Ryan Hodges
Show Bio
The Stars were able to even their series in Game 2 while the Panthers took the massive second game in theirs. Florida is firmly in the driver’s seat, up 2-0 and heading back home looking to take a stranglehold against Toronto. With the Maple Leafs and Devils really needing to get in the win column and the Kraken looking to continue their Cinderella story, we should be in for a great Sunday of hockey.
Here are our favorite NHL player prop bets for Sunday’s schedule. You can also check out our NHL picks for each of today’s games.
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Auston Matthews over 4.5 shots on goal (-130)
This is as close to a “must-win” as possible for the Maple Leafs without being an elimination game. The Panthers are rolling, having won 5 consecutive games including a 2-0 series lead over the Maple Leafs. Entering the playoffs, the Panthers’ statistical strength was goalscoring but they ranked 21st in goal prevention in the NHL regular season. They ranked even worse in penalty kill at 23rd and they were middle of the pack in goals allowed at 5-on-5. They have held the Leafs to just 2 goals in each of the first 2 games of this series. The long-term sample size indicates that level of success on the defensive side of the puck is not sustainable. They are playing great right now, but should not keep Toronto in check for the whole series.
Despite the Maple Leafs’ attack largely being neutralized by the Panthers thus far, it has not been for a lack of effort from Auston Matthews. He has 2 assists and 12 shots through the Games 1 and 2. Toronto will give their biggest push yet led by Matthews and his linemates Mitch Marner and Michael Bunting. Matthews is also on the team’s top power play with Marner, John Tavares, Ryan O’Reilly and Morgan Reilly. The Leafs will have their foot will be fully on the gas and look to pepper Sergei Bobrovsky’s goal. Matthews has one of the most lethal releases in the NHL and will look to get that shot off every chance he gets instead of looking for the perfect play.
Be sure to also check out our Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs predictions.
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Yanni Gourde over 0.5 points (-105)
Even with a split in the first 2 games of this series, the Kraken continue to play great hockey and frustrate some very good teams. Yanni Gourde has been right in the thick of Seattle’s production. Gourde leads the team in assists with 6 and in points with 8 so far in the playoffs. The production has been somewhat backloaded as he enters Game 3 on a 3-game point streak having tallied 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points in the last 3 games. He and linemate Oliver Bjorkstrand carried the Kraken with 2 points each in the 2-1 Game 7 win over the Avalanche. With each game the stakes get higher and Gourde has answered the call so far.
Gourde is no stranger to postseason play as he won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He was a big part of the 2020 Cup run with 14 points and a +12 rating in 25 games. Gourde also has almost a full regular season worth of playoff games under his belt with 78 postseason games played. That is the kind of experience needed for a team looking to upset a powerhouse in the playoffs. The Kraken have displayed their scoring depth impressively in this postseason after no one really expected them to be here. Offense has been provided by committee with Gourde leading the way. For any offense the Kraken generate, and we know not to question their offensive ability, Gourde has a good chance to be right in the thick of it.
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