Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers Game 6: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

After a lopsided win in Game 5, the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers can book their place in the Eastern Conference Finals on home ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena.

Despite winning the first two games of the series, the Leafs have it all to do following three straight losses.

They certainly have the talent to pull it back, but following their chastening experience last time out and, having failed to progress beyond the second round in the last 23 years, the Leafs will have to overcome significant mental obstacles in addition to the formidable Panthers team ranged against them.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers Game 6 betting picks and predictions

Florida Panthers Over 3.5 goals (-115)

Florida are really motoring offensively in these playoffs.

Game 5 was the third time in 10 postseason games they have put up six goals, and their confidence will be high that they can keep putting the biscuit in the basket.

The Panthers are getting goal contributions all down the line-up, with fourth-liner A J Greer becoming the 17th Florida player to register a goal in these playoffs during the 6-1 win in Toronto.

Having depth is so important in the playoffs as it gives coaches the confidence to share the minutes around and not overburden the top players. It is clearly helping the Panthers, who have looked stronger the longer the series has gone on.

They have also adjusted their tactics to limit the efficacy of Toronto's breakouts, leading to more offensive chances for the Panthers.

The first four games of this series all went the way of the home team, and it is easy to see why Florida are strong favourites to wrap this up tonight and switch focus to a Conference Final meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes.

However, a better way of siding with the reigning champions could be to back them to score at least four goals.

Five of their seven wins this postseason saw Florida put up that many goals, and the odds are much more appealing. There is also the added attraction that they could score four times in a losing effort, as they did in Game 1 against the Leafs.

Matthew Knies 3+ shots on goal (+165)

Whatever happens in the playoffs, the Maple Leafs' core is likely to undergo a transformation during the offseason, with key players Mitch Marner and John Tavares likely to move on. However, young forward Matthew Knies could well be part of their long-term plans.

The 22-year-old scored a respectable 29 goals in only his second full season in the NHL and has been contributing during the playoffs with five goals in his 11 games.

Playing on the top line with Marner and captain Auston Matthews, Knies has been consistent, and his current two-game goal drought is the longest he has experienced during the postseason.

The Leafs have been held to just one goal over the last two games. That is unlikely to last, but it reduces confidence in a goalscorer bet, so instead focus on shots on goal.

Knies has registered three shots on target in four of the five games of this series, and two in the other.

The Arizona native makes his shots count, with 28 of his 38 shot attempts at least testing the goaltender during the playoffs, and he boasted an impressive shooting percentage of 19.1 during the regular season.

Take Knies to have at least three shots on goal again tonight.

Brad Marchand anytime goalscorer (+280)

As a long-time member of a Boston Bruins team who were the playoff nemesis of Toronto, Brad Marchand certainly knows how to get under the skin of the Leafs.

The 37-year-old was bitterly upset at being traded to Florida by the team who had made him their captain only last season, but he is clearly enjoying this series against his old foes.

Although he plays on the third line, Marchand has been getting plenty of ice time. He has scored twice in this series, including the overtime game-winner in Game 3, and also provided a powerplay assist in the Game 5 blowout.

Marchand has registered at least one shot on goal in every game in this series, and the cheeky forward looks a decent bet to find the net in the potentially series-ending clash.

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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers Game 6 odds

FLA Panthers	-240 ML
TOR Maple Leafs	+195 ML
Puck Line	FLA -1.5 (+115)
Total	O/U 5.5

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers Game 6 player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Sam Reinhart (FLA Panthers)	+170
Auston Matthews (TOR Maple Leafs)	+180
William Nylander (TOR Maple Leafs)	+190
Matthew Tkachuk (FLA Panthers)	+190
Aleksander Barkov (FLA Panthers)	+190
Sam Bennett (FLA Panthers)	+210

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.