Toronto Maple Leafs @ Florida Panthers - May 16, 2025

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to face off against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena, fans can expect an exciting matchup that promises a blend of offensive firepower and strategic play. The oddsmakers have installed the Panthers as -220 moneyline favorites, reflecting their recent form and home advantage.

Looking at both teams’ performance this season, Florida has averaged approximately 3.1 goals per game with a shooting percentage of around 10.2%. Their offensive zone presence is strong, boasting a 56.2% offensive zone percentage and a corsi percentage of 56.0%, indicating they are generating more shot attempts than they are allowing. They also excel on the power play, converting nearly 23.5% of their chances into goals.

On the other hand, Toronto comes in with slightly better scoring metrics—averaging about 3.3 goals per game with a higher shooting percentage of around 12.1%. However, their overall corsi percentage (47.4%) and offensive zone percentage (48.5%) suggest they struggle to maintain puck possession in favorable areas compared to Florida.

Defensively, both teams exhibit solid performances but with slight differences in effectiveness. Toronto’s save percentage stands at an impressive 90.5%, while Florida is close behind at 89.6%. However, when it comes to penalty killing efficiency, Florida holds an edge (80.7% vs Toronto’s 77.9%). This could be crucial if either team finds themselves shorthanded during critical moments in the game.

The recent trends also tell us quite a bit about what we might expect on Friday night: Toronto has lost three straight games but has been competitive enough to cover the spread in four out of their last six outings (4-2 ATS). Meanwhile, Florida is riding high with three consecutive wins and has gone over in seven out of their last eight games—a trend that suggests they are not just winning but doing so decisively.

Given these insights, my prediction for tonight’s contest leans toward a victory for Florida due to their current momentum and home ice advantage; however, I believe Toronto will manage to cover the spread despite being underdogs in this matchup.

As for total points scored—while both teams have shown tendencies towards overs recently—I anticipate that this particular game will remain under the total set at 5.5 due to potential defensive adjustments from both sides aiming for tight checking given playoff implications.

In summary:
– **Prediction**: Florida wins.
– **Spread**: Toronto covers.
– **Total**: Under expected total of 5.5 goals.

Fans should buckle up for what promises to be an intriguing battle between two playoff contenders!