<p>After offering arguably their worst big performance of this entire era in Game 5 on home ice, the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> bounced back with arguably their best recent playoff performance in <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/6-takeaways-toronto-maple-leafs-florida-panthers-game-6-matthews-forces-game-7-most-important-goal-career">Game 6</a>. They now have the opportunity to exorcise their demons in spectacular fashion and eliminate the defending champion Florida Panthers in series deciding seventh game Sunday evening.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll detail the relevant game notes and outline my favourite betting angles below.</p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<h2><strong>Panthers vs Maple Leafs Game 7 Odds</strong></h2>
<ul class="gmail-mb-5 gmail-list-disc gmail-pl-8">
<li class="gmail-"><strong class="gmail-text-lg gmail-font-bold">Panthers Moneyline Odds:</strong> -128</li>
<li class="gmail-"><strong class="gmail-text-lg gmail-font-bold">Maple Leafs Moneyline Odds:</strong> +110</li>
<li class="gmail-"><strong class="gmail-text-lg gmail-font-bold">Puck Line Odds: </strong>Panthers -1.5 (+195), Maple Leafs +1.5 (-238)</li>
<li class="gmail-"><strong class="gmail-text-lg gmail-font-bold">Game Total:</strong> 5 goals (over -132, under +118)</li>
</ul>
<table class="border-spacing-2 table-auto border-collapse border border-black" style="width: 692px;">
<thead class="article-view__table-headers">
<tr class="">
<th class="" style="width: 427px;">Regular Season Stats</th>
<th class="" style="width: 140px;">Panthers</th>
<th class="" style="width: 125px;">Maple Leafs</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Goals For per 60 minutes (5-on-5)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.32 (22nd)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.66 (8th)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Goals Against per 60 (5-on-5)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.09 (4th)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.01 (3rd)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Expected Goals per 60 (5-on-5)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.76 (6th)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.66 (8th)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Expected Goals Against per 60 (5-on-5)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.44 (2nd)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.57 (16th)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">High-Danger Scoring Chances % (5-on-5)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">53.16 (7th)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">50.65% (15th)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Goal Differential</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">+29 (10th)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">+37 (8th)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Power Play %</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">23.5% (13th)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">24.8% (9th)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Penalty Kill %</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">80.7% (10th)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">77.9% (17th)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Save Percentage (Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Anthony Stolarz)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">.906</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">.926</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Goals Saved Above Expectation (Bobrovsky vs. Stolarz)</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">+7.2</div>
</td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">+25.8</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><strong>Florida Panthers</strong></h2>
<p>From a defensive perspective, the Panthers remained in excellent form in Game 6, as they allowed just 17 shots on goal and 2.57 expected goals against. Auston Matthews&#8217; game-winning goal was probably one that Sergei Bobrovsky would like to have back, but it was another solid showing from Bobrovsky overall, who holds a .958 save percentage over the last three games combined.</p>
<p>Considering the way that the later games of Florida&#8217;s 2024 Stanley Cup Championship run played out, it is no surprise that Game 6 was a low-event nail-biter. During last year&#8217;s run, they eliminated the Boston Bruins with a 2-1 victory in Game 5, eliminated the New York Rangers with three straight wins in games featuring five goals or less, and finished the Stanley Cup run off with a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7.</p>
<p>Head coach Paul Maurice&#8217;s team has proven capable of grinding out wins with their elite defensive play in this type of spot and will make generating quality chances difficult in this matchup. They have allowed only 2.44 xGA/60 over the last three games of this series and generated 2.88 xGF/60 at the other end of the ice.</p>
<p>The Panthers have no skaters listed on the injury report and are expected to be at full strength in this matchup.</p>
<h2><strong>Toronto Maple Leafs</strong></h2>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">The Leafs put on a <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/shot-block-party-may-key-toronto-maple-leafs-block-party">defensive clinic</a> in Game 6, and did an excellent job of sticking with a sound process in a pressure-packed situation before Matthews was finally able to provide Joseph Woll with some offensive support. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Leafs allowed only nine high-danger scoring chances against but were arguably even better defensively than that number suggests.</div>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The door to the house was locked last night🔒 <a href="https://t.co/1DJKINkyJd">https://t.co/1DJKINkyJd</a> <a href="https://t.co/FVyvzSa4FZ">pic.twitter.com/FVyvzSa4FZ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeKellyNHL/status/1923762453113864408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">The Leafs allowed only three shots on goal from the slot in Game 6, which was the lowest mark of any team this postseason. It may take a comparably sharp defensive performance for the team to find a winning result in this matchup, as Toronto can not expect to score its way out of trouble versus a Panthers team that will likely lock it down defensively in this matchup.</div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">During the &#8216;core-four&#8217; era, the Leafs have lost all six winner-take-all playoff games they have played, and it&#8217;s been an inability to produce offence that has generally been the biggest issue in those matchups.</div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">In their last five winner-take-all matchups, the Leafs have scored just 0.8 goals per game, and as has been well documented, their top offensive stars have failed to produce in the highest-pressure matchups. Defensively the Leafs have been effective in this type of game in recent history, as, excluding empty net goals against, they allowed only 2.20 goals in their last five winner-take-all matchups.</div>
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<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">Joseph Woll is arguably the best starter they have had for any of their recent Game 7&#8217;s, as last season Ilya Samsonov made the start in the team&#8217;s 2-1 loss versus the Bruins. Woll holds a -0.4 GSAx and .893 save percentage this postseason, but on a game-by-game basis has been sharper than those numbers suggest, as they are tanked by his ugly outing in Game 5.</div>
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<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">Matthew Knies was a <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/scenes-toronto-maple-leafs-morning-skate-knies-play-game-7-tkachuk-matthews">full participant in today&#8217;s morning skate</a> and <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-confirms-matthew-knies-play-game-7-panthers">will play in this matchup</a>. Head coach Craig Berube appears to be keeping the exact same lineup as we saw in Game 6, which is no surprise given the team&#8217;s performance in that game.</div>
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<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">As the Panthers will likely make generating quality chances in even-strength play very difficult in this matchup, it could be critical for the Leafs&#8217; power play unit to break through after an ineffective series overall. Toronto has succeeded on only 10 percent of opportunities in the series and has been outperformed by Bobrovsky and an aggressive Panthers penalty kill.</div>
<h2><strong>Best Bets for Panthers vs Leafs Game 7</strong></h2>
<p>After their horrid performance in Game 5, the Leafs had generally been entirely written off in this series, and most observers were already speculating about the most logical offseason moves involving finally disassembling this roster core. Now they have the perfect opportunity to prove all the doubters wrong and finally win in the type of spot that has brought fans so much pain in recent years.</p>
<p>In terms of sides, there does not appear to be much value to me one way or the other. Chances are that this game will be very tight-checking and could be decided by one mistake, and it seems fair that the Panthers are slight favorites with that in mind.</p>
<p>We&#8217;ve gone four-for-four backing the first period to feature under 1.5 total goals this postseason, and all of the arguments that have made those bets so effective remain in place in this matchup. This matchup will likely be a nervy, low-event slog where both teams make generating quality scoring chances quite difficult.</p>
<p>At a price of -149 I do believe backing the first period to feature under 1.5 total goals is a decent bet, but at a price of +100 my favourite bet is backing the game to feature no goals in the first ten minutes.</p>
<p><strong>Best Bet: No goal in First Ten Minutes +100 (Sports Interaction, Play to -110)</strong></p>


