Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Canadiens vs Maple Leafs NHL Odds
Looking for Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Canadiens taking on the Maple Leafs on Thursday, April 20th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey games all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions like this Canadiens Maple Leafs matchup.
NHL Handicapping Analysis
(24-21-11) Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (35-14-7)
Date: Thursday, May 20th
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Canadiens +175| Maple Leafs -110
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Maple Leafs -1.5 (+135)
NHL Betting Total: 5.5
Is there any value on Montreal on Thursday night as they kick off a long-awaited playoff series with Toronto? The Canadiens have won 8 of 15 playoff series’ vs. the Leafs, but the two haven’t met in the playoffs since 1979.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens are a tough wager on Thursday even with a potential +185 payout as winners. Montreal is definitely limping into the postseason, dropping five straight to wind down the year, but still squeaking into the playoffs 4 points ahead of the Calgary Flames.
Montreal might not be a total pushover in this matchup, they stepped up last postseason to beat Pittsburgh in last season’s qualifying round of the expanded postseason. It’s still just the 3rd trip to the playoffs in the last 6 years for the Habs.
Montreal launches a lot with 31.2 SOG per game which is 6th most in the NHL, but they don’t hit a lot averaging just 2.8 goals/game. Nicholas Suzuki, Tyler Toffoli, and Jeff Petry are all in the top 35 in scoring over the past month, but it may not be enough.
One would think the Habs go with Jake Allen in net for game one. The former Blues netminder went 11-12-5 in his first year with Montreal, and is familiar with playing in Toronto while giving up 4 goals on 46 shots in two losses on May 6th and 8th.
Toronto Maple Leafs
There’s a good chance Toronto is playing angry in this one. The Maple Leafs dropped their last two in the regular season, although both were on the road (although one L was a 4-3 OT loss at Ottawa).
The Leafs last home series was successful, taking two of three from Thursday’s opponent Montreal. That’s nothing new though, as the Habs have dropped 8 of their last 10 at Scotiabank Arena.
For all their talents, the Maple Leafs ‘only’ had the #6 scoring offense in the league this year (3.3 goals/game). Toronto takes the ice with the #4 scorer (Mitch Marner) and #7 scorer Auston Matthews during the regular season.
When you’ve got such a solid offense, Jack Campbell (game 1 likely starter) doesn’t have to be great in net. That doesn’t mean the 29-year-old hasn’t though, holding opponents to 2 goals or less in 5 of his last 7 outings.
NHL Betting Trends:
- Canadiens are 1-5 last 6 road games
- Canadiens are 0-5 last 5 overall
- Over is 5-2 in Canadiens last 7 road games
- Maple Leafs are 4-0 last 4 home games
- Maple Leafs are 7-3 last 10 overall
- Canadiens are 2-8 last 10 in Toronto
Free Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Prediction:
Do you trust Campbell to continue a string of recent solid play? The Leafs goaltender has been solid lately, but could start to get a little lax if his offense gives him a big lead behind Marner, Matthews, and Co.
Montreal doesn’t do anything overly spectacular offensively, and playoff tension always (usually) tightens up scoring a bit. That being said, it feels like Toronto wants to come out big in this one.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Over 5.5
The side is too pricey for Toronto -213, but there’s solid value on the Maple Leafs offense doing what they do behind three 50+ point scorers including John Tavares.
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