Leafs versus Panthers Game 3 Forecast, Preference, and Odds on Friday (May 9th)
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Got ya, mate! Here's a lowdown on Game 3 of the heated 2nd Round playoff series between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Things ain't looking so hot for the Cats, who find themselves two games behind the Leafs, with the series sitting at 2-0. Regardless, online bookies are all about the Panthers making a comeback on their home turf in Sunrise for this showdown.
Tune in at 7:00pm ET as TNT takes the reins for the national broadcast at the Amerant Bank Arena.
Leafs vs Cats Prediction
Now, I reckon the Cats will dominate at home and snatch a solid victory in Game 3. While they've been playing a mean game so far, only managing to escape with two one-goal losses, they've been owning the run of play against the Leafs.
The Cats have been ranking 4th among playoff teams for goals above expected, suggesting a positive shift's in the works for this squad that scored a hefty 4th most goals per game during the playoffs.
The performance of Sergei Bobrovsky, the aging goalie, is a tad worrying. He's currently rocking a shoddy .876 save percentage in the playoffs. But don't forget, this bloke's got a history of bouncing back strong as the series progresses. In fact, during last year's cup-winning run, Bobrovsky posted an impressive .914 save percentage after some early slips.
On the flip side, Joseph Woll gets the call between the pipes for Toronto in Game 3. The young gun's got an inflated 4.01 goals against average in the playoffs, allowing seven goals on only 56 shots faced versus Florida. Needless to say, he's a clear downgrade from Anthony Stolarz, who left Game 1 with an injury.
Leafs vs Cats Pick
- Cats minus 1.5 puck line (+115 at Bet365)
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Now here's a couple more reasons why I'm backing the Cats to cover the -1.5 puck line. First off, the Cats' issues in Games 1 and 2 mainly arose from sloppy puck management in the neutral zone, leading to transition chances against. However, head coach Paul Maurice has emphasized crucial tactical adjustments to rectify these correctable breakdowns.
Additionally, the Cats' power play, which ranked 5th in efficiency during the playoffs, should make a feast on a Leafs penalty kill that's currently sitting 7th. On the flip side, Toronto's power play is just 1-for-8 in the series and now has to face off against Florida's smothering 88.5% PK unit, 2nd best in the postseason.
Lastly, expect the Cats to ride high on the energy of their raucous hometown crowd. Florida was an exceptional 28-13-2 at the Amerant Bank Arena during the regular season and has racked up the most home playoff wins (15) of any team over the past two postseasons.
Leafs vs Cats Odds
The top price on the Cats puck line is +115 at bet365. The Cats come in as heavy -240 favorites, while the Leafs return at +195. The game total is set at 6 goals, with the Over favored at +100.
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Take a gander at some NHL betting trends: the public is heavily backing the Leafs at +1.5, with a whopping 63% of bets on that side. However, most models and sharp money indicators point to value on the Cats -1.5 ticket.
Historically, the Cats have won 4 out of the past 5 matchups in this rivalry played in Sunrise, with 3 of those victories coming by multiple goals.
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- With the Florida Panthers looking to bounce back after losing the first two games of the playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, bettors are backing the Cats to make a comeback at home on their home turf in Sunrise.
- Despite Sergei Bobrovsky's shaky performance in the playoffs so far, his history of bouncing back strong as the series progresses provides hope for Panthers fans.
- In Game 3, Joseph Woll will start in goal for the Leafs, who have struggled defensively this series, allowing seven goals in five playoff games against the Panthers.
- The Cats currently have the best odds among playoff teams for goals above expected, suggesting a positive shift for this squad that scored the fourth-most goals per game in the playoffs. Bet365 Sportsbook offers the top price on the Cats puck line at +115.
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