Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction, NHL Odds
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators kick off their respective NHL preseason with the Battle of Ontario. It is the first time these two have met since the opening round in last year’s playoffs, which the Maple Leafs won in six games.
Now it is time to kick off a new campaign, as each team looks to build off of a solid 2024-25 season. It may be preseason, but these two should give us a hard-fought matchup.
Maple Leafs vs. Senators NHL Betting Odds
The Maple Leafs carry -160 moneyline odds on the NHL odds and a +165 price on the -1.5 puckline. Meanwhile, Ottawa is a +135 underdog and has -200 odds on the +1.5 puckline. The Over/Under is 5.5.
Preseason is always an interesting time in the NHL. Toronto and Ottawa are teams with a plethora of elite talent, but it is unlikely we will see them for a major portion of the game.
Both teams were highly successful in the preseason last year, combining for a 9-2-2 record. The Maple Leafs have been exceptional in the preseason for a while, posting an 18-6-3 record dating back to 2021-22.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto enters a new era without Mitch Marner, as he has signed with the Vegas Golden Knights. The star forward was a major piece to this lineup, but with many years of minimal playoff success, it was time to cut bait in a sign-and-trade that had Nicolas Roy join the Maple Leafs.
Last season, they won the Atlantic Division and made the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time since 2004, but they were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in seven games. They fell to Florida 6-1 in Game 7, so they will surely enter the new season with a vengeance.
Ottawa Senators
The young Ottawa Senators made the playoffs last season for the first time since the 2016-17 season. They may have only lasted six games, but this was a major step for the Senators organization.
They should now be seen as a threat in the Eastern Conference, as stars like Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle are becoming dominant threats. They’ve added excellent depth and veteran leadership over the offseason that may have flown under the radar, making them even more threatening coming into this season.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Maple Leafs vs. Senators?
Preseason can be tough to judge early on, but no matter what happens, I think we are in for a spirited battle. Players new and old know the importance of the Battle of Ontario and will look to impress their club early on.
If we are in for a rookie-heavy game, I also like Toronto’s pool better, led by Easton Cowan and Ben Danford. Toronto head coach Craig Berube will surely have his squad ready, as he is a Stanley Cup-winning coach who is one of the best in the league.
I think it will be close for a majority of the game, with the Maple Leafs holding on with an added urgency to make a rival arena leave upset.
TOR
OTT