Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers NHL Predictions – April 8, 2025
Lace ‘em up! The Leafs and Panthers are hitting the ice for what could very well be a preview of the playoffs, or at least set the tone. The two Atlantic Division squads have seen plenty of each other this season, and with the postseason breathing down their necks, the game isn’t any old regular-season skate. It will give them both ample opportunity to stunt on each other before the real skating begins.
The puck drops on Tuesday at 7:00 pm EST in Florida’s Amerant Bank Arena, and we’ve prepped a betting breakdown for you! Below is the lineup for team form, injury news, and the best betting angles that are on the board.
Game Details
Below is everything that you need to know before the biscuit drop: where it’s going down, how you can watch, and where to track the action live!
- Date/Time: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 7:00 pm EST
- Location: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
- Broadcast: ESPN
- Live Link: ESPN Gamecast – Leafs vs. Panthers
Team Snapshots
Both the Leafs and the Panthers have been in the thick of the Atlantic race, but they are trending in really different directions. What’s each team bringing into the rink on Tuesday night? Look below to find out!
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs have been firing on all cylinders. They’ve been heating up the ice and are skating pretty with a 47-25-4 record, which places them near the top of the Atlantic Division. They’re on cloud 9 after burying the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 5-0 win, and Nicholas Robertson and William Nylander netting two goals each. They are clicking both on offense and defense.
Record: 47-25-4 (1st in Atlantic)
- Last 5 Games: 4-1
- Goals Per Game: 3.4
- Goals Against: 2.7
- Power Play: 23.5%
- Penalty Kill: 81.2%
Key Players
- Auston Matthews: 45 goals, 35 assists. He’s cooking, let him cook!
- Mitch Marner: 25G, 55A. This man is quarterbacking the power play like he could do it in his sleep.
- Anthony Stolarz: Just dropped a shutout with his hot goalie hands. He is no sieve.
Injury Watch
On the Panthers’ bench, here is who is out for the game:
- Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk are both out, and it’s showing. That usually formidable top-six? It looks way less threatening without them.
- Aaron Ekblad isn’t injured, but he’s serving a 20-game suspension.
Florida Panthers
The Cats have hit a bit of a, um, rough patch. They’re 44-29-4, which has them sitting at third in the Atlantic, but they’re riding a five-game losing streak. Injuries are piling up, and the scoring has gone cold. But that doesn’t mean they’re out, as they’ll be pretty desperate to stop the slide at home.
Record: 44-29-4 (3rd in Atlantic)
- Last 5 Games: 0-5
- Goals Per Game: 3.1
- Goals Against: 2.9
- Power Play: 21.8%
- Penalty Kill: 79.5%
Key Players
- Sam Reinhart: 38G, 42A, and still very much their top dog up front.
- Carter Verhaeghe: 30G, 35A, and Carter needs to get moving if they’re gonna snap out of it.
- Sergei Bobrovsky: .915 SV% and still sharp, but he’s not getting a lot of help in front.
Injury Watch
Who’s out on the Leafs?
- Jake McCabe is out for the next two games.
- David Kampf is also sidelined for the next couple of matches.
Recent Performance & Trends
This ain’t their first ice rodeo, so let’s take a look at how the head-to-heads between them have shaken out before and what the trends are saying!
Season Series: Toronto leads 2-1
- Last Meeting: Leafs edged them 3-2 on April 2
- Leafs on the Road: 22-12-3
- Panthers at Home: 24-11-2
Betting Trends
ATS (Against the Spread):
- Toronto: 42-34
- Florida: 38-39
- Over/Under Totals
- Toronto: 39 Overs, 37 Unders
- Florida: 41 Overs, 36 Unders
Injury Report
As we said above, both teams have some big names that are on the shelf, and it could def move the needle.
Toronto Maple Leafs
- Jake McCabe (D): Out
- David Kampf (F): Out
Both are depth guys, but McCabe’s absence leaves a wide-open hole on the blue line.
Florida Panthers
- Aleksander Barkov (C): Day-to-day with an upper-body issue
- Matthew Tkachuk (F): Still out
- Aaron Ekblad (D): Still on that 20-game suspension
That’s two-thirds of their core that are absent, and it will be tough sledding without them on the ice.
Current Betting Odds
The lines below are via FanDuel Sportsbook, but they can change, so always check them for the latest odds until the puck is dropped!
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Toronto | -1.5 (+180) | -130 | Over 6.5 (-115) |
Florida | +1.5 (-220) | +110 | Under 6.5 (-105) |
There hasn’t been any huge movement yet, but with the injuries piling up for Florida, Toronto’s price could go higher.
Betting Analysis
We don’t think that this is going to be a barn burner, as the Leafs are in top form. Their big six is tight, the power play looks deadly, and their goalie’s got gloves of gold and is coming off of a shutout. Sorry to Florida, but the squad has lost a ton of steam (and bodies). Missing Barkov and Tkachuk has turned their offense from solid to scattered and flat, and Ekblad’s absence definitely hurts their breakout game.
Which is why Toronto’s puck movement and shot generation give them a big advantage, especially against a team that’s been chasing the game and not making up any ground. If it does turn into a special-teams gong show, the Leafs will have the upper hand.
That being said, both teams have hit the Over plenty, and with the Leafs’ firepower and Florida’s “go down swinging” mentality, it could be another 4-3 kind of game. One thing’s for sure, it won’t be an egg (when the game ends 0-0, for all of the non-hockey people).
Recommended Pick
We are betting on the Toronto Maple Leafs ML (-130). Why? Because they’re in better shape, form, healthier, and their offense is way too much for a depleted Florida squad to keep up with for three periods.
If you’re chasing value, you should think about the Over 6.5 (-115), too! It’s hit in two out of their three matchups this NHL season.
Final Thoughts
Our money is on the Leafs! If you plan on putting money on this matchup, here’s what we think is the game plan:
- Toronto’s on a tear, and Florida’s not
- Panthers are missing most of their core pieces, and it’s really showing
- The Leafs’ top line is dialed in, and their power play is insanely good
- Florida’s defense is under a lot of pressure without Ekblad
- The Leafs have won two of the last three against Florida and are just playing cleaner hockey
The Over 6.5 is in play with both teams trending high on goals:
- Best Bet: Toronto ML (-130)
- Lean: Over 6.5 (-115)
Make sure that you double-check the injury updates and line moves before that biscuit hits the ice, especially because there are so many big names on Florida’s list!
If you want to check out more daily picks, we have them! And you can check out our sports betting strategies guide for odds breakdowns, sharp angles, and futures for games.
