Leafs vs Panthers Game 4 Preview: Starting Goalies and Betting Odds for Critical Playoff Clash
The Panthers enter Game 4 as -192 moneyline favorites over the Maple Leafs in their second-round playoff series, with Toronto listed as +160 underdogs. The total is set at 6.5 goals.
Hockey players celebrate on ice
Florida has dominated 5-on-5 play through three games, controlling 56% of overall minutes and generating nearly twice as many expected goals as Toronto. The Panthers have created 16 more high-danger chances at even strength but have only converted 12.5% of opportunities - well below their regular season average of 17.5%.
Key factors favoring Florida:
- Strong home ice advantage (27 wins, +27 goal differential in regular season)
- Toronto missing starting goalie Anthony Stolarz (injury)
- Panthers' stars due for positive regression (Reinhart, Bennett, Tkachuk combined for only 6 points despite 59 scoring chances)
- Joseph Woll struggling in Toronto's net (4.00 GAA, .869 save percentage)
The Maple Leafs have been outplayed for the second straight series but have benefited from an unsustainable 14% shooting percentage and weak goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky (2.94 GAA, .875 save percentage).
Top Pick: Panthers 60-minute line (-125)
Despite public money backing Toronto (71% of bets), the statistical advantages point to Florida evening the series. Look for Bobrovsky to bounce back and the Panthers' offense to capitalize on their scoring chances at a higher rate.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL, with broadcast coverage on TBS and truTV.
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