After offering arguably their worst big performance of this entire era in Game 5 on home ice, the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> bounced back with arguably their best recent playoff performance in <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/6-takeaways-toronto-maple-leafs-florida-panthers-game-6-matthews-forces-game-7-most-important-goal-career">Game 6</a>. They now have the opportunity to exorcise their demons in spectacular fashion and eliminate the defending champion Florida Panthers in series deciding seventh game Sunday evening.

I'll detail the relevant game notes and outline my favourite betting angles below.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<h2><strong>Panthers vs Maple Leafs Game 7 Odds</strong></h2>
<ul class="gmail-mb-5 gmail-list-disc gmail-pl-8">
 	<li class="gmail-"><strong class="gmail-text-lg gmail-font-bold">Panthers Moneyline Odds:</strong> -128</li>
 	<li class="gmail-"><strong class="gmail-text-lg gmail-font-bold">Maple Leafs Moneyline Odds:</strong> +110</li>
 	<li class="gmail-"><strong class="gmail-text-lg gmail-font-bold">Puck Line Odds: </strong>Panthers -1.5 (+195), Maple Leafs +1.5 (-238)</li>
 	<li class="gmail-"><strong class="gmail-text-lg gmail-font-bold">Game Total:</strong> 5 goals (over -132, under +118)</li>
</ul>
<table class="border-spacing-2 table-auto border-collapse border border-black" style="width: 692px;">
<thead class="article-view__table-headers">
<tr class="">
<th class="" style="width: 427px;">Regular Season Stats</th>
<th class="" style="width: 140px;">Panthers</th>
<th class="" style="width: 125px;">Maple Leafs</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Goals For per 60 minutes (5-on-5)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.32 (22nd)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.66 (8th)</div></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Goals Against per 60 (5-on-5)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.09 (4th)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.01 (3rd)</div></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Expected Goals per 60 (5-on-5)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.76 (6th)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.66 (8th)</div></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Expected Goals Against per 60 (5-on-5)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.44 (2nd)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">2.57 (16th)</div></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">High-Danger Scoring Chances % (5-on-5)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">53.16 (7th)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">50.65% (15th)</div></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Goal Differential</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">+29 (10th)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">+37 (8th)</div></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Power Play %</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">23.5% (13th)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">24.8% (9th)</div></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Penalty Kill %</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">80.7% (10th)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">77.9% (17th)</div></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Save Percentage (Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Anthony Stolarz)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">.906</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">.926</div></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 427px;">
<div class="w-fit">Goals Saved Above Expectation (Bobrovsky vs. Stolarz)</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 140px;">
<div class="w-fit">+7.2</div></td>
<td class="border-collapse whitespace-nowrap border border-black p-1" style="width: 125px;">
<div class="w-fit">+25.8</div></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><strong>Florida Panthers</strong></h2>
From a defensive perspective, the Panthers remained in excellent form in Game 6, as they allowed just 17 shots on goal and 2.57 expected goals against. Auston Matthews' game-winning goal was probably one that Sergei Bobrovsky would like to have back, but it was another solid showing from Bobrovsky overall, who holds a .958 save percentage over the last three games combined.

