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🏆 Playoffs
Last updated: May 5, 2025 5:26 PM EDT • 4 min read X Social Google News Link
For the second time in three seasons, the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs face off in the Stanley Cup playoffs, as we offer our Panthers vs. Maple Leafs prediction and NHL picks for Game 1 tonight at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) from Scotiabank Arena.
The Panthers are -125 favorites to win Game 1 while leading the Stanley Cup odds entering the series across our best sports betting sites. They defeated the Maple Leafs in five games – including three wins by one goal – the last time they faced off in the playoffs, though Craig Berube’s team hopes two years and home ice advantage will be enough to exact some ice-cold revenge.
👉 For more coverage, check out our Panthers vs. Maple Leafs prop picks.
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✅ Against the spread pick: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-250 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Moneyline pick: Maple Leafs (+110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Over/Under pick: Under 5.5 goals (-120 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Score prediction: Maple Leafs 3, Panthers 2
I have no doubt Anthony Stolarz will be focused and ready to shut the door against the defending champs.
The only way the Buds can upset the Cats is for their No. 1 goaltender to play almost unerring hockey throughout. One weak goal will be enough for a Panthers team with more experience and pedigree than Bo Nix at the collegiate level.
Stolarz allowed more than two goals in one of six first-round games. He’s allowed three or more goals in just two of his previous 13 starts and is 11-2 in that timeframe. In the playoffs thus far, he has a 2.21 goals-against average.
Sergei Bobrovsky enjoyed a good first round, all things considered. He allowed two goals or fewer in three of five starts, including a shutout, against a Tampa Bay Lightning team with the most goals per game during the regular season.
Three of four regular-season meetings ended with five goals or fewer, with the lone exception pushing through the 5.5-goal barrier thanks to a Sam Bennett empty-netter.
The Under trend preceded the regular season, with four of five the last time these teams met in the playoffs hitting the Under. The anomaly had six goals, with Floria’s fourth scored with under eight minutes to play.
All of those Unders occurred with a Maple Leafs team that was far inferior defensively to Berube’s current version, which has allowed the fewest goals per 60 minutes 5-on-5 (1.48) thus far in the postseason.
With Aaron Ekblad’s absence and the Maple Leafs’ recent home-ice swagger, I also expect the Maple Leafs to snatch Game 1, 3-2.
✅ Best bet: Under 5.5 goals (-120 via bet365)
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Live updated odds from our best sports betting apps.
Opening odds via BetMGM.
📅 Monday, May 5
🕗 8 p.m. ET
📍 Scotiabank Arena (Toronto)
📺 ESPN, Sportsnet | 🛜 ESPN+, Sportsnet+
Ready to place your hockey bets today? Here are the best NHL betting sites and best sportsbook promos for the Stanley Cup playoffs:
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