Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds, Picks: Montreal has won five straight head-to-heads
The most storied rivalry in the NHL returns as a highlight of a typically busy Saturday schedule around the league as Montreal visits Toronto for the final time this season barring an unlikely Stanley Cup playoff matchup. The Canadiens are slight -115 favourites on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
It’s a great Saturday of NHL action with the first puck drop of the 12-game slate at 12:30 p.m. ET and the last at 10 p.m. ET. This goes at 7 p.m. ET from Scotiabank Arena. Do note this is the front end of a back-to-back for the Maple Leafs as they host Connor Hellebuyck and loaded New Jersey on Sunday. I already like the Devils there as that’s a letdown game for Toronto no matter what happens against its bitter rival. It is not part of a B2B for Montreal.
This marks the second of four regular-season meetings between the clubs and already in early November it’s Montreal’s last trip to Toronto. The teams opened the season there on Oct. 29, and the Canadiens won 3-2 and immediately followed with a three-game skid. That’s what I mean about letdown games after a rivalry matchup. And you know the Leafs won’t want to be swept at home in the season series.
William Nylander had both goals for Toronto, one just 48 seconds in for the lead and the other at 15:46 of the third to cut the deficit to 3-2. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 21 shots in his first game with the Maple Leafs. Montreal blueliner Alexandre Carrier had what proved to be the game-winning goal and had an earlier assist to earn No. 1 star honours. Jakub Dobes made 25 saves.
Montreal Canadiens
Perhaps expect a 5-4 score here in either direction for the Canadiens – I am incapable of predicting an NHL score that high – as they had a third straight end that way Thursday, rallying several times to beat Utah in overtime via Cole Caufield’s 11th goal of the year. It was his 15th career overtime goal, and he got to that number by far faster than any player in NHL history in 384 games played.
I believe that was a massive win because of the truly impossible loss the Habs suffered at home Tuesday vs. Winnipeg. Lose again Thursday, and things might have spiraled for a bit. Montreal became only the fourth team ever with a multi-goal comeback win in the game immediately after losing where it held a four-goal lead.
The returns from injury of Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach were huge against the Mammoth as Suzuki was the No. 1 star with a goal and two assists, while Dach had an early-third period power play goal to tie it at 3-3. Suzuki has now recorded a point in 77 per cent of his games since dating to last season. That’s the fourth-highest rate in the league (minimum five games played).
Jakub Dobes was in net Thursday, but it should be back to Jacob Fowler here. He has been great all season except those fateful final minutes of regulation and OT against the Jets. Fowler is 3-0-0 with a 0.67 GAA on the road.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ironically, Toronto also comes off a game against Utah, losing 3-2 at home on Tuesday in the Leafs’ first game back from a four-game trip. Always like to win those first ones back.
Jack Roslovic had both Toronto goals, including the tying marker at 9:05 of the third. He has a career-high seven-game points streak.
Auston Matthews had an assist on that one and factored on game-tying goal for the 154th time of his career to pass Dave Keon for the second most in franchise history. Long way to go to catch Mats Sundin’ mark of 184.
Special teams continued to be an issue. Toronto was 0-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill. It was the fifth straight game allowing a power play goal. The Leafs are now 3-6-0 when their opponent scores first and 1-5-0 when trailing after two periods.
Sergei Bobrovsky was the tough-luck loser in net, and it may be Anthony Stolarz’s turn Saturday. He has won three straight games, allowing exactly two goals in each. John Tavares may be activated off IR for this game.
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