Best NHL Prop Bets Today: Back the Panthers to Close Out the Series

After going down 0-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Florida Panthers have come roaring back as they are now only one win away from moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals. The reigning Stanley Cup champions are in a great position to do so as they enter game six with sizable advantages on both sides of the ice, as well as receive a high level of individual production from their star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers - Prop Bets (8:00 PM, EST)

Florida Panthers Puck Line -1.5

After a slow start to the series, the Florida Panthers front line have managed to round back into form as they currently rank fourth overall of all playoff contenders in Expected Goals For in All Situations with an average of 3.42 Expected Goals per game. Their recent performance mirrors what we saw throughout the regular season as the Panthers finished the year ranked second with an average of 3.49 Expected Goals per game in All Situations and sixth in 5-on-5 Play with an average of 2.20. 

Heading into game six, the Panthers production on offense will be on full display while skating circles around a Toronto back line who struggles in coverage. As of writing, the Maple Leafs defense ranks 22nd in Expected Goals Against in All Situations with an average of 3.25 Expected Goals Against per game. Even with Anthony Stolarz playing at a very high level, the Toronto goalie will struggle to consistently wall off the Panthers high quality Shots on Goal while receiving little support from his back line.

On the other side of the ice, Florida’s back line has also given them a high level of production as the Panthers defense currently ranks second of all playoff contenders in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Their coverage has helped Sergei Bobrovsky string together dominant performances as the Panthers goalie is currently averaging just 2.46 Goals Against per game. With clear advantages on both sides of the ice, expect the Panthers to cover the puck line and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Sam Reinhart Anytime Goalscorer

Even though Sam Reinhart failed to find the back of the net in game five, the Panthers forward was still active in his efforts of creating high quality scoring opportunities as he finished the contest with six Shots on Goal and an Expected Goal of 0.31. With the Toronto Maple Leafs struggling in coverage as their below league average mark in Expected Goals Against in All Situations indicates, expect Reinhart to continue to remain active in front of their net and score his second goal of the series.