Maple Leafs vs Panthers Game 3 Odds, Picks, and Predictions: Toronto Cracks Bobrovsky's Code

The Florida Panthers will look to take a 3-0 lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs when their second-round series shifts to FLA Live Arena tonight for Game 4.

Toronto has yet to solve Sergei Bobrovsky, who’s allowed just four goals over two games, while Florida has been able to capitalize on their opponent’s defensive miscues.

Will Toronto finally break down Bobrovsky or can Florida push the Leafs to the brink of elimination? Find out in our Maple Leafs vs Panthers NHL betting picks below.

Maple Leafs vs Panthers Game 3 odds

Maple Leafs vs Panthers series odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of May 7.

Maple Leafs vs Panthers Game 3 predictions

The Toronto Maple Leafs took a 2-0 lead in the first 5:10 of Game 2 but gave up three straight, including two in the opening 1:06 of the second period, as the Florida Panthers rallied back to take another win at Scotiabank Arena.

Sergei Bobrovsky earned first-star honors with 35 saves on 37 shots for a .946 SV% — his best performance of the postseason and a slight improvement over the .944 SV% he put up in Game 1. The Florida netminder is playing some of his best hockey of the year right now but is it sustainable? I would argue not.

Bobrovsky gave up at least three goals in all four of his Round 1 starts against the Bruins while posting an .891 SV% and a 3.94 GAA through the series.

Meanwhile, the Leafs have generated 8.5 expected goals over the first two games against the Panthers while only scoring four — a good sign that they’re due for some puck luck. 

Toronto’s core four of Auston Matthews (12 shots), William Nylander (13), John Tavares (10), and Mitch Marner (7) is goalless in the series but barring some kind of curse (which we can’t fully rule out), I expect the Maple Leafs to eventually break the dam and put some pucks in the net. 

My best bet: Maple Leafs win race to three goals (-182 at SIA)

Maple Leafs vs Panthers Game 3 moneyline analysis

Toronto comes into Game 3 as the -138 road favorite and essentially need a win to stay alive in this series.

The Leafs have arguably deserved a better fate through two games and I think we’ll see them finally get some puck luck tonight.

They've controlled pretty much every possible metric through two games besides the one that matters most – goals. Toronto has outshot Florida 73-57, dominated the expected goals share (8.49-5.91), and generated plenty of high-danger chances (36-19).

Playoff series are relatively short, though, so there’s always a chance that Bobrovsky stays hot, but Toronto’s process has been good, and that usually leads to positive results.

The road team has dominated this matchup for whatever reason, winning five straight meetings. The Buds are also 3-0 as the visitors this postseason — one of only two undefeated road teams along with Vegas (2-0) — after taking all three road games in Tampa Bay.

Maple Leafs vs Panthers Game 3 Over/Under analysis

The total for Game 3 opened at 6.5 goals and while the first two contests have been on the lower-scoring side, I’m going to take the Over tonight.

The clubs combined for six goals in Game 1 and five goals in Game 2, though a lot of that comes down to the play of Bobrovsky in Florida’s net.

As discussed above, I’m not sold on his ability to keep up that level of play forever, so I think we’ll see more goals from Toronto at some point.

The Over cashed in four of Toronto’s six games vs. Tampa Bay while going 5-2 in Florida’s first-round matchup against Boston, so these teams have been playing higher-scoring games up until this series. I suspect we’ll see these teams get back to their high-octane ways soon enough.

Maple Leafs vs Panthers betting trend to know

The Panthers have won five straight playoff games. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Panthers.

Maple Leafs vs Panthers Game 3 game info

Maple Leafs vs Panthers Game 3 injuries

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