Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
The Leafs opened as -195 favourites on the NHL odds.
Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
Montreal is playing out the string on yet another disappointing season and frankly it benefits the Habs from a draft lottery perspective to lose as much as possible the rest of the way, but players never think that way. And this is a rivalry game regardless, so throw records out the window.
Toronto will be in the Eastern Conference playoffs and still has a small chance to finish as high as second in the Atlantic Division and thus have home-ice advantage in the first round. As things stand currently, the Leafs would finish third and visit second-place Florida in Round 1. Tampa Bay is only two points behind Toronto for third, however.
The Maple Leafs look for the 3-0 season sweep over the Canadiens as they won 6-5 at home in a shootout in the season opener and then prevailed 3-2 in Montreal on March 9. John Tavares (1G, 3A) leads Toronto with four points in the series and Auston Matthews has three goals, all in the opener. Ilya Samsonov started both in net and has a 3.44 GAA and .873 SV. Alex Newhook (3G), Juraj Slafkovsky (3A) and Mike Matheson (1G, 2A) lead Montreal with three points each. Jake Allen (now with New Jersey) allowed five goals in his loss and Sam Montembeault three in his.
The Leafs are 6-4 in the past 10 meetings overall and the over-under is 4-6.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto had a three-game winning streak snapped in a 4-1 home loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday with Joseph Woll in net. The lone goal was Auston Matthews’ NHL-leading 63rd on the season as the chase for 70 continues (on pace for 69) with the Leafs having seven games left including this one. It was Matthews’ 641st career point, passing Ron Ellis (640) for sole possession of sixth place on the franchise’s all-time list. Toronto could have clinched a playoff spot with a single point and can do so again here. One bright spot was the return of blueliner Morgan Rielly from injury. He had an assist in 23:14 of ice time. It likely will be Ilya Samsonov (21-6-7, 3.06 GAA) in net on Saturday and also the potential return of winger and Leafs third-leading scorer Mitchell Marner (76 points) from injury. He hasn’t played since March 7 due to an ankle. Toronto is 8-3 in its past 11 on the road.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal had success against one Florida team that visited the Bell Centre in the second of a back-to-back on Tuesday in the Panthers but not in the same scenario on Thursday as the Habs were routed 7-4 by Tampa Bay. The Lightning scored four goals in about 10 minutes of game time in the second period to break open a 2-2 tie. Joel Armia led the Canadiens with two goals and is up to 16 on the season. Cayden Primeau struggled in net, but Montreal also played most of the game with five defenceman as Kaiden Guhle (22 points) left with an upper-body injury early in the first period. Should be Sam Montembeault in net here after he beat the Panthers on Tuesday to improve to 15-14-7 with a 3.03 GAA and .906 SV. Montreal is 3-12 in its past 15 vs. the Eastern Conference.
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