Maple Leafs vs Panthers Game 4 Preview

The Toronto Maple Leafs officially have their backs up against the wall on Wednesday as they head into a crucial Game 4 against the Florida Panthers. The hosts lead the series 3-0 and can book their spot in the conference finals with a victory, while the Leafs can head back home for one more contest at the very least with a win on the road here. 

Recent H2H History

The regular season was a much different story between the two teams. Toronto went 3-1 in four meetings with Florida. However, every single game except for one was decided by a mere one goal. That’s basically been the case in this series as well, with the last two matchups ending 3-2 in favor of Florida. You know what they say though, the playoffs are a completely different beast. The Panthers are showing up while the Leafs aren’t. 

Leafs on The Brink

After finally conquering their first-round playoff demons against the Tampa Bay Lightning, just a week later Toronto finds themselves on the brink of elimination. And to be frank, they face an uphill battle, with the last team to overcome a 3-0 hole in the postseason being the LA Kings in 2015 against the San Jose Sharks.

Regardless, Sheldon Keefe’s squad heads into Game 4 as a clear -120 favorite at Bodog due to just how talented this roster is. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander are all superstars, but they’ve failed to produce in the series. None of them have scored in the first three games, which is a serious problem.

Headed to overtime@LGCanada | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/Ku8PE01iTU

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 8, 2023

The Leafs rely heavily on Matthews and Nylander especially. The fact that neither has stepped up to the plate on the big stage is extremely concerning. The only way Toronto actually completes the improbable comeback in the series as a whole is by these guys rising to the occasion. 

Sam Lafferty and Erik Gustafsson were the scorers in Game 3 but the Maple Leafs registered just 24 shots. Sam Reinhart quickly broke their hearts only three minutes into overtime with the winner. Toronto must dig deep Wednesday. 

Panthers Look Impressive

Everyone thought the Leafs would be licking their chops by getting the Panthers in the second round. While that was initially the case, it’s not now. Florida is absolutely rolling in the postseason and has boatloads of confidence after already knocking off one of the best NHL teams ever in the Boston Bruins. 

Matthew Tkachuk is certainly proving his worth with 15 points in the playoffs to lead the way, while Carter Verhaeghe has 10 points. Seven different players have a minimum of seven points, proving just how well-rounded this offense is. 

Honestly, the Panthers are sitting pretty right now. They have the opportunity to win the series at home but even if that doesn’t happen, Florida heads North to potentially close out the series at Scotiabank Arena. There’s no pressure on them right now.

That feeling when your team goes up 3-0 in the series. 🥳 #StanleyCup

📺: @FlaPanthers vs. @MapleLeafs Game 4 Wednesday at 7p ET on @espn, @Sportsnet, and @TVASports pic.twitter.com/ODTKeXGgLj

— NHL (@NHL) May 8, 2023

Florida went down early in Game 1 but bounced back with a big second period, with Anthony Duclair and Verhaeghe both finding the back of the net. The third was quiet, which means OT ensued. Reinhart played hero in thrilling fashion. 

NHL sportsbooks deemed the Panthers a massive underdog in the second round, but they’ve flipped the script. Now, Florida is on the verge of moving on to the East Finals.