Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Game 7 Prediction: NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
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Andrew Rogers
If the major series trend holds true to form, then the Toronto Maple Leafs are in great shape entering Game 7 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston on Tuesday night. The teams have alternated wins over the first six games of the series, and with the Leafs opening the best-of-seven with a 4-1 victory, seven could very well be their lucky number – but only if they find a way to slow down the Bruins’ ever-dangerous power play.
Maple Leafs vs Bruins Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
The Bruins have momentum on their side following Sunday’s 4-2 victory in Toronto, setting the stage for the Original Six rivals to go to a seventh game for the third straight time in their playoff history. Boston won each of the previous two Game 7s, and are in good position to extend that streak according to oddsmakers; the Bruins are an incredible 30-11-3 SU at TD Garden this season, and had the league’s third-best home scoring differential during the season (+0.98).
The total for Game 7 is holding steady at 5.5; the teams have finished above that number just twice in the series so far, but those two overs have come in the past three meetings. It’s worth considering that their two previous Game 7s produced an average of 10 total goals. The Bruins are also 5-2 O/U in their past seven games as a favourite; Toronto, on the other hand, has converted the under in eight of its previous 11 games overall.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs haven’t won a playoff series since 2004, with two of their three first-round losses since then coming at the hands of the Bruins. But if any team is conditioned to win a seventh game on the road, it’s Toronto, which posted the fifth-best road goal differential during the regular season (+0.34) and has already beaten Boston twice at TD Garden this series. The Leafs’ 3.41 goals-per-game average on the road ranked third-highest in the NHL.
Boston Bruins
If this one comes down to special teams, it might be hard for the Maple Leafs to make good. The Bruins have made Toronto pay for taking penalties, converting seven of their 16 man-advantage opportunities through the first six games; that 43.8-percent success rate ranks second to the Columbus Blue Jackets among the 16 playoff participants. Boston scored on both of its power-play chances in its Game 6 win; Toronto went 0-for-3 with the extra man.
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