by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Mar 23, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL
Where to watch: BSFLX, SNO
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Even
BetMGM: Even
Caesars: Even
Season record
Maple Leafs: 42-19-9
Panthers: 36-28-7
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Maple Leafs - Panthers preview, prediction and analysis
On March 23, 2023, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be taking on the Florida Panthers in a highly anticipated NHL matchup. The game will be held at Sunrise, Florida and is set to be an exciting match-up between two talented teams.
The Maple Leafs, who currently sit in third place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 27-15-5, will be looking to continue their recent good form. They have won six of their last ten games and have been playing some impressive hockey in recent weeks.
The Maple Leafs have one of the most talented rosters in the league, with the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares leading their offensive line.
Defensively, the Maple Leafs have been solid this season, giving up just 2.85 goals per game on average. They have a strong defensive pairing in Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin, who have been instrumental in their team's success this season.
On the other hand, the Florida Panthers come into the game with a record of 26-17-5, placing them in third place in the Atlantic Division. The Panthers have been playing some good hockey in recent weeks, winning six of their last ten games.
The Panthers also have a talented roster, with the likes of Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Aaron Ekblad leading their offensive and defensive lines.
Defensively, the Panthers have given up an average of 3.11 goals per game, which is one of the highest in the league. However, they have made some improvements in recent weeks, conceding just 2.6 goals per game in their last five games.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Maple Leafs and Panthers have played each other twice this season, with the Panthers coming out on top in both games. However, the Maple Leafs won both of their matchups against the Panthers last season.
This upcoming game promises to be an exciting and closely contested matchup between two highly talented teams. The Maple Leafs will be looking to continue their recent good form and secure a crucial victory on the road, while the Panthers will be looking to maintain their position in the playoff race with a win at home.
To secure a victory, the Maple Leafs will need to be clinical in front of goal and take advantage of their opportunities when they arise. They will also need to be solid defensively and limit the Panthers' offensive opportunities.
The Panthers, on the other hand, will be looking to create plenty of chances and be aggressive on the offensive end. They will also need to be solid defensively and limit the Maple Leafs' offensive opportunities.
Overall, this promises to be an exciting and highly anticipated matchup between two talented teams in the NHL. With both teams possessing strong offensive lines and solid defensive units, it should be a closely contested game that could go either way.
Prediction
Maple Leafs 3, Panthers 2
Prediction
Maple Leafs 3, Panthers 2
Projected lines
Maple Leafs:
Alexander Kerfoot -- Auston Matthews -- Calle Jarnkrok
Michael Bunting -- John Tavares -- Mitchell Marner
Bobby McMann -- Sam Lafferty -- William Nylander
Zach Aston-Reese -- David Kampf -- Noel Acciari
Morgan Rielly -- Erik Gustafsson
Mark Giordano -- Justin Holl
Jake McCabe -- Timothy Liljegren
Ilya Samsonov
Alexander Kerfoot -- Auston Matthews -- Calle Jarnkrok
Michael Bunting -- John Tavares -- Mitchell Marner
Bobby McMann -- Sam Lafferty -- William Nylander
Zach Aston-Reese -- David Kampf -- Noel Acciari
Morgan Rielly -- Erik Gustafsson
Mark Giordano -- Justin Holl
Jake McCabe -- Timothy Liljegren
Ilya Samsonov
Panthers:
Anton Lundell -- Aleksander Barkov -- Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Matthew Tkachuk
Ryan Lomberg -- Eric Staal -- Anthony Duclair
Nick Cousins -- Colin White -- Givani Smith
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Sergei Bobrovsky
Anton Lundell -- Aleksander Barkov -- Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Matthew Tkachuk
Ryan Lomberg -- Eric Staal -- Anthony Duclair
Nick Cousins -- Colin White -- Givani Smith
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Sergei Bobrovsky
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this preview, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
