- What: Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs - 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 1
- Where: Scotiabank Arena
- When: Tuesday, May 2nd
We're officially into the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs and Tuesday brings a very intriguing Game 1 as the Florida Panthers, who just shocked the Boston Bruins, travel North to face the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 PM ET. Florida just wrapped up their series on Sunday which means they have just a day's rest, while Toronto last played on Saturday evening, eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. Find the Panthers vs Maple Leafs Game 1 picks below.
Before we get into the odds and prediction for Tuesday's series opener, make sure to check out our online sportsbook reviews, and the top NHL betting sites.
Panthers vs Maple Leafs Game 1 Odds
The Leafs are a clear favorite in Game 1 with moneyline odds of -155. They're also favored on the puck line. The Panthers come back at +140. These two teams met four times during the regular season, with Toronto winning three of them. However, most of the matchups were decided by just one goal.
Game 1 Preview
The Panthers truly put the hockey world on notice, pulling off one of the biggest upsets we've ever seen in NHL history. The Bruins not only won the President's Trophy, but they were statistically unstoppable. That didn't stop Florida from going right at Boston's necks, winning the series in seven games.
Facing a 3-1 deficit in the series, the Panthers pulled off the unthinkable by beating the Panthers three games in a row. The series-clincher Sunday was an absolute nailbiter as well, with Florida holding an early 2-0 lead before eventually going down 3-2. Brandon Montour equalized with just a minute left in regulation before Carter Verhaeghe won it overtime to leave the Bruins faithful in utter disbelief.
Matthew Tkachuk was truly the start of the show in the first round, registering 11 points to lead the way. He scored five times and tallied six assists. After taking down the best team around, the Panthers' confidence is at an all-time high. Going into Toronto and winning Game 1 is very much possible.
The Maple Leafs finally conquered their playoff demons, advancing to the second round for the first time since the early 2000s. Plus, they knocked off the Lightning, a team who was shaping up to be a dynasty, having won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 before losing in the Finals last year.
After getting booed off the ice in a brutal 7-3 Game 1 loss, Toronto responded with four wins in the next five contests to silence the naysayers. The best part? Three of those victories came on the road and one of them was in dramatic comeback fashion.
The big guns showed out in the first round, with Mitch Marner collecting 11 points in six games. That included a whopping nine assists and two goals. Auston Matthews meanwhile scored five and set up another four, while Morgan Reilly really stepped up with eight points. William Nylander and John Tavares did their part as well, with the latter scoring the OT winner Saturday.
Panthers vs Maple Leafs Game 1 Picks
You could say both teams have momentum right now. But, to be honest, I expect Florida to be a bit exhausted. The Leafs should win this one at home and take a 1-0 series lead.
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