Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Prediction
The Boston Bruins opened their postseason in impressive fashion in Game 1 with a decisive victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Will Boston manage to win a second straight game on their home ice tonight to take a commanding series lead?
Game Snapshot
61 Toronto Maple Leafs at 62 Boston Bruins
Saturday, April 14, 2018
TD Garden at 8PM ET
TV: NBC
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Bruins are a -170 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Maple Leafs are a +150 underdog, while the total is set at 6 goals. As of Saturday afternoon, exactly 50 percent of public bets are on both Toronto and Boston. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for all the latest info.
Bruins impress in Game 1
Boston didn’t end the regular season in positive fashion with losses in three of its last five games including a stunning home defeat to the Panthers on the final day of the regular season to drop it to the No. 2 seed. That drew the Bruins a tougher matchup in Game 1, but as they start to get healthier better hockey will likely continue to be played by one of the NHL’s best teams. Left winger Rick Nash returned from his injury in time for Game 1, giving Boston most of its top weapons back. Nash did not tickle the twine in 17 minutes of ice time but five other Bruins did – David Backes, David Krejci, Sean Kuraly, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak – as the hosts rolled 5-1. It was a 1-1 game through one period before Boston exploded for two goals each in the second and third periods. Tuukka Rask made 26 saves on 27 shots for the win.
Toronto needs Matthews to have big game
Role players often make the vital difference in the playoffs, but if a team’s star can carry them on the scoreboard it can often lead to a deep run. Maple Leafs star center Auston Matthews was held off the scoresheet in Game 1, totaling three shots on goal in 15:24 of ice time. He’ll look to make a bigger impact in Game 2, which isn’t necessarily a must-win but at least in that vicinity. The lone Toronto goal was scored by Zach Hyman on assists from Connor Brown and Morgan Rielly. That evened the score at 1-1 with 3:08 left in the first period before the Bruins scored four unanswered the rest of the way. Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen was peppered with 40 shots, saving 36 of them. One major absence for the Maple Leafs the next three games will be center Nazem Kadri, who was suspended for a dirty hit.
NHL Betting Trends
Toronto
The home team is 5-1 in the last six meetings. The Maple Leafs are 0-4 in their last four conference quarterfinals games. Toronto is 7-2 in the last nine meetings.
Boston
The over is 3-0-4 in the last seven Bruins home games. Boston is 0-4 after scoring four or more goals in its previous game. The under is 6-2-2 in the last 10 meetings.
Prediction:
Aside from Game 1, the Maple Leafs have had pretty good success against the Bruins in the last couple of years. This is a talented Toronto squad and until a Boston power play goal broke a 1-1 tie four-plus minutes into the second period, the Maple Leafs had the hosts on their heels. I have no issue rolling the dice and betting on a Toronto victory here.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS +150