Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Prediction
The Boston Bruins have assumed control of their first round series with the Toronto Maple Leafs and can close it out tonight with a win. Will Boston take care of business on its home ice?
Game Snapshot
67 Toronto Maple Leafs at 68 Boston Bruins
Saturday, April 21, 2018
TD Garden at 8PM ET
TV: NBC
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Bruins are a -185 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Maple Leafs are a +165 underdog, while the total sits at 5.5 goals. As of Saturday afternoon, 72 percent of public bets are pouring in on host Boston. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for up-to-date info.
Rask has best game of series
Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask was stellar in net as his squad won Game 4 on the road by a count of 3-1. Rask saved 31 of 32 shots for a save percentage of .969, his best out put of the series. He had also only allowed one goal in Game 1, but was only required to make 26 saves that day. During the regular season, Rask had a 34-14-5 record with a 2.36 goals-against average and .917 save percentage. When Rask is on his game and the Boston defense is air tight, the Bruins are a very difficult team to beat.
Plekanec unlikely goal scorer
Toronto center Tomas Plekanec only scored six goals to go with 20 assists during the regular season, but he was the lone goal scorer for his team in Game 3. It was his second straight game with a point as he also notched an assist in the Game 3 4-2 victory. The 35-year-old Plekanec has scored as many as 29 goals in a season and has 232 goals in his career, so he definitely has the capability to make a difference on the scoreboard. But the Maple Leafs need more production elsewhere tonight and should not rely on someone who is on the backside of his career.
NHL Betting Trends
Toronto
The over is 3-1-1 in the last five meetings. The over is 9-1-1 in the last 11 Maple Leafs games after scoring two goals or less in their last game.
Boston
The home team is 5-1 in the last six meetings. The over is 4-0-4 in the last eight home games.
Prediction:
The over has been a good play between these two teams and seems to be trending well for tonight’s contest. Expect the Maple Leafs offense to bounce back, but their defense isn’t strong enough to shut the door versus Boston.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: MAPLE LEAFS/BRUINS OVER 5.5