Toronto (2-3) at Florida (3-2)
- When: May 16 2025, 8:00 PM
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL, USA
- TV: TNT
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers – Game 6 Preview and Prediction
Moneyline: Florida -225 | Total: 5.5
Florida Panthers Analysis
The Florida Panthers are inching closer to punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, holding a 3-2 series lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Panthers have dominated recently, taking three straight wins, including a convincing 6-1 blowout in Toronto during Game 5. Now, back in Sunrise, Florida, they have a golden opportunity to close things out on home ice.
Head coach Paul Maurice isn’t buying into the momentum narrative, though. “The series is closer than you think,” Maurice commented, despite Florida’s recent surge. One of the main reasons for the Panthers’ success is their scoring depth. An impressive 17 different players have found the back of the net this postseason, the most through 10 games since the 1993 Los Angeles Kings.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been a brick wall lately, allowing just one goal over the last two games. His playoff numbers 7-3 record, 2.46 GAA, and a .899 save percentage—are right in line with his regular-season form. Bobrovsky’s strong play has effectively neutralized Toronto’s top scorer, Auston Matthews, holding him scoreless in five straight games.
With home-ice advantage and a red-hot goalie, Florida has all the pieces in place to wrap this series up in Game 6. Expect the Panthers to press early and rely on their balanced attack and Bobrovsky’s strong play to get the job done.
Toronto Maple Leafs Analysis
The Toronto Maple Leafs are fighting for their playoff lives as they head to Florida for Game 6, trailing 3-2 in the series. Their last outing was an absolute disaster a 6-1 thrashing at home that marked their worst defeat since December 2023. Still, this team has bounced back before. After that December loss to Buffalo, they rebounded with a 4-1 win over Columbus. Now, they’ll need that same resilience to force a Game 7.
Star forward Auston Matthews is confident that Toronto can shake off the recent struggles. “The only thing we can do is regroup and reset,” he stated. “We’ve been able to bounce back all year, and it’s no different now.” His words come after failing to score in five straight games, a slump that the Leafs desperately need him to snap.
Mitch Marner also acknowledged the team’s poor showing in Game 5, emphasizing the need to respond better. Head coach Craig Berube took responsibility for the loss, noting a series of “disappointing mistakes” that made it easy for Florida to capitalize.
Unfortunately for Toronto, goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who has been sidelined since Game 1, will not travel with the team to Florida despite participating in light practice on Thursday. That leaves the Maple Leafs in a must-win scenario with shaky goaltending and questions about their ability to score consistently.
To extend their season, the Maple Leafs will need a near-perfect game, tightening up defensively and finally cracking Bobrovsky’s code. But with Florida’s dominance and home-ice advantage, it’s a tall order.
Game 6 Prediction:
Florida’s defense has been dominant, and Bobrovsky’s goaltending is shutting down Toronto’s offense. At home, the Panthers have the momentum and the depth to close out the series. Expect Florida to win 4-2 and advance confidently.
Score Prediction: Panthers 4, Leafs 2
Best Bet: Florida Puckline -1.5 (+117)
Total: Over 5.5 (-117)
- NHL Odds source: MyBookie Sportsbook
