Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs Picks and Predictions April 8th 2025

Leafs Aim to Pad Division Lead in Showdown vs. Panthers

The Toronto Maple Leafs head into Tuesday night’s clash with the Florida Panthers looking to tighten their grip on the Atlantic Division lead. With just a handful of games remaining, every point counts, and the Leafs are riding a wave of momentum at just the right time.

Toronto (47-25-4, 98 points) sits four points ahead of Tampa Bay and six ahead of Florida (44-29-4, 92 points). A win over the Panthers would not only boost their lead but also put added pressure on the Lightning, whom they face next.

Toronto Peaking with Postseason Form

After a tough stretch, the Maple Leafs have roared back with two big wins. They defeated the Panthers 3-2 last week, then blanked the Blue Jackets 5-0 on Saturday.

William Nylander and Nicholas Robertson each netted two goals in that game, while Mitchell Marner recorded his career-best 70th assist. The Leafs didn’t just win—they dominated in every zone, playing with the kind of control and poise required in the postseason.

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz earned his second shutout of the season, showing strong positioning and rebound control throughout the game.

Panthers Fighting to Regain Their Rhythm

Meanwhile, Florida is struggling to keep pace. The Panthers have now dropped five in a row, including a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings on Sunday. Injuries have left them scrambling, with top players like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart either out or rested.

To compensate, the team brought in reinforcements from AHL Charlotte, including Rasmus Asplund, Jesse Puljujarvi, and Matt Kiersted. Despite the shake-up, Florida showed some fight late, avoiding a shutout thanks to a goal by Anton Lundell in the final minute.

The Panthers are trying to strike a balance—resting key players while still fighting for position. But the lack of depth scoring has made it hard to keep up with more complete teams like Toronto.

Tuesday’s Game Could Decide the Atlantic

If the Maple Leafs win, they’ll further distance themselves from both Florida and Tampa Bay, cementing their hold on first place. If they lose, the door opens for a very tight finish in the Atlantic.

Toronto won’t have Jake McCabe or David Kampf on the trip, but they’ve been rolling with depth production across the lineup. Florida, on the other hand, desperately needs its stars healthy if they want to make any noise in the postseason.

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FAQs

How many points do the Maple Leafs lead the Panthers by?
Toronto leads Florida by six points heading into Tuesday night’s game.

Why are the Panthers resting key players?
To preserve health for the playoffs, given their tight schedule and recent injuries.

What’s the Leafs’ record against the Panthers this season?
Florida leads the series 2-1, but Toronto won their most recent matchup.

Who’s hot for the Maple Leafs right now?
Mitchell Marner has points in seven straight, and Nylander just scored twice vs. Columbus.

What happened in Florida’s last game?
They lost 2-1 to Detroit and are on a five-game losing streak.

Are McCabe and Kampf playing for Toronto?
No, both are not traveling with the team to Florida.