


NBA
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Understanding Public and Money
Up two goals in Game 3, Toronto let Florida off the hook, and after a 2-0 win in Game 4, the Panthers have a chance to take a lead back to Sunrise if they can win tonight. Alarming for the Leafs that Florida GK Sergei Bobrovsky played his best game of the postseason in Monday's 2-0 win. No problem for Craig Berube going with capable Joseph Woll in goal once more, but the issue is getting Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews going again after they've combined for just one goal (by Marner) in this series. Now is the time for Matthews to step up and the Craig Berube factor to kick in for Toronto. Play Maple Leafs on the Money Line.
I really like Toronto in this spot. This feels like a seven-game series and I expect the Leafs to continue the trend of the home team winning all four games. Joseph Woll will be in goal again for Anthony Stolarz and while Woll lost Game 4, I think he is coming off the best performance of his career with 35 saves on 37 shots. It's Toronto's offense that needs to get going after getting blanked in Game 4. I expect that to happen. The Leafs scored a total of 13 goals in the first three games. I like Toronto in Game 5, then I'll probably come back with Florida in Game 6. Would anyone be disappointed if this series goes seven games?
While the Maple Leafs were blanked in Game four, they have a potent offense led by stars like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. It's unlikely that Toronto's top scorers will remain quiet for long, especially at home, where the coaching staff can better manage matchups. They have won 11 of their last 12 home games. Sergei Bobrovsky was outstanding in Game 4. Still, such elite goaltending performances are difficult to sustain over multiple games. His performance on the road versus at home has been telling all season. Interestingly, Florida went 2-6 against winning teams after two days off. Joseph Woll stopped 35 of 37 shots and posted a .946 save percentage, and I love backing a good team returning home after getting shut out.