Alright Leafs fans with a taste forOntario sports betting Would you prefer to hear some positive developments or even more optimistic news?
The prime news is that the Leafs secured a playoff spot last night, thanks to the Florida Panthers' 5-2 defeat against the Ottawa Senators. Tomorrow evening, they face off against the Panthers once again at the Scotiabank Arena. Currently, the Leafs are ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference, having amassed 97 points.
Meanwhile, the Panthers find themselves in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, at serious risk of missing the playoffs, having suffered four consecutive losses.NorthStar Bets Ontario Sportsbook The betting odds reflect the Leafs at -159 on the moneyline, while the Panthers are set at +130.
Adding to the optimism for the Leafs, it has been anticipated for a month that they would likely confront the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of playoffs. As the Lightning approach the end of the season with eight games remaining, their form has dipped as well, with a record of 10-11-5 since February and four losses in a row.
Tanner Jeannot, a high-profile acquisition from the Nashville Predators during the trade deadline—costing five draft picks and defenseman Cal Foote—has not performed up to expectations for Tampa, registering no goals and a minus-6 rating in his 15 appearances.
Deep Roster On Full Display
As for the Leafs, it’s undeniable that they haven't managed to win a playoff series since 2004, which is rather unfortunate. Nevertheless, this year feels somewhat different, and having witnessed years of disappointments, we know better than to spread optimism without reason.Ontario sportsbooks apps The addition of Ryan O'Reilly, Noel Acciari, and Luke Schenn seems to have enriched the team with playoff experience and toughness. Acquiring Jake McCabe from Chicago at the trade deadline has further reinforced their defensive lineup, where he's recorded a plus-3 rating over 13 games.
Sam Lafferty, who also came from Chicago, has strengthened the team's bottom six. This is evident from their performance since the trade deadline, bolstered by strong power play statistics, ranking third in the league at 25.7%, and a respectable penalty kill percentage of 80.4%.
Although a decline in form late in the season doesn't automatically spell disaster in the playoffs, it's a challenging moment to lose momentum, and this year, Tampa Bay could be vulnerable. The return of O'Reilly, who has been sidelined since March 3 with a broken finger, will be crucial, as the quicker he returns to playing condition, the better it will be for the team. Expect him to participate in several games before the playoffs begin.
Auston Matthews has also been performing remarkably well lately – he is currently on a six-game point streak, contributing both goals and assists during this timeframe. For the first time this season, Matthews is showcasing the goal-scoring prowess reminiscent of his 60-goal performance last year. His recent surge has positively influenced the Leafs' odds of clinching the Stanley Cup.
Modify your betting options easily, manage all products with one account, and enjoy straightforward deposit methods.BetMGM Ontario Sportsbook move to +900 from +1000 at the end of February.
Who Protects The Net?
When facing Tampa's Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has multiple Stanley Cups to his name, who should the Leafs start?
In their recent match against the Nashville Predators on Sunday, an impressive 84% of Proline players had placed their bets on the Leafs to win.
Currently, the odds place the Leafs at +500 to win the Eastern Conference, tying with the Carolina Hurricanes at the same odds, both trailing the Boston Bruins, who are currently at +175.
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