Bruins vs. Maple Leafs Game 6 Prediction: NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
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Andrew Rogers
The Maple Leafs sent the rival Bruins to the brink of first-round elimination with a 2-1 victory in Boston on Friday, and they’re slight favourites to defeat them Sunday in Game 6 and advance to the second round.
Bruins vs. Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
If the Maple Leafs are going to eliminate the Bruins on home ice, they’ll need to end a bizarre trend that has made them a frustrating team to support. Toronto is 0-8 SU in its previous eight games following a victory, having last won consecutive games way back on March 2 and 4. The Maple Leafs also have just two wins in their previous seven home games. Boston, meanwhile, is 5-2 in its last seven road games but just 2-9 in its previous 11 games vs. Atlantic foes.
With scoring chances at a premium in Game 5, it’s no surprise that the total for Game 6 has shrunk from 6 down to 5.5. These teams have gone below the total in five of their previous six meetings dating back to their final regular-season encounter, while the Bruins are 4-1 to the under in their last five games overall. Toronto has also been an incredibly strong under play of late, going 2-8 O/U in its past 10 games and 1-4 O/U in its last five at home.
Boston Bruins
It might sound counterintuitive, but if the Bruins play in Toronto the way they did in their Game 5 defeat, things might go a lot better. Not only did Boston dominate the faceoff circle, winning 40 of 64 faceoffs, but it also managed to avoid taking a single penalty, effectively negating Toronto’s ever-dangerous power play. The Bruins have also won 42 of their previous 59 games after scoring two or fewer goals last time out.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The problem with matching up with the Maple Leafs is that they have not one, but two of the league’s most lethal goal-scorers. And over the past three games, it has been Auston Matthews who has victimized Boston’s defence and goaltending, scoring four goals while firing 16 shots on goal over that span. He and Mitch Marner (two) are the only Toronto skaters to have scored more than one goal in the series to date.
BOS
TOR