Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Prediction, Odds, Props for Game 1: Series Price Has Toronto Favored to Advance

A storied franchise and a Cinderella story come together when the favored Toronto Maple Leafs host the upstart Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NHL Playoffs. Here, we look at predictions, odds, and props for Game 1 for these two teams seeking to parlay remarkable first-round victories.

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Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 1 Odds

For Game 1 of this series, Toronto is priced at -160 odds at BetMGM as of early Tuesday afternoon. The best odds we’re seeing on the underdog Panthers are +148 at BetRivers.

The Leafs -1.5 puck line is a consensus +150, while Florida +1.5 goals is -164 at FanDuel. The Over-Under is 6.5 (Over -120, Under +100).

Here are current Panthers-Leafs Game 1 betting lines from the best sports betting apps on the market.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Series Price + NHL Futures Odds

Toronto, an Original Six franchise, houses both the Hockey Hall of Fame and the NHL’s longest Stanley Cup drought, going back to 1967.

But the Leafs earned their first series playoff victory since 2004 by toppling the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games and are the Stanley Cup futures chalk +350 odds at DraftKings.

Toronto is -170 to win the series and defeat its second straight Florida-based opponent.

Florida, which stunned the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Boston Bruins with a Game 7, is +145 to topple its second-straight, Stanley Cup futures favorite. The Panthers stopped a Boston team that stood as low as the +220 chalk to win the Cup early in the series.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 1 Betting Trends

Toronto has 80% of the puck-line handle and 53% of the tickets as of Tuesday morning at DraftKings.

The Leafs also have 73% of the moneyline handle and 71% of the moneyline tickets.

Bettors expect the lamps to be lit, with 79% of the handle and 68% of the bets going on the Over.

Living in Overtime

This is the ultimate battle of the overtime road maestros. Toronto captured an unlikely three overtime road victories in one playoff series, toppling Tampa Bay in Games 3, 4, and 6 in an extra session. Florida notched two overtime road triumphs at Boston in Games 5 and 7.

That means the teams have waged five consecutive overtime road games and won them all. It is highly unlikely that any two playoff teams in NHL history match that feat.

Both teams staged improbable rallies in pivotal victories. Toronto trailed Tampa Bay with 10 minutes remaining in Game 4, but notched three goals in five minutes and then prevailed in overtime. Florida was staring down the barrel of elimination at Boston, when trailing three games to one. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky saved Florida’s season by stopping a breakaway on the final play of regulation.

Florida then won in overtime and took Game 7 first by scoring with 1 minute left in regulation to tie it and then prevailing in OT.

Does Panthers’ Bobrovsky Have Another Upset in Him?

Bobrovsky is more than a giant killer. He is a major part of recent and all-time NHL history.

Bobrovsky led Florida’s completion of the largest first-round upset in history, according to numbers. At 92 points, Florida finished 43 points behind Boston, which set an NHL record with 135 points for a regular season.

Bettors remember Bobrovsky doing this once before. It happened in 2019, when the Columbus Blue Jackets swept the Tampa Bay Lightning after finishing 30 points behind them.

Bobrovsky has led the two biggest upsets of Presidents’ Trophy winners. The Presidents’ Trophy is awarded to the team that has the most points during the regular season.

The Panthers also have a number of excellent offensive players.

Matthew Tkachuk had 40 goals and led the team with 109 points. He set an effective screen to enable the series winner from Carter Verhaeghe to go in. Verhaeghe led the Panthers with 42 goals.

Leafs’ Matthews Looks to Extend Scoring Streak

Auston Matthews has a four-game goal streak (five goals) and has nine points (five goals, four assists) in a six-game point streak.

Matthews is part of an excellent scoring nucleus for Toronto. He had 40 regular-season goals, along with William Nylander. Veteran John Tavares, who had the series-winning goal against Tampa Bay, notched 36 goals and 80 points.

Mitch Marner led the team in scoring with 99 points.

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 1 Prop Bets

Here are just a few of the hundreds of props offered on sportsbooks’ Game 1 wagering menus.

DraftKings: Goal Scorer, First and Anytime

• Tkachuk (+750, -125)
• Nylander (+1100, +140)
• Verhaeghe (+1200, +150)
• Marner (+1200, +175)
• Tavares (+1200, +150)

Panthers-Leafs Props at FanDuel

Bettors must lay heavy juice for top players to notch one point. Here is a prop list to score 2 or more points

• Matthews +118
• Tkachuk (+130)
• Marner (+134)
• Aleksander Barkov (+215)
• Tavares (+265)

Goaltender Saves

Ilya Samsonov 29.5 (Over, Under both -112)

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 1 and Series Predictions

Game 1: Leafs ML
Series: Leafs in 7 (+410, FanDuel)

How to Watch Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 1

Game Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Game Time:7 p.m.
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Channel: ESPN