t been all sunshine and roses. Which leads us into their defensive capabilities.

Defense

Although the Leafs are known for scoring a lot of goals, they are unfortunately also known for how many goals they allow. Currently, the Leafs have allowed the fourth-most goals against this season: 195.

Likewise, their power play is well known for its success but so is their penalty kill. The Leafs have the ninth-worst penalty kill in the league this season with a 77.98 percent. They have allowed 37 power-play goals against.

Like their power play, the Leafs also rank ninth when it comes to most shots against. The Leafs have allowed 1,926 shots against and their goaltenders this season have a combined save percentage of .899; the tenth-worst. They have since traded away their backup goaltender.

Goaltending

Usual starting goaltender Frederik Andersen will once again get the start for Toronto against the Panthers. Andersen has a season record of 26-13-6. His goals-against average is 2.98 and he has a .906 save percentage. He has also registered two shutouts this season.

Head Coach: Joel Quenneville{All-Time 923-556-77-143 FLA, CHI, COL, STL}

The Panthers sit just behind the Maple Leafs, currently ranking fourth in the Atlantic division. Also coming off of a big win, theirs being over the Arizona Coyotes, the Panthers are just 4-6-0 over their last ten games.

Offense

Like the Maple Leafs, the Florida Panthers have had no problem scoring goals this season. The Panthers have the fifth-highest goal total this season with 203 – 159 of those coming at even strength.

The team’s high-shooting offense ranks ninth in the league and the Florida Panthers are tied with their opponents with a 10.5 shooting percentage.

Florida has a power-play percentage this season of 21.51 percent. That ranks them as the ninth-best in the NHL. The team has 40 combined power-play goals.

They do come into this matchup with a slight disadvantage in the faceoff circle. Florida’s faceoff percentage sits at 50.1 percent. Not poor, but Toronto’s 52.8 percent should see the Leafs starting most of the plays with puck possession.

Defense

As is the case with their opponents, it’s on defense where things get a little sticky for the Panthers. In fact, they have allowed even more goals against than the Leafs this season. They have allowed 198, which is the second-most this season after the Detroit Red Wings.

The team is able to limit scoring chances against better than Toronto – but barely. They have allowed the 11th-most shots against this season. This, unfortunately, equates to just a team combined save percentage of .896 – the sixth-worst in the NHL this season.

Florida has, however, struggled a little bit more than Toronto when it comes to killing penalties. They currently have the league’s seventh-worst penalty-killing unit, having just a 77.44 percent. They have allowed 37 power-play goals against this season.

Goaltending

Former two-time Vezina winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will be in net for the Panthers Thursday night. Bobrovsky hasn’t quite lived up to expectations since joining the club this season but has a respectable record of 23-18-5. His GAA sits at 3.24 and he has a .900 save percentage. He has just one shutout.

Last head-to-head

These two teams last went head-to-head earlier this month on February 3. It was the Florida Panthers who defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs by a final score of 5-3.

What’s at Stake?

These two teams are both very much in position for a playoff spot. That third seed in the Atlantic division is huge as even though the Panthers are only two spots back of the Maple Leafs, they sit five points back of a wildcard spot. The two points at stake here are crucial for both teams moving forward. Claiming that third seed is everything as neither team is likely to catch the Boston Bruins or Tampa Bay Lightning, and the battle for wildcard spots is a hard-fought one this season.

Questions to Answer

How will Toronto perform defensively? They have struggled all season and will now be without three of their top-six defensemen. Florida is not a team to be taken lightly offensively.

In turn, how will the Panthers offense react to the weakened Toronto blue line? Will they be able to exploit them and pick up the desperately needed two points?

How important will special teams be? These teams are both atrocious at killing penalties but both, luckily, take few penalties. They are also both top-ten for the power play. Will one outperform the other or will they void each other out?

Toronto Maple Leafs Injury Report

D Jake Muzzin – OUT (hand)

D Morgan Rielly – DL (foot)

D Cody Ceci – DL (ankle)

F Andreas Johnsson – DL (knee)

F Ilya Mikheyev – DL (wrist)

F Nathan Horton – IR/NR (back)

F David Clarkson – IR/NR (back)

Florida Panthers Injury Report

F Brian Boyle – DL (upper-body)

G Chris Driedger – DL (groin)

D Mike Matheson – day-to-day (illness)

F Dryden Hunt – DL (lower-body)

The odds will be updated as they are made available.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Odds

The latest odds for Toronto vs Florida are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, and 888Sport NJ.

If you’re just getting into the NHL then check out our complete guide on how to bet on the NHL!

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Match FAQ

What time is the game?

The match will be Thursday, February 27th at 7pm EST.

Where will the match be played?

The game will be held at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida

How can you watch the game?

The game will be on TV and Radio stations TSN4, TVA, Fox Sports Florida, and WFAN
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