Monday’s NHL playoff slate features just one game, with the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Florida Panthers in the opening matchup of Round 2.
My NHL picks focus on three scorers for this May 5 matchup, highlighted by two Leafs and a Panther.
Panthers vs Maple Leafs anytime goalscorer picks
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Nylander (+210) - Tavares (+230)
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Barkov (+250)
Panthers vs Maple Leafs goal props for May 5
William Nylander (+210 at Sports Interaction)
William Nylander finally broke through with a two-goal performance in the closing game of the first round. Those tallies marked his first time scoring since Game 1, and he’ll look to carry that momentum into the opening game of this series.
He’s likely to do so against goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who showed some vulnerability in the opening round. Over the final three games of the first round, Bobrovsky posted an .871 SV% and a 3.01 GAA.
In last year’s playoffs, Nylander scored in the final two games against Florida before the Maple Leafs were eliminated.
John Tavares (+230 at Sports Interaction)
Nylander’s linemate, John Tavares, is also a strong candidate to find the back of the net in Game 1. Tavares played a solid opening series against the Ottawa Senators, scoring three goals across six games.
This success is likely to continue against the Panthers. Tavares has scored in the past three meetings between these two teams, with Bobrovsky in net for all three games.
Not only do Nylander and Tavares skate together on the second line, but they also work the first power-play unit. In the regular season, Florida ranked last in the league in penalty minutes taken per game.
Aleksander Barkov (+250 at Sports Interaction)
The Panthers will likely find the back of the net at some point, and few candidates are stronger than Aleksander Barkov. The captain is the heartbeat of Florida’s two-way play, but he can also score.
He increased his offensive volume at the end of Round 1, averaging 3.3 shots on goal per game over the final three contests. Barkov broke through with a goal in the final game of that series and could keep rolling against Toronto and goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
Stolarz has played well this postseason, but he hasn’t been flawless. The Maple Leafs’ netminder has allowed two or more goals in all six games.
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