The Toronto Maple Leafs did what they needed to do on Friday evening, beating the Florida Panthers, 2-0, on the highway to drive a Recreation 7 on Sunday.
Each groups have been written off at one level on this chaotic sequence, so it’s becoming that this roller-coaster journey will finish in a winner-take-all contest.
The Panthers are a -134 favourite on the highway, however that value has already bounced round a bit and can solely proceed to take action as we get nearer to puck drop. As all the time, the beneath is taking loads of motion forward of a Recreation 7.
It’s no secret that bettors like to again the beneath in winner-take-all within the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so bookmakers are providing the over at a reduction on Sunday evening.
On the time of writing, the overall is sitting at 5.5 with the beneath juiced to -158.
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Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Recreation 7 betting preview
Stylistically, we will really feel fairly comfy projecting how these two groups need to play, ought to the sport keep on script.
Toronto, regardless of its star energy, desires to sit down again and concentrate on defending the damaging areas of the ice. The Maple Leafs have been outplayed at 5-on-5 in each sequence thus far, however they’re comfy with that.
Toronto has no problem letting its opponents have the puck and ready for its alternative to counterpunch.
Lots of bettors are skeptical in regards to the Leafs’ pedestrian stats at 5-on-5, however there may be sufficient of a pattern measurement to see that their counter-attacking fashion works.
Toronto ranked close to the underside of the NHL in shot try share and anticipated objectives fee at 5-on-5, however the Leafs nonetheless managed to win the Atlantic Division and boasted the fourth-best file within the league throughout the common season.
Whereas the Leafs might be completely happy taking part in bend-but-don’t-break hockey, the Panthers will do all the pieces of their energy to drive Toronto into submission.
The Panthers have registered 131 extra shot makes an attempt and created 71 extra scoring probabilities than the Leafs at 5-on-5 by way of the primary six video games, so the Cats needs to be on the entrance foot, making use of strain at each alternative.
At this level on this sequence, we have now a fairly good concept of what to anticipate from each groups, however there are nonetheless some wild playing cards.
Each goaltenders, Joseph Woll and Sergei Bobrovsky, have had good and dangerous moments on this sequence, so it’s not possible to venture what we’ll see out of both of them on Sunday evening.
There are additionally a few accidents to notice. Evan Rodrigues missed the final two video games for Florida, whereas Matthew Knies is questionable for Toronto.
Betting on the NHL?
And at last, we have now to speak about demons. These Maple Leafs have had their fair proportion of nightmares within the playoffs during the last decade, however they simply rebounded from a horrific exhibiting in Recreation 5, so it’s not one thing I’d be too nervous about as a bettor.
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Recreation 7 decide
The margins on this sequence have been skinny. Three of the video games had been determined by one aim, and two extra completed 2-0, with the competition hanging within the steadiness till late insurance coverage markers.
Add in the truth that this can be a Recreation 7 in Toronto, and you’ll simply see a path the place this recreation turns right into a staring contest between two groups who play very totally different types of hockey.
This contest has all of the makings of a low-event, scrappy encounter with little to no area on the ice. That makes the alternate unders fairly interesting, and it additionally will put me on the primary interval to finish nil-nil.
The play: 1P Underneath 0.5 objectives (+320) | Underneath 2.5 objectives (+900)