Bruins vs. Maple Leafs Prediction
The Boston Bruins have been very impressive in grabbing a 2-0 series lead in their first round matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This the series shifting cities, will Boston push its lead to 3-0 in a hostile road environment?
Game Snapshot
27 Boston Bruins at 28 Toronto Maple Leafs
Monday, April 16, 2018
Air Canada Centre at 7PM ET
TV: NBCSN
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Maple Leafs are a -115 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Bruins are a -105 underdog, while the over-under sits at 5.5 goals. As of Monday morning, 70 percent of public bets are siding with visiting Boston. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for uo-to-date information.
Pastrnak has game of a lifetime
Bruins left winger David Pastrnak is still a month shy of his 22nd birthday and has plenty of special games ahead of him, but he might never top what he did Saturday night. Pastrnak tallied three goals and three assists for six points in the 7-3 Game 2 victory over the Maple Leafs, besting his previous career-high point total of four. Pastrnak also had a goal and two assists in the 5-1 win in Game 1, while he also scored a goal in each of the final two regular season games. Needless to say, the fourth-year player is dominating right now. He recorded 35 goals and 45 assists as a point-per-game player during the regular season.
Matthews held off scoresheet again
Toronto star center Auston Matthews had 34 goals and 29 assists in 62 regular season games, but he has been held scoreless in both games this series. But with the series coming to Toronto, it could be the spark needed for Matthews to have a breakout game. Including the one regular season game he played against the Bruins, Matthews has not scored a point against them this year. He scored 18 goals in 30 home games this season, while on the road he notched 16 goals in 32 games. With this being a must-win game for the Maple Leafs, expect Matthews to be on top of his game in front of a raucous home crowd.
NHL Betting Odds
Boston
The home team is 4-0 in the last four meetings. The over is 2-0-2 in the last four Bruins games against the Eastern Conference. The over is 2-0-2 in the last four Boston games overall.
Toronto
The Maple Leafs are 0-5 in their last five conference quarterfinals games. The over is 3-0-2 in the last five Toronto games against the Atlantic Division. The Maple Leafs are 4-0 in their last four games versus Boston in Toronto.
Prediction:
The Maple Leafs went 29-10-2-0 at home this season and won both home games versus Boston this season by scores of 3-2 in overtime and 4-3. With its backs against the wall, expect a great effort from Toronto in front of an aforementioned crowd that lives for these kind of playoff games.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS -115