As the second round of the NHL playoffs gets underway, the Florida Panthers are looking to reach the Stanley Cup final for the third season in a row. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to get to the NHL final four for the first time in more than two decades.
Oddsmakers are liking the Panthers to draw first blood in Game 1 of this best-of-seven series. Florida is set as -125 road favorites.
Let’s look at the latest betting line on this game. Remember, odds are subject to change.
 | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers | -1.5 (+208) | -125 | O 5.5 (EVEN) |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1.5 (-245) | +105 | U 5.5 (-120) |
As the only game on the schedule for Monday, after checking the current NHL Playoffs odds, we’re naturally going with this Panthers vs Maple Leafs contest as being the best bet worth taking. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right into our betting prediction.
When checking the NHL betting lines at any of the leading Vegas sports betting sites, you’ll find that both teams are among the top contenders in the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup odds. Two seasons ago, Florida eliminated Toronto in the second round of the playoffs. The Maple Leafs haven’t advanced to the NHL conference final round since 2002.
In NHL playoffs games between these two teams, Florida is 4-1 SU. All five of those games went under on the total.
The Maple Leafs are 4-1 straight in the club’s past five meetings with the Panthers. However, Toronto is 1-3 SU on home ice in the past four games facing Florida.
The Panthers are 4-1 SU in the past five games. On the road, though, Florida is 4-8 SU in the last 12 games. They are 7-2 SU in the last nine games against Atlantic Division clubs.
The Maple Leafs are 9-2 SU in their past 11 games. They’re 9-1 SU in their last 10 games on home ice and 8-2 SU in the past 10 meetings with teams from the Eastern Conference.
Each of the last three games between Toronto and Florida have gone under. Overall, 12 of the last 15 Maple Leafs vs Panthers games hit on the under. At Toronto, the under is 7-1 in the last eight clashes with Florida.
The total has gone over in six of Florida’s past seven games. As well, four of the last five games in which the Panthers were facing Eastern Conference opposition have also gone over.
In 11 of Toronto’s last 16 games, the under was the winning play on the total. Five of Toronto’s past seven home games have gone under. The total is 5-8-1 through the last 14 games in which the Maple Leafs were facing an Atlantic Division opponent.
The Maple Leafs are 15-10-2 SU as a betting underdog this season. Toronto is 22-22 against the puck line as a home team. Florida is 21-23 against the puck line as the away club. The Panthers are 41-28-3 SU as the favorite in the betting line.
Overall, Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is 16-9-1 with a 2.66 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in his career against the Maple Leafs. But that doesn’t tell the full story.
With the Panthers, he’s 3-1 in his last four starts facing Toronto. Bobrovsky is 4-2-1 in his last seven decisions at Toronto. And in Florida’s 2023 NHL playoffs series against the Maple Leafs, Bobrovsky won all three games at Toronto.
In this series, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner will be facing Anthony Stolarz in the Toronto goal. Stolarz was Bobrovsky’s understudy last season, serving as backup goalie for the Panthers.
Toronto and Florida have battled all season long. One of these two teams was occupant of first place in the Atlantic Division for 174 of the 178 days during regular-season play.
The Maple Leafs are hopeful that a power play that was tied for eighth in the regular season at 24.8% can get the job done against the Panthers. Toronto went 6-for-17 (35.2%) against the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the NHL playoffs. Forwards William Nylander (3-6-9), Mitch Marner (1-7-8) and Auston Matthews (2-5-7) are all key offensive contributors.
That could be easier said than done, however. In the opening round against Tampa Bay, Florida penalty killers held the Lightning power play to 2-for-18 (11.1%) with the man advantage. Tampa Bay was the NHL’s No. 5 power-play unit during the regular season (25.8%).
The Panthers and Maple Leafs tend to play tight games. Two of the last three regular-season games and four of the five previous NHL playoffs meetings between the two teams resulted in one-goal decisions.
That’s where Bobrovsky is the difference maker. He’s 5-1 SU in his last six playoff games and has allowed two goals or fewer in four of those decisions. Take the Panthers to win a close one as your best bet, and maybe think of also making a play on the under in the total.
