Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Prediction
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins are all even at two games apiece in their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series. Can Boston record the important Game 5 victory at home tonight?
Game Snapshot
63 Toronto Maple Leafs at 64 Boston Bruins
Friday, April 19, 2019
TD Garden at 7:08PM ET
TV: NBCSN
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Bruins are a -145 favorite to win on the moneyline. The over-under is set at 6 goals. As of Friday morning, 67 percent of public bets are being placed on host Boston. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for up-to-date information.
Maple Leafs struggle defensively in loss
Toronto gave up two goals in each of the three periods Wednesday night in its 6-4 Game 4 home defeat versus Boston. The Maple Leafs fell behind 2-0 in the first period, but a goal by Zach Hyman with 2:05 left cut it to 2-1. Assists on the goal went to Morgan Rielly and John Tavares. Auston Matthews tied it at 2-2 1:07 into the second period off assists from Andreas Johnsson and Ron Hainsey. Boston scored twice more in the second and again 5:39 into the third period to take a commanding 5-2 advantage. Toronto was not quite dead yet as Matthews scored on the power play with 8:08 remaining on assists by Mitch Marner and Rielly. Travis Dermott trimmed it to 5-4 at the 6:33 mark with assists courtesy of Jake Gardiner and Connor Brown. The Bruins scored an empty-netter with two seconds remaining for the final goal of the contest. Frederik Andersen surrendered five goals on 30 shots in the defeat.
Bruins outlast Maple Leafs in Game 4
Boston earned a 6-4 victory Wednesday night at Toronto to even the best-of-7 series at 2-2. Charlie McAvoy gave the Bruins a 1-0 advantage on the power play 3:03 in as Charlie Coyle and Matt Grzelcyk drew assists. Brad Marchand made it 2-0 a few minutes later off assists from McAvoy and Danton Heinen. The Maple Leafs cut it to 2-1 later in the first period, while they tied it up 1:07 into the second period. David Pastrnak scored two minutes later to give Boston the lead back with assists going to Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. Pastrnak scored again shortly thereafter on the power play to make it 4-2 off an assist from Marchand. Zdeno Chara scored at the 14:21 mark of the third period to make it a three-goal advantage, but Toronto managed to trim it back to 5-4 by the 6:33 mark. It remained that way until an empty-net goal by Joakim Nordstrom off a David Krejci assist with two seconds left officially put it away. Tuukka Rask surrendered four goals on 42 shots in the winning effort.
NHL Betting Trends
Toronto
The Maple Leafs are 2-5 in their last seven road games. Toronto is 1-4 in its last five games at Boston.
Boston
The Bruins are 16-5 in their last 21 games played on one day of rest. Boston is 52-21 in its last 73 home games.
Prediction:
This is a back-and-forth series as expected and I’d be surprised if Boston loses at home after its strong road performance the other day. Toronto could very well see it back to Boston by winning Game 6, but it’s a steep challenge to send it back home with a chance to close it out. The Bruins have played solid hockey all season and are strong on their home ice. Take the favorites tonight.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: BOSTON BRUINS -145