Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Maple Leafs vs Canadiens Odds
Looking for Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens free hockey plays? NHL betting sees the Leafs taking on the Habs on Saturday February 27th at the Bell Center in Montreal. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions.
(21-28-10) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens (29-27-5)
Date: Saturday, February 27th
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Bell Center, Montreal, PQ
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: OFF
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Canadiens -175
NHL Betting Total: 5 (-145)
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The forever rivals, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens will square off for the fourth and final time this season, with the Canadiens holding a three games to none lead.
While neither team is going to see playoff hockey this year, this is always a matchup that fans of both teams look forward to.
Toronto
Operation “scorched earth” is going to plan so far as the Leafs have shipped out pretty much every NHL-calibre player on their roster ahead of the February 29th trade deadline.
The starting lineup for the Leafs on Saturday will more closely resemble the starting lineup for the Toronto Marlies last October.
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Still, with young kids up in the big league and trying to win themselves the favour of coach Mike Babcock, you can expect the Leafs to come out with some purpose and make a game of it.
The Leafs are all but a lock for a top three pick in next year’s draft and wins have been sparse to say the least.
However, this is a team that has played hard in the past week as bodies continue to leave town. They lost a tough 5-4 game to the Flyers in OT on Saturday, before dropping a 3-2 decision to the Predators on Tuesday.
On Thursday they battled their way to a 3-1 win against a Carolina Hurricanes team that is fighting to get into a wildcard spot.
Don’t expect a high scoring effort, as the Leafs will again be without Tyler Bozak, as well as James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul who were both shut down for the season on Thursday.
Leo Komorov will return to the lineup from his suspension though and bring with him his feisty and physical play.
Montreal
It’s been a very forgettable stretch for the Habs who started the season 9-0-0 and looked like the toast of the Eastern Conference once again.
Fast forward a few months and a Carey Price injury and this team is sitting 13th in the conference and watching the playoffs slip away little by little every day.
It’s understandable that a team will take a dip after losing the league’s MVP and best goaltender, but this team has been an 18-wheeler going over a cliff for nearly three months now and are likely to be sellers come deadline day.
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Saturday’s tilt with the Leafs is essentially the day that will determine which way the Habs go; a loss to the Leafs and Montreal can pretty much pull the plug on this year, a win coupled with a few losses by teams they’re chasing and the Canadiens could be as close as three points out of the final playoff spot in the East.
That being said, Montreal is coming off one of their most impressive wins of 2016 as they beat the league leading Washington Capitals, in Washington. That game wasn’t really as close as the 4-3 scoreline as the Habs held leads of 3-0 and 4-1, and a late surge from Washington closed the gap to a respectable scoreline.
NHL Hockey Handicapping Trends
- Over is 8-2-1 in TOR last 11 overall.
- TOR are 13-44 in their last 57 road games.
- TOR are 8-23 in their last 31 Sat. games.
- MON are 2-9 in their last 11 games following a win.
- Under is 11-4-3 in MON last 18 home games.
- Over is 11-4-2 in MON last 17 overall.
- TOR are 1-10 in the last 11 meetings.
- Over is 11-4-1 in the last 16 meetings.
Free Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens NHL Hockey Prediction
Expect a chippy and edgy game from both teams as the Leafs have players looking to win jobs for next year, and the Habs are fighting just to stay somewhat relevant in the playoff race.
The Leafs are as offensively challenged as it comes at times, but they work hard. The Habs are the same as their offense has a knack for going completely absent at times. Don’t expect this to be a track meet, and could be another OT affair as was their last meeting.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Habs ML
The Leafs have less to play for in this one and I think Montreal digs in and comes away with the victory.
NHL Free Score Prediction: Montreal 3 – Toronto 2
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