Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Prediction: Best NHL Player Props & Odds for April 8

About a month ago, the Florida Panthers were the favorites to win the Atlantic Division. Due to a litany of injuries and a 4-8-1 skid, Paul Maurice's team is just two points ahead of the Ottawa Senators and the first wild card spot with five games remaining. 

They welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., for tonight's 7 p.m. ET tilt (ESPN).

Our Maple Leafs vs. Panthers prediction and player props foresee another tumultuous contest for the home team, which is more shorthanded than a city's roster of bus drivers during a transit strike. 

💰 Best Panthers vs. Maple Leafs predictions & NHL player props tonight: April 8

Here are my best Panthers vs. Maple Leafs and player props for tonight's NHL matchup with my pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale. Be sure to check out the rest of our NHL picks along with our guide on how to bet on NHL.    

• Game pick: Maple Leafs ML (-120 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Auston Matthews prop pick: Over 3.5 shots (+105 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Matthew Knies prop pick: Over 0.5 points (-110 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Brad Marchand player prop pick: Over 2.5 shots (+132 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐

📊 Panthers vs. Maple Leafs pick & odds: Who will win tonight's NHL matchup?

As of 6 a.m. ET, the Maple Leafs are the -125 moneyline favorites to beat the Panthers (+105) in tonight's matchup at 7 p.m. ET from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. I predict the Maple Leafs will win in a game with six goals or more. 

🔢 Panthers vs. Maple Leafs odds & betting lines

Here are the latest Panthers vs. Maple Leafs odds and betting lines from our best live betting sites.

🎯 Panthers vs. Maple Leafs score prediction: Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 2

The Maple Leafs have an 80% probability of winning the Atlantic Division, according to their -400 odds at BetMGM, as they look to extend their winning streak to five games. 

While Craig Berube doesn't show it, he will be elated with how his team has acquitted themselves with the Atlantic Division hanging in the balance. Of the 10 Stanley Cup odds contenders, the Maple Leafs are the in-form team over a 10-game stretch.

They haven't allowed more than two goals in five of the last six games, with that whacky 13-goal thriller in San Jose the outlier. Anthony Stolarz has won five straight starts, and most big guns are firing offensively. 

The polar opposite is true of the Panthers, whose recent struggles are well-documented. In fairness, this is not the Panthers team that will enter the postseason in less than two weeks. Riddled with injuries, the toothless Cats were missing captain Aleksander Barkov, Gustav Forsling, Sam Reinhart, and Nico Sturm during the recent road trip.

All four are questionable for Tuesday's game. Sam Bennett probably won't play, and neither will Dmitry Kulikov. Add that laundry list to Matthew Tkachuk and Aaron Ekblad's long-term absences, and you can see why the Cats have lost their snarl. With Maurice's focus wholly on the postseason, I can't see him risking any player who isn't 100% for a comparatively meaningless contest. 

That's why I'm backing the Maple Leafs to win in a game with six goals or fewer. 

Best bet: Maple Leafs ML (-120 via FanDuel)

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💰 Best Panthers vs. Maple Leafs player prop bet odds & expert picks: April 8

Here are my best Panthers vs. Maple Leafs player prop bet odds and expert picks for tonight's NHL matchup. You can also check out our NHL player prop odds tool for the latest NHL odds at the best legal sportsbooks in your region.    

🏒 Best Auston Matthews prop pick: Over 3.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +105 via bet365 ($10 to win $10.50)

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There's a decent possibility the Panthers' top four scorers and top defensive pair won't be playing. That should directly impact Matthews' ability to hit the Over. In theory, he should have the puck more against a comparatively inferior Panthers' crew.

Matthew has enjoyed success on the shooting front against the Cats even when they are at full strength, firing at least four shots in six of the previous eight meetings. He has at least four shots in four of the last five games, including at home against Florida on April 2. Of our best sports betting sites, bet365 offers the longest odds. 

📊 Best Auston Matthews prop bet odds

🏒 Best Matthew Knies prop pick: Over 0.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -110 via BetMGM ($10 to win $9.09)

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I'm expecting the Maple Leafs' top line to enjoy a productive outing, which includes Knies. The 22-year-old was excellent against the Panthers in Toronto last week, posting two points. He has four points in the previous four meetings against Florida. 

Knies has been consistently productive lately, with at least a point in five of the previous eight, including two points in the last three away encounters. 

📊 Best Matthew Knies prop bet odds

🏒 Best Brad Marchand prop pick: Over 2.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +132 via bet365 ($10 to win $13.20)

Marchand hasn't exactly set the Sunrise skyline alight. The recent arrival has struggled to adapt to his new team, scoring just one point in six games as a Panther, which came in his debut against Utah Hockey Club. He's only hit the Over twice in those six contests on this prop. One of those Overs was against the Maple Leafs, an adversary that usually brings the grizzled veteran to life. 

Marchand has fired at least three shots on goal in five straight against the Buds. With all of Florida's absentees, the onus is squarely on his shoulders to step up and offer evidence of why his new team acquired him. bet365 offers outlier +132 odds, implying a 43.10% probability. 

📊 Best Brad Marchand prop bet odds

🚑 Panthers vs. Maple Leafs injuries

Here are the latest injuries for tonight's Panthers vs. Maple Leafs matchup, which will update in real time.

📺 How to watch Panthers vs. Maple Leafs tonight

📅 Date: Tuesday, April 8
🕗 Time: 7 p.m. ET
📍 Location: Amerant Bank Arena (Sunrise, Fla.)
📺 TV: ESPN
💻 Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+

❓ Panthers vs. Maple Leafs FAQs

Who is favored to win Panthers vs. Maple Leafs?

The Maple Leafs are the -125 moneyline favorites. 

What are the odds for Panthers vs. Maple Leafs?

The total is set at 5.5 goals, with both sides juiced at the standard -110. 

What time is Panthers vs. Maple Leafs tonight?

Tonight's Panthers vs. Maple Leafs game starts at 7 p.m. ET. 

How to watch Panthers vs. Maple Leafs

You can watch tonight's Panthers vs. Maple Leafs game on ESPN or ESPN+.

🥅 Best NHL betting sites

Looking to bet on the NHL tonight? Here are our best NHL betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with our best sportsbook promos ahead of tonight's game.

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