The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens meet Saturday in NHL action at the Bell Centre. Here’s a Canadiens vs Maple Leafs Prediction. This article will include a Canadiens vs Maple Leafs Pick.
Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Preview
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Blue Jackets, beat the Blues, and they play the Blue Jackets next. The Maple Leafs have lost 6 of their last 7 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are averaging 3.43 goals per game and are scoring 14.6 percent of their power-play opportunities. John Tavares leads Toronto with 12 goals, William Nylander has 18 assists, and Auston Matthews has 65 shots on goal. Defensively, the Toronto Maple Leafs are allowing 3.67 goals per game and are killing 79 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Anthony Stolarz has allowed 41 goals on 353 shots faced, while Dennis Hildeby has given up 12 goals on 125 shots.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
The Montreal Canadiens lost to the Capitals and Blue Jackets, and they play the Mammoth next. The Canadiens have lost 7 of their last 8 games.
The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 3.35 goals per game and are scoring 22 percent of their power play opportunities. Cole Caufield leads Montreal with 13 goals, Nick Suzuki has 17 assists and Juraj Slafkovsky has 44 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3.6 goals per game and are killing 76.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jakub Dobes has given up 28 goals on 260 shots faced, and Sam Montembeault has allowed 40 goals on 270 shots.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Canadiens have won eight of their last nine home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Maple Leafs have lost seven of their last eight games after coming off overtime.
- The home team has covered the puck line in each of the Maple Leafs’ last six games.
- The Maple Leafs have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Canadiens have won the third period in five of their last six games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents when leading after the second period.
Why the Toronto Maple Leafs will win
- The Canadiens have lost each of their last four games as favorites.
- The underdogs have won five of the Canadiens’ last six games at Bell Centre.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven games as favorites.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Maple Leafs’ last seven games.
- The Canadiens have lost the second period in each of their last six games following a home loss.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Canadiens’ last seven home games against the Maple Leafs following a loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Maple Leafs’ last seven night games against Atlantic Division opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Nine of the last 12 games between two teams from the Atlantic Division have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Maple Leafs’ last six road games.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last seven home games.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Cole Caufield has scored a goal in seven of the Canadiens’ last eight games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one assist in each of the Canadiens’ last nine games as home favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one point in each of the Canadiens’ last 13 games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Cole Caufield ranks 2nd in the league for multi-goal games (5) this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Player Prop Facts
- John Tavares has scored at least one goal in four of the Maple Leafs’ last five games as underdogs.
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson has recorded an assist in each of the Maple Leafs’ last four games.
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson has recorded a point in eight of the Maple Leafs’ last nine games.
- John Tavares ranks T2nd in the league for multi-point games (10) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 29th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.60).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 5th in the league for goals per game this season (3.35).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs rank 30th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.67).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs rank 4th in the league for goals per game this season (3.43).
Canadiens vs Maple Leafs Prediction
The Maple Leafs have underachieved up to this point and haven’t had any success on the road. However, none of that means the Habs should be favored. The Canadiens have lost 7 of their last 8 games and have been getting blasted defensively. The Maple Leafs should be able to take advantage of that. Let’s also not forget the Maple Leafs are Canadians daddy, winning 9 of the last 10 games, which includes a 5-2 win back in October. I’ll gladly take the more favorable price in this rivalry.