Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, Betting Odds
Just four short months ago the Canadiens beat the Maple Leafs 3-1 in Game 7 of the first round to complete one of the biggest comebacks in recent playoff history. Montreal and Toronto likely will not be happy to see each other so soon after playing 17 times in the past ten months dating back to opening night of 2021. They only meet four times this season, with the Atlantic Division back in full swing, making this game, that much more important.
The Maple Leafs are -197 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 5.5.
Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs Betting Odds
Bettors are siding with the Maple Leafs at home tonight, with 80 per cent of action taking Toronto. These teams met three times in pre-season, with the Leafs winning two. Last season’s one-off North Division had these teams face off 10 times in the regular season and Toronto took seven of those games.
About 84 per cent of bettors are playing the over on this one with the total at 5.5. The Leafs had the better offence last year, scoring 3.34 goals per game, while the Habs were at an even three.
Jeff Petry of the Canadiens had 10 points in 10 games last year vs Toronto, the most on the team. Nick Suzuki also has 10 points in his 13 career games against the Leafs.
Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews picked the Canadiens apart last season with a combined 25 points in 10 games. With Matthews out of the lineup, John Tavares will centre the top line. He also had a point per game through 10 games versus the Habs last year.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens open the season with a long list of walking wounded; Captain Shea Weber will miss the whole season, Paul Byron is out for months and fans still have yet to see Mike Hoffman in the blue, blanc, rouge, but that’s the old news. Joining them are defenceman Sami Niku and Joel Edmundson and the backbone of this Habs team, Carey Price. Price was expected to be good to go for opening night after off-season knee surgery, but fans were hit by the unexpected news that their superhuman goaltender would enter the NHL Players Assistance program, for personal reasons and will be away from the team.
Marc Bergevin put the finishing touch on his off season Sunday, picking Adam Brooks off of waivers from the Maple Leafs.
The dangerous trio of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Tyler Toffoli will group together as top line, like they did in the playoffs. Newbie Christian Dvorak will centre line two with Josh Anderson and Jonathan Drouin. Jake Allen will get the start in net.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto started off on the right foot, with a record of 5-1 in the pre-season.
Matthews, the reigning Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy winner, will have some catching up to do this year, as he is scheduled to miss at least the first three games of the year due to off-season wrist surgery. The Leafs will also be without winger Ilya Mikheyev for a couple months after he broke his hand in pre-season. Marner is also a question mark after running into his teammate at practice yesterday afternoon.
Jack Campbell will get the nod in the net and start the season as the Leafs No. 1 goalie. The starter spot is Campbell’s to lose after going 17-3-2 last season. The 29-year-old has never been a bonafide NHL starter in his career and will be pressured by backup Petr Mrazek to keep the top job.
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