A game that features two teams that have put themselves squarely in playoff contention, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins collide at TD Garden in an Original Six showdown. CBC Sports will showcase the game, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 3.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins Odds
Boston (-115) is currently favored over Toronto (-105), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Boston is 30-19 straight up (SU) and has earned 6.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the NHL so far this season, is an improvement compared to what the team managed during last years regular season (44-38). 27 of the teams 49 outings have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. The teams 17-10 SU at home this year.
The Bruins have been able to convert on 21.7 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for seventh-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.4 percent of all penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five games at home. The team has been forced to stave off opposition power plays for just 5.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
With a .924 save percentage and 25.5 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (20-13-4) has been the primary option in goal for the Bruins this year. If Boston decides to rest him, however, the team could roll with Anton Khudobin (10-8-8 record, .924 save percentage, 2.36 goals against average).
The Bruins will continue seeking leadership from Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Marchand (50 points) has tallied 21 goals and 29 assists and has recorded two or more points on 16 separate occasions this year. Pastrnak has 20 goals and 28 assists to his name and has notched a point in 33 games.
On the other side of the ice, Toronto is 30-23 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.1 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 53 regular season outings, 26 of its games have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just four have pushed. As an away team so far, the Maple Leafs are 16-13 SU.
The Maple Leafs have converted on 20.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Toronto’s players have been penalized only 3.5 times per game this season, and 2.4 per game over their last ten outings. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 5.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Frederik Andersen (31.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Toronto. Andersen owns a 25-18-4 record, and has registered a .922 save percentage and 2.61 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Maple Leafs will be Auston Matthews (23 goals, 17 assists) and William Nylander (10 goals, 28 assists).
Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Boston is 3-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Toronto is 4-1 in shootouts.
- The under has hit in each of Boston’s last five games.
- Over Toronto’s last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-1 in those games).
- The Bruins this season have tallied the fourth-most hits per game (24.5), but that number has climbed to 29.6 over their past five home games.
