DiStefano's prediction: With Toronto's season on the line, expect Auston Matthews to break out and make a difference tonight.
NHL
Friday’s lone matchup features Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena, with the Leafs fighting to stay alive against the defending champs.
Auston Matthews has been held in check so far, but my Maple Leafs vs. Panthers predictions expect the Toronto captain to break through and lead the charge in tonight’s must-win spot.
Read more in our NHL picks for Friday, May 16.
Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET from Sunrise, Florida, with the game airing on Sportsnet and TNT.
Florida has flipped this series on its head with three straight wins, but closing out this playoff series won’t be as easy as some might expect.
Toronto has shown resilience under first-year head coach Craig Berube, and I expect a strong response in Game 6.
Backed into a corner after a flat showing in Game 5, the Leafs should come out with urgency and keep their season alive tonight.
My Maple Leafs vs Panthers pick: Auston Matthews Over 3.5 shots on goal (-115 at Sports Interaction)
It’s time to put up or shut up for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs trail the Florida Panthers 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and are in must win mode.
Tonight has the chance to be a defining game for the Leafs core. If they win, and keep the season alive. If they lose, the questions arise on whether this group can get it done after nine kicks at the can.
One player who needs to improve and be a dominant force tonight is Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. He’s been a shell of himself through the first five games of the series, going scoreless while mustering just two helpers through five games.
After the embarrassing Game 5 loss Wednesday night, the Leafs captain challenged the group to be better, and he must lead by example.
“We gotta win a game [now],” Matthews said. “Just [have to] look in the mirror and all of us being better.”
Thus, I’m attacking the Auston Matthews shot prop tonight for my best bet.
Matthews’ shot prop is set at 3.5 with the Over paying -115. If the Maple Leafs are going to suffer another May exit, he’d better go down swinging.
The three-time “Rocket” Richard winner has registered 20 shots on net through five games, averaging four shots per game, including a six-shot performance in his last outing.
Additionally, with the season on the line for the Buds, I expect them to ride the big boys all night long with an increased workload, therefore increasing his opportunities on the ice to register shots.
Auston Matthews Over 3.5 shots on goal
Auston Matthews anytime goal
John Tavares 2+ shots on goal
We’ll stick with the Matthews legacy game narrative for the second leg of this SGP and take him to finally score a goal in this series.
If the Buds are going to keep their season alive, they’ll need help from their captain. Plus, the value is at an all-time high.
For the final leg of my SGP, let’s go back to the shot prop market and take John Tavares to record 2+ shots on goal.
He is averaging 3.8 shots per game in the series and has gone 5-0 O/U.
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Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction
The Panthers are 7-3 on the money line in the last 10 meetings between these two teams. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Panthers.
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Mike DiStefano joins Covers after a successful five-year stint with TSN. Distefano hosted Leafs Lunch, a Toronto Maple Leafs-centric radio show which featured a daily best bets segment where he found the biggest and best value plays of the night. He was also a weekly staple on TSN’s flagship radio/tv show “OverDrive” as a betting analyst during their NFL picks segment #TeamAl-DogForever.
A graduate of Centennial College’s Sports Journalism program, Mike has also contributed to the Canadian Baseball Network, FanSided, and The Hockey News.
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