The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins meet in NHL action from the TD Garden on Thursday night. Who comes out on top in Thursday’s Atlantic division rivalry matchup? Let’s dive in and find out with our Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Prediction.
Toronto Maple Leafs Team Preview
The Toronto Maple Leafs come into this game looking to build on a 2-1 win over Buffalo last time out. William Nylander leads the Maple Leafs in scoring with 84 points including 34 goals and 50 assists while Auston Matthews has 80 points with a team-high 54 goals. Mitch Marner has 75 points with 51 assists while John Tavares has 45 points with 19 goals and 26 assists and Morgan Rielly has 46 points with 39 assists this season. Ilya Samsonov has gone 16-5-6 with a 3.23 GAA and an .885 save percentage and Joseph Woll has posted a 9-6-1 record with a 2.71 GAA and a .914 save percentage while Martin Jones is also 11-7-1 with a 2.71 GAA and a .907 save percentage as well this season. The Maple Leafs will meet the Canadiens after this one.
Toronto Maple Leafs Team Facts
- The Maple Leafs have won seven of their last eight games as underdogs on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Maple Leafs have failed to cover the puck line in 21 of their last 22 games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Maple Leafs have lost the third period in each of their last five games at TD Garden following a home win.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Maple Leafs’ last 12 games following a win.
Boston Bruins Team Preview
The Boston Bruins come into this one looking to rebound from a 2-1 OT loss to Edmonton last time out. David Pastrnak leads the Bruins in scoring with 90 points including a team-high 38 goals and 52 assists while Brad Marchand has 54 points with 26 goals and 28 assists. Charlie Coyle has 51 points with 21 goals and 30 assists while Charlie McAvoy has 42 points with 33 assists and James van Riemsdyk has 38 points with 11 goals and 27 assists. Jeremy Swayman’s gone 20-6-8 with a 2.49 GAA and a .921 save percentage for the Bruins in goal while Linus Ullmark is 16-7-7 with a 2.77 GAA and a .910 save percentage this season.
Boston Bruins Team Facts
- The Bruins have won each of their last six games against the Maple Leafs.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Bruins’ last 13 games.
- The Bruins have won the first period in six of their last seven games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Bruins’ last nine games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Prediction
I’m on the Bruins in this one. I love my Maple Leafs but the fact of the matter is that the Bruins have Toronto’s number, winning 6 straight against the Maple Leafs and that was in Toronto when these teams met just a couple of nights ago. Now we’re in Boston where the Bruins have historically played their best hockey and I just think that until we have a reason to go against Boston, that the wise thing to do is keep riding the Bruins.