Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled then offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. Today we are looking at the game between the Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: TSN4, SCRIPPS, TVAS; ESPN+
There aren’t going to be many regular season games more important than the final three matchups between the Panthers (40-22–3) and division rival Maple Leafs (39-22-3). These teams will get reacquainted over the next month as they battle for the Atlantic Division crown. Florida reminded Toronto who the beast of the East was in the first game winning 5-1. Can the Maple Leafs respond tonight?
Panthers Picking up Plenty of Wins
Florida looked well on their way to picking up their seventh straight win before blowing a 2-0 third period lead to the Boston Bruins and losing 3-2. This should make for an unhappy squad as they head to Toronto for their second game of a six-game road trip. While the Bruins got the win the Panthers might ultimately get the last laugh as the have former Bruins captain and Maple Leaf killer Brad Marchand on their side now. Luckily for Toronto he is still week-to-week and won’t play tonight.
Marchand isn’t the only big name missing from the Panthers lineup at the moment. With so many absences it has allowed an unsung hero to take on a bigger role. Mackie Samoskevich has been getting a chance in the top-6 and is producing. He has four points in the last five games. Add him to the long list of players the Maple Leafs will have to shut down including the usual suspects like Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov.
Toronto Back on Home Ice
Toronto also blew a multi-goal lead in their last game. Unlike the Panthers the Maple Leafs were able to pull out a 4-3 shootout win against the Utah Hockey Club. That was the final game of a stretch that saw them play 11 out of 13 games on the road. Toronto will now have a four game homestand to introduce the fans to some new players. Both deadline acquisitions Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton will be making their home debuts tonight.
The Leafs were hoping to have a familiar face back as well in Chris Tanev. He practiced yesterday but didn’t take part in line rushes so a return is unlikely. The Maple Leafs will need to improve their leaky defensive play without him. Anthony Stolarz would certainly appreciate that as he gets a second chance to face his former team. The first opportunity didn’t go so well as he allowed four goals on 23 shots. He could use some run support tonight after only seeing his team score once in the first meeting. It would be a good night for Auston Matthews to get on the scoreboard again.
Prediction
Starting tonight the next three games between these two could be a playoff preview. Expect some tone setting throughout. For some reason Eastern teams coming back from out West sometimes don’t have their best in the first game back. However, no excuses for Toronto. This game is too important with the teams only separated by two points. The big question is how will the Leafs handle the Panthers forecheck? It always seems to give them trouble. Carlo was brought in to help with that.
Prediction: Panthers win 3-2.
Prop Bets of The Night
We wrap up NHL predictions with some prop bets of the night. Reinhart has scored 5 goals in his last 5 games against Toronto. He is + 165 as an anytime goal scorer tonight. For the Maple Leafs, Mitch Marner scored their lone goal in the first meeting. He is +270 to score tonight.
Main photo by: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: Mar.13 Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.