Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds

Jordan Ramsay | Updated Jan 03, 2025

NHL: Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs

The highlight of Saturday's NHL schedule features the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting longtime rival Boston in an Atlantic Division battle.

Boston
27-24-5-1
AT
January 04, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
Scotiabank Arena
Toronto
33-20-2
Puckline +1.5 -210
Moneyline +125
Over / Under o +5.5
Puckline -1.5 +170
Moneyline -150
Over / Under u +5.5

Boston and Toronto are both coming off 2-1 games in New York on Thursday, but with different results. The Bruins fell against the Rangers, while the Leafs took out the Islanders.

Toronto opened as a slim -122 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6.0.

Bruins vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds

This will be the second meeting this season between the bitter rivals after the Maple Leafs blanked Boston 4-0 in Toronto on November 5. Prior to that game, seven straight head-to-heads had been decided by two or less goals.

Both teams have had good starts to the season, with the Leafs leading the division and the Bruins sitting in third. You have to give Toronto the edge in this game, however, as they are 15-7 at Scotiabank Arena this year, while Boston is 8-10-2 in road games.

The Bruins have also been one of the worst cover options in the NHL at 12-28 against the spread, including 6-14 ATS on the road. The Leafs have fared much better at 22-17 ATS, going 12-10 ATS at home.

These teams have each played the Under in a slim majority of games this season. That might be the play again on Saturday as the total has gone Under in six of Boston’s last seven games and five of Toronto’s last six against the Bruins.

Boston Bruins

Elias Lindholm scored Boston’s lone goal on Thursday as the Bruins suffered a third loss in their last four games. It wasn’t really the result they deserved as Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick shut the door with 32 saves. Jeremy Swayman countered for Boston with 25 saves on 27 shots. David Pastrnak notched an assist to add to his team-leading 38 points (13G, 25A), but he finished with a minus-1 rating for the second straight game.

Swayman, who shut out New York through the second and third periods on Thursday, is expected to start again on Saturday. The 26-year-old has a 13-12-3 record with a 2.87 goals-against average and .893 save percentage after struggling to start the year, but he’s looked much better over the last month or so. Swayman has allowed three or less goals in seven straight starts, posting a 4-2-1 record with a 1.71 GAA and .921 SV in that stretch.

Toronto Maple Leafs

With superstar Auston Matthews missing his sixth straight game, Bobby McMann stepped up to score both of Toronto’s goals against the Islanders. McMann has proven to be a valuable depth piece for the Leafs, ranking fourth on the team in goals this season (12) despite sitting 15th in average time on ice per game (14:02). Toronto will need McMann to continue to produce as Matthews remains without a timeline to return.

With Anthony Stolarz still recovering from knee surgery, Jospeh Woll is expected to get the start again for the Leafs on Saturday. Woll arguably stole the game for Toronto on Thursday, making 32 saves, including some big stops after bad Leafs turnovers. The 26-year-old has found his groove after missing the start of the year with a lower-body injury, posting an 11-6-0 record (one shutout) with a 2.48 GAA and .913 SV.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Bruins vs. Maple Leafs?

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