The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers meet in Game 6 of an Eastern Conference semifinals series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Friday at Amerant Bank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (TNT / truTV / Max). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Maple Leafs vs. Panthers odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Playoff series: Panthers lead 3-2

After a sluggish start to the series, falling into an 0-2 series hole, the defending Stanley Cup champs have rattled off 3 straight wins to push the Maple Leafs to the brink of elimination. While the 3 straight wins were impressive, no performance was stronger than a 6-1 whitewashing in Toronto in a pivotal Game 5 Wednesday.

The Panthers outplayed the Maple Leafs in every facet of the game, posting a 52.5% faceoff percentage, 54 hits and 32 shots on goal, while the Leafs had 49 hits and 28 faceoffs won. The Panthers were 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Leafs were 0-for-3.

While the stat disparity doesn’t look that huge, it was goaltending that was the larger issue. Sergei Bobrovsky has rounded into form after a tough start, while Joseph Woll has struggled mightily as of late, showing why he lost his starting job to Anthony Stolarz. Bobrovsky allowed a meaningless late garbage goal in Game 5, while Woll was tagged for 5 goals on 25 shots before eventually being pulled for Matt Murray.

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Maple Leafs at Panthers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:23 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Maple Leafs +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Panthers -250 (bet $250 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Maple Leafs +1.5 (-135) | Panthers -1.5 (+115)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)Maple Leafs at Panthers projected goalies

Joseph Woll (2-3-0, 4.02 GAA, .877 SV% – postseason) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (7-3-0, 2.46 GAA, .899 SV%, 2 SO – postseason)

Woll was thrust into duty when Stolarz took an elbow to the head in Game 1. Stolarz has been practicing, but he reportedly didn’t travel to South Florida, so it’s Woll again, with Murray at the ready. Woll had trouble tracking the puck in Game 5, and Leaf Nation is hopeful he’ll turn things around in a hurry.

Bobrovsky had a slow start and gave up 4 goals in regulation in Game 3, with Toronto on the verge of taking a 3-0 series lead. But, he has showed his championship mettle in the past 2 games, allowing just a meaningless goal on 55 shots to get his team in position to advance yet again.

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Maple Leafs at Panthers picks and predictionsPrediction

Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2

The Panthers (-250) will set you back 2½ times your potential return, and that’s way too expensive for a singular bet. You can’t risk that much for such a little return, even if Florida looks like a snowball rolling downhill after running over Toronto in Game 5.

Florida is on home ice, and playing in an elimination game, but that’s just too much risk.

AVOID.

The MAPLE LEAFS +1.5 (-135) are the Atlantic Division champs and the highest remaining seed in the Eastern Conference. They have to show way more heart than they did in Game 5, right?

If you’re a Toronto fan, it’s a recurring nightmare. The Maple Leafs have a strong regular season, they show some promise early in a series, then the rug is whipped out from under your feet. Toronto is starting at another playoff exit after things were seemingly going its way to advance. The high-octane offense for Toronto is due, but will it come through finally?

UNDER 5 (-105) is the play in this elimination game.

It is expected we’ll see a lot of physicality, backchecking and defense in this elimination game. The Maple Leafs have their backs to the wall, and Florida doesn’t want to make any mistakes, giving the visitors hope, perhaps sending the series back north for a decisive Game 7.

The only concern is Woll and his terrible play in Game 5.

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