The Florida Panthers made quick work of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1.
Although they entered the playoffs in pedestrian form and were dealing with a couple of key injuries, the Panthers used their mettle to skate out to an early 2-0 series lead and never handed back control to their in-state rival.
It was a clinical dispatching of a strong opponent and showed why the Panthers have won eight of their past nine playoff series.
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Tail or fade this betting pick on Monday.
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs prediction
The defending champs now turn their attention to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for just the second time since 2004.
If Florida’s first-round victory was ruthless, Toronto’s was lukewarm.
The Leafs won the first three games of their best-of-7 against the Ottawa Senators, but they lost the next two, and nearly blew a 2-0 lead in Game 6. The numbers also suggest that the Leafs were fortunate to escape the series in six games.
No team created fewer expected goals or high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5 in Round 1 than Toronto did, but the Leafs advanced thanks to their goaltender and special teams.
That formula may work against Ottawa, but it’s a whole different ballgame against Florida.
The Panthers were one of the league’s best 5-on-5 teams during the season, and they shouldn’t have too many issues tilting the ice against the Leafs.
The Panthers have value as a road favorite on Monday night.
THE PLAY: Panthers (-125, Bet365)
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Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
