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How long can things not go according to plan before panic sets in? The Florida Panthers looked like a slightly weaker team heading into this season than the previous one, the best in franchise history. Unfortunately, the playoffs left a sour taste, and this season has not started well at all. Paul Maurice is at the helm now, and the Panthers are still scoring at a solid rate, but they’re giving up tons of goals. At this time last year the team was 18-5-4, scoring 100 goals and conceding just 73. This year, they’re 13-12-4, scoring 97 goals and allowing exactly as many. The team is still fourth in 5-vs-5 and all situations expected goal ratio, but at what point does management stop believing in what’s expected when reality doesn’t match?

Toronto Maple Leafs to beat Anaheim Ducks by 2+ goals 

The inflection point of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ season was arguably their overtime loss to the lowly Anaheim Ducks on October 30th. Since then they’re 14-1-4, the best mark in the entire NHL, and have dominated teams over that time.

Mitch Marner is riding a record-setting point streak, William Nylander is on pace for his best scoring season ever, and Auston Matthews is starting to score closer to his usual pace. This one has the feeling of the Leafs sending a message that they’re a different team than they were in October. 

Florida Panthers to beat Columbus Blue Jackets 

Not only are the Florida Panthers a vastly, vastly superior team to the Columbus Blue Jackets both by the eye and by the stats, they simply cannot afford to lose these kinds of games anymore.

While being three points out of a wild card spot half way through December doesn’t seem like the worst thing in the world, the Panthers just keep finding ways to lose, and need to leapfrog three teams to get into the playoffs. They don’t even own their own first round draft pick. It’s make or break time.

Winnipeg Jets to beat Vegas Golden Knights 

Who would have thought that the Winnipeg Jets could be this good again? A return to form for Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey has given the Jets new life, as Connor Hellebuyck remains the best goaltender in the game, and new coach Rick Bowness has the team playing incredibly. Shockingly, they’ve been this good with Nik Ehlers on the sidelines for all but two games.

The Golden Knights are arguably just as good, but the Jets have been giant killers this year, and while Vegas has cooled off a little bit in recent weeks, the Jets have not.

Arizona Coyotes to beat San Jose Sharks 

In the battle of the basement (not counting the Ducks), the Arizona Coyotes are on a little streak, threatening to win three games in a row for the first time this season. The Sharks are clearly the better team of the two, in fact they’re an above average team at even strength, but they keep finding ways to lose.

The Coyotes, meanwhile, are a 39 per cent expected goals team at 5-vs-5 and seem to survive purely on vibes and the brilliance of Karel Vejmelka in goal, which is likely the difference between the two teams. Vejmelka has been a difference maker by any measure, whereas the goaltending for the Sharks has been inconsistent at best, especially with James Reimer missing games.