Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers
These two teams met on Thursday in Toronto and the result was a 6-3 Toronto whitewashing. It was a typical Leafs game: get teeth kicked in possession-wise, capitalize on scoring chances, rely on goaltenders to keep you in the game. Lather, rinse, repeat. While I wouldn’t advocate that as a game plan, it’s tough to argue with the Leafs’ 9-1-1 record in their last 11 games. The top line for Toronto has been carrying the water and it’s just a matter of when, not if, this streak will run dry. I’m not playing the “they’re due” game tonight, though.
Florida has allowed 18 goals against in their last four games but that will happen when you average a power play goal against in each game and your goalies are riding hot streaks. It should be noted that Florida has good even strength numbers but their special teams are an absolute mess: Florida’s power play is last in the NHL (8.8-percent!!!) and their penalty kill is 29th (77.1-percent). Florida is also only playing .500 hockey at home since Christmas so they’re not anywhere close to proficient enough on offense to make up for their pathetic special teams play.
This game is tough because Toronto is so Jekyll and Hyde – since Christmas, this team has five wins by at least three goals and three losses by at least five goals – that it’s hard to rely on them with any sort of confidence. For some reason I just don’t have a good feeling about this game and will mostly stay away. There are good values on defense for Toronto, though.
|
Top RW Value |
Top LW Value |
Top C Value |
Top D Value |
Bargain Bin |
|
Nikolai Kulemin $5693 |
James van Riemsdyk $12,693 |
(FLA) |
(TOR) $5505 |
(FLA) |
