Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs Picks and Predictions November 27th 2024

Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs November 27th 2024

Planning on watching today’s Maple Leafs and Panthers game? Catch the action at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL, as the Panthers hosts this showdown at 7:30 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this matchup is currently set at 6 goals and the Panthers are the -1.5 favorite to win at home vs. the Maple Leafs.

Toronto vs. Florida Key Information

• Teams: Maple Leafs at Panthers
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena Sunrise
• Date: Wednesday, November 27th
• Betting Odds FLA -139 | TOR +118 O/U 6

The Maple Leafs Can Win If…

With a 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild, the Maple Leafs’ record now stands at 13-6-2. Toronto, the puck line underdog, failed to cover. The total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the teams combined for only 3.

After the Wild scored first, Toronto tied it up with just 52 seconds left in the first period. William Nylander found the net for the Maple Leafs, but the Wild scored again in overtime to secure the win.

William Nylander netted his 9th goal of the season, scoring on a power play at 19:08 in the first period. Auston Matthews recorded his 6th assist, while Mitchell Marner added his 12th.

Toronto took 28 shots on goal and had 10 giveaways. After Nylander’s goal, the Leafs were held scoreless for the remainder of the game, including overtime.

Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves with a 93.9% save percentage, but the Maple Leafs’ defense couldn’t hold off the Wild, who scored the opening goal and the game-winner in overtime. Toronto’s defense also contributed 2 takeaways and 30 hits.

• Toronto will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 3-0 over their past three games. Against the spread, the team is 2-1 in these same games while going 1-2 on the over/under.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Toronto has a record of 7-3. In these contests, the team went just 7-3 against the spread, while going 2-7-1 on the over-under.

The Panthers Can Win If…

With a 4-2 win over the Stars, the Panthers improved to 12-9-1 this season. Florida covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, with the combined score of 6 falling just short of that mark.

Four different players scored for the Panthers in this one. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Stars tied it up, but Florida added two more goals to secure the victory.

Florida’s offense was highlighted by A.J. Greer’s first goal of the season, while Sam Reinhart added his 10th with an empty-netter. The Panthers also got on the board with Evan Rodrigues, who now has 3 goals this year, and Matthew Tkachuk, who netted his 3rd on a power play.

The Panthers took 25 shots on goal and recorded 16 giveaways. They scored once in the first period, added another in the second, and finished with two more in the third.

Defensively, Florida will look to carry over their strong performance from their previous game, where they allowed just two goals to the Stars. Spencer Knight made 23 saves with a 92% save percentage, and the Panthers’ defense contributed 8 takeaways and 22 hits. After giving up two goals in the 2nd period, they shut out Dallas in the 3rd.

• Across Florida’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 0-3. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 0-3 and an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Panthers have gone 4-6 straight up. Across these games, their puck line record was just 3-7, while posting an over-under record of 5-5.

The Lean

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Panthers to defeat the Maple Leafs while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at -139, I’m placing a wager on the Panthers to win outright.

If you’re looking for a puck line bet, I’d suggest going with the Maple Leafs to cover. Even in the event of a Panthers victory, this game is expected to be closely fought, and the Maple Leafs should cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

NHL Picks & Predictions

Cold Panthers Host Hot Maple Leafs: A Showdown of Contrasting Streaks

The Toronto Maple Leafs are surging with a four-game winning streak, while the Florida Panthers are struggling, having dropped their past four. As these two teams meet in Sunrise, Florida, on Wednesday night, their opposing trajectories promise an intriguing matchup.

Toronto’s Momentum Without Auston Matthews

Toronto’s dominance in recent games, going 7-1-0 in its last eight, is even more impressive considering the absence of seven-time All-Star Auston Matthews. Matthews, who has led the NHL in goals three times in the past four seasons, is currently on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury.

Despite this setback, the Maple Leafs have thrived, thanks to their depth and team effort. “Don’t get me wrong — we want Auston back as soon as possible,” said captain John Tavares. “But it’s just about believing in the group and … the depth we have.”

• Key Contributors:
  • Mitch Marner: The team’s points leader (28) and assist leader (20) is on fire, boasting a four-game multi-point streak (four goals, four assists).
  • William Nylander: Leads the team in goals (14) and remains a constant scoring threat.
  • John Tavares: Third in team scoring with 20 points, providing steady leadership and clutch play.

Marner’s dynamic play has earned praise from Tavares: “He’s an elite player. He makes plays, does so many good things without the puck, and brings a unique energy to the locker room.”

• Goaltending Excellence:
  Toronto’s goalie tandem of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll has been stellar.
  • Stolarz: A former Panthers player, he has a 7-3-2 record with a .927 save percentage and a 2.18 goals-against average.
  • Woll: Impressive at 5-2-0 with a .922 save percentage and a 2.00 GAA.

Florida’s Struggles and Potential

The Panthers, at 1-6-0 in their past seven games, are grappling with inconsistencies. Coach Paul Maurice is candid about their current challenges: “There’s a piece of our game that’s missing right now, and we’re going to have to find it.”

• Key Players:
  • Sam Reinhart: Florida’s points leader (31), tied for the league lead in goals with 16 earlier this week. However, his 13-game points streak—the longest in the NHL this season—was snapped in Monday’s 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.
  • Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk: Both stars have yet to produce consistently during this difficult stretch.
• Goaltending Concerns:
  Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to start against Toronto. While he has a respectable career record against the Leafs (13-8-1, .904 save percentage), his current season stats (9-5-1, .885 save percentage, 3.18 GAA) reveal struggles. Panthers backup Spencer Knight echoed the team’s frustrations, saying, “We’ve done a lot of things right. We’re working hard. Everyone is buying in.”

Key Matchup Factors

1. Toronto’s Offensive Depth vs. Florida’s Defense:
   The Leafs boast a balanced attack with Marner, Nylander, and Tavares leading the charge. Florida’s defense and goaltending will need to step up to halt Toronto’s momentum.
2. Goaltending Duel:
   Stolarz and Woll have been lights out for Toronto, while Bobrovsky must deliver a strong performance to give Florida a chance.
3. Panthers’ Stars to the Rescue:
   Reinhart, Barkov, and Tkachuk must reignite Florida’s offense to end their losing streak.

Game Outlook

The Leafs enter this matchup as the clear favorites, riding a wave of confidence and cohesive play. Their ability to adapt without Matthews underscores their depth and resiliency. On the other hand, the Panthers are desperate for a turnaround, and their star power gives them a chance to break out of this slump.

As Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola put it: “We’re a little bit off.” Whether Florida can rediscover their groove or Toronto extends its streak will be determined in this high-stakes clash.