Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 3 Prediction, Playoff Odds
Toronto’s 5-1 win on Saturday wasn’t only their first win of the series, it was their first their first playoff win against Montreal since 1967. Now tied 1-1, the series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Monday night.
The Leafs are -167 favourites to win on the NHL odds with a total of 5.5.
Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens Stanley Cup Odds
The ‘Leafs Faithful’ are earning their name and backing Toronto in this game, with 83 per cent of bettors taking the Leafs to win Game 3. The Over/Under action is a little closer, with the Over seeing a little more than 50 per cent of the action. The first two games of this series have split the Over/Under.
Saturday’s loss dropped Montreal to 1-6 straight up over their last seven games, but they’re hoping the Bell Centre will turn their luck around. The Habs have won 13 of their last 19 home games against Toronto. The Leafs’ recent road record doesn’t add much confidence. Toronto is 3-6 SU over their last nine road games, although they did win three of five games at the Bell Centre this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews led the way in Game 2, scoring his first goal of the playoffs and adding two assists. Rasmus Sandin scored his first career NHL playoff goal in the win, while Jason Spezza, William Nylander and Alex Kerfoot also found the back of the net. Jack Campbell’s 22-save effort earned him his first career NHL playoff win. The win also broke Toronto’s nine-game losing streak to Montreal in the playoffs, dating back to the Original Six era and the last time the Leafs won the Stanley Cup. It was a complete game from the Leafs, who outshot the Habs 34-23, including 20-6 in the second period alone. Toronto went 2-for-6 on the power play, the first time they’ve scored multiple power play goals since March 3 (33 games).
It was announced that captain John Tavares also has a knee injury in addition to the concussion he suffered in Game 1. The knee injury normally has a two-week timeline to return, but he’ll continue to remain out indefinitely with the concussion. It’s tough to see Tavares returning anytime soon, or even in these playoffs at all.
Montreal Canadiens
There weren’t many positives for Montreal in Game 2, but they can at least take solace in the fact they split the two-game set in Toronto. Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored the lone Habs goal after being a healthy scratch in Game 1. Carey Price made 29 saves on 33 shots faced (Kerfoot’s goal was an empty-netter) in the loss and has looked sharp in the first two games of this series. Among Montreal’s problems in the game, was discipline. The Canadiens took six minor penalties and allowed two power play goals. They were 0-for-1 on their own power play. Trailing 3-1 heading into the third period, Montreal was still in the game, but they were outworked and outshot 8-5 in the final frame.
Splitting the first two road games of a series is the main goal for any team in a best-of-seven. The Habs need two wins at home though, to have a reasonable shot in this series.
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