Considering the way that the later games of Florida's 2024 Stanley Cup Championship run played out, it is no surprise that Game 6 was a low-event nail-biter. During last year's run, they eliminated the Boston Bruins with a 2-1 victory in Game 5, eliminated the New York Rangers with three straight wins in games featuring five goals or less, and finished the Stanley Cup run off with a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7.

Head coach Paul Maurice's team has proven capable of grinding out wins with their elite defensive play in this type of spot and will make generating quality chances difficult in this matchup. They have allowed only 2.44 xGA/60 over the last three games of this series and generated 2.88 xGF/60 at the other end of the ice.

The Panthers have no skaters listed on the injury report and are expected to be at full strength in this matchup.
<h2><strong>Toronto Maple Leafs</strong></h2>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">The Leafs put on a <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/shot-block-party-may-key-toronto-maple-leafs-block-party">defensive clinic</a> in Game 6, and did an excellent job of sticking with a sound process in a pressure-packed situation before Matthews was finally able to provide Joseph Woll with some offensive support. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Leafs allowed only nine high-danger scoring chances against but were arguably even better defensively than that number suggests.</div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
https://twitter.com/MikeKellyNHL/status/1923762453113864408
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<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">The Leafs allowed only three shots on goal from the slot in Game 6, which was the lowest mark of any team this postseason. It may take a comparably sharp defensive performance for the team to find a winning result in this matchup, as Toronto can not expect to score its way out of trouble versus a Panthers team that will likely lock it down defensively in this matchup.</div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">During the 'core-four' era, the Leafs have lost all six winner-take-all playoff games they have played, and it's been an inability to produce offence that has generally been the biggest issue in those matchups.</div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">In their last five winner-take-all matchups, the Leafs have scored just 0.8 goals per game, and as has been well documented, their top offensive stars have failed to produce in the highest-pressure matchups. Defensively the Leafs have been effective in this type of game in recent history, as, excluding empty net goals against, they allowed only 2.20 goals in their last five winner-take-all matchups.</div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">Joseph Woll is arguably the best starter they have had for any of their recent Game 7's, as last season Ilya Samsonov made the start in the team's 2-1 loss versus the Bruins. Woll holds a -0.4 GSAx and .893 save percentage this postseason, but on a game-by-game basis has been sharper than those numbers suggest, as they are tanked by his ugly outing in Game 5.</div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">Matthew Knies was a <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/scenes-toronto-maple-leafs-morning-skate-knies-play-game-7-tkachuk-matthews">full participant in today's morning skate</a> and <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-confirms-matthew-knies-play-game-7-panthers">will play in this matchup</a>. Head coach Craig Berube appears to be keeping the exact same lineup as we saw in Game 6, which is no surprise given the team's performance in that game.</div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<div data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330">As the Panthers will likely make generating quality chances in even-strength play very difficult in this matchup, it could be critical for the Leafs' power play unit to break through after an ineffective series overall. Toronto has succeeded on only 10 percent of opportunities in the series and has been outperformed by Bobrovsky and an aggressive Panthers penalty kill.</div>
<h2><strong>Best Bets for Panthers vs Leafs Game 7</strong></h2>
After their horrid performance in Game 5, the Leafs had generally been entirely written off in this series, and most observers were already speculating about the most logical offseason moves involving finally disassembling this roster core. Now they have the perfect opportunity to prove all the doubters wrong and finally win in the type of spot that has brought fans so much pain in recent years.

In terms of sides, there does not appear to be much value to me one way or the other. Chances are that this game will be very tight-checking and could be decided by one mistake, and it seems fair that the Panthers are slight favorites with that in mind.

We've gone four-for-four backing the first period to feature under 1.5 total goals this postseason, and all of the arguments that have made those bets so effective remain in place in this matchup. This matchup will likely be a nervy, low-event slog where both teams make generating quality scoring chances quite difficult.

At a price of -149 I do believe backing the first period to feature under 1.5 total goals is a decent bet, but at a price of +100 my favourite bet is backing the game to feature no goals in the first ten minutes.

<strong>Best Bet: No goal in First Ten Minutes +100 (Sports Interaction, Play to -110)</strong>

NHL betting preview (May 18): Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 7 predictions

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