The Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, April 16, and you’ll be able to view it live on NBC Sports Network.
Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Boston (-105) is entering this one as the underdog to Toronto (-115), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-120 money on the over, +100 on the under).
Boston is 52-32 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 6.1 units this season. Through 84 regular season matches, 42 of its games have gone under the total, while 37 have gone over and just five have pushed. As the away team in 2017-18, the Bruins are 22-19 SU.
After sporting the fourth-strongest power-play unit in the regular season (finding net on 24.6 percent of all opportunities), the Bruins have connected on 50.0 percent of their postseason power plays.
Boston’s offense attempted 33.0 shots per game in the regular season, resulting in 3.4 goals per contest (ranked sixth overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the team’s managing an average of 34.0 shots on goal and up to 6.0 goals per game.
Averaging 25.8 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (36-20-5) has been the best option in goal for Boston this season. If it chooses to rest him, however, the team might roll with Anton Khudobin (16-15-7), who has a .913 save percentage and 2.56 goals against average this year.
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will both lead the way for the visiting Bruins. Marchand has 91 points via 35 goals and 56 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 28 different games. Pastrnak has 39 goals and 50 assists to his name, and has registered a point in 56 games.
Toronto is 49-35 straight up (SU) and has earned 4.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. 43 of its outings have gone over the total, while 35 have gone under and just six have pushed. It’s 29-12 SU at home this season.
Toronto currently touts the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has scored on 24.6 percent of its extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.1 percent of all penalties.
Toronto skaters have been penalized only 3.3 times per game in total this season, and 4.0 per game over their last five contests. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Frederik Andersen has denied 30.4 shots per game as the primary selection in goal for Toronto. Andersen has 40 wins, 28 losses, and five OT losses and has maintained a pedestrian 2.88 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this season.
Mitchell Marner (23 goals, 48 assists) will lead the attack for the Maple Leafs.
Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Boston’s attempted 33.0 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 32.0 in its last five road outings.
Penalties and power plays may be extremely important in tonight’s game. The Bruins are 16-19 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 29-21 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Maple Leafs are 18-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 36-31 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Toronto is ranked 6th with 8.5 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended upward, as it has forced 10.0 takeaways over its last 10 games and 10.2 takeaways over its last five.
Boston skaters have averaged 6.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.3 takeaways per game (ranked seventh).
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