Sports Handicapper Frank Sawyer's Picks & Predictions

FRANK’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR FOR SUNDAY, 5/18:

My “Cutting Room Floor” plays are the situations I considered the closest to being worthy of investment but did not make the “final cut” for my official plays today for subscribers. The last play I cut for Sunday is with Over the Total in the game between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto (59-29-6) snapped a three-game losing streak in this best-of-seven series to force a climactic seventh game with their 2-0 victory on the road against the Panthers on Friday. The Maple Leafs have played 6 of their last 9 games Over the Total after a win on the road against a fellow Atlantic Division rival. They have also played 8 of their last 13 home games Over the Total against teams winning 51-60% of their games. Florida (54-35-4) has played 5 of their last 6 road games Over the Total in the playoffs with the opportunity to close out the series. The Panthers have also played 4 of their last 6 games on the road in the second round of the playoffs. Take the Over. Best of luck — Frank.

Frank Sawyer’s Hollywood Sports is on a 15 of 22 (68%) All-Sports run with featured 25*/20*/10* plays after CA$HING with Dallas in the NHL on Saturday! Frank is on a 5 of 7 (71%) NHL featured play run — and he furthers his 16 of 26 (62%) NHL Game of the Year/Month run with his 25* NHL Atlantic Division Game of the Year for the Florida-Toronto money-line side winner on TNT at 7:40 PM ET! DO NOT MISS OUT!

At 7:40 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the money-line on the Florida Panthers (27) versus the Toronto Maple Leafs (28) in Game Seven of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. THE SITUATION: Florida (54-35-4) had won three games in a row before their 2-0 loss at home against the Maple Leafs on Friday. Toronto forced a decisive Game Seven with that victory.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PANTHERS WITH THE MONEY-LINE: Frankly, Florida probably deserved the win on Friday as they generated 2.3 expected goals and held the Maple Leafs to 2.19 expected goals. The Panthers lost the first two games in this series in Toronto before taking control of this series with three straight victories by tightening things up defensively, increasing their forechecking and physicality, and getting great goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky. While he gave up two goals on 17 shots, he registered a +0.19 Goals Saved Above Expectation. In his last three games, Bobrovsky has registered +4.94 GSAx. Florida has been resilient following losses by winning 23 of their last 38 games after a defeat in their last game. They have also won 9 of their last 15 games after losing at home in their last game. The Panthers have also won 30 of their last 46 games on the road when priced as a money-line favorite up to a -150 price. They have won 7 of their last 9 games on the road in the second round of the playoffs. Furthermore, Florida has won 4 of their last 5 playoff games when the series is tied — and they have won 4 of their last 5 playoff games when facing elimination. The Panthers have a decided edge in playoff experience against this Maple Leafs team who have only won two playoff series in the last 20 seasons. This is a fragile Toronto team that will play in front of a home crowd that may be expecting another letdown. Superstar Auston Matthews is not at full strength playing through a hand injury. Despite scoring the first goal in Game Six, it was only his third goal in the playoffs. Mitch Marner has one foot out the door as the team is not likely to resign him in the offseason. Chemistry remains a big concern despite winning on the road in Game Six. The Maple Leafs remain a team who have lost 7 of their last 11 games in the second round of the playoffs. They have also lost 4 of their last 6 playoff games in close-out situations — and they have lost their last 3 playoff games when the playoff series is tied.

FINAL TAKE: Florida’s Paul Maurice has overseen a 5-0 record in his head coaching career in Game Sevens. The Maple Leafs hope they can win — the Panthers know they can. 25* NHL Atlantic Division Game of the Year is with the money-line on the Florida Panthers (27) versus the Toronto Maple Leafs (28). Best of luck for us — Frank.