The Toronto Maple Leafs (5-3-1) and Boston Bruins (8-0-1) write another chapter in their rivalry on Thursday night at TD Garden in one of 12 games on the NHL schedule today. The two teams have yet to play this season, but have a recent history with the Bruins eliminating Toronto from the playoffs in the first round three times in the last decade. They usually produce some incredible regular-season NHL matchups.
Maple Leafs vs BruinsPicks
Maple Leafs +100
Ilya Samsonov (3.98 GAA, .841 save percentage) is expected to start for the Maple Leafs, while undefeated Jeremy Swayman (1.26 GAA, .957 save percentage) is the projected starter for Boston, which is first in the NHL standings for the Atlantic Division. Let’s take a closer look at the Maple Leafs vs Bruins odds and the prediction of the game.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins Odds
Boston is the betting favorite for the Maple Leafs vs Bruins odds, with moneyline and puck line odds of -120 and -1.5 (+190), respectively. The Maple Leafs have NHL odds of +100 on the moneyline and +1.5 (-230) on the puck line. The over/under is 6.
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Information
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins
Location of the game: TD Garden. Boston, Massachusetts.
Date & Time: Thursday, November 2. 7:30 p.m.
How to Watch: ESPN+ | SNO (Canada)
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins Betting Preview
Leafs Need Better Goaltending
The Toronto Maple Leafs standings are underwhelming to start the season. Since Auston Matthews excited the fanbase with back-to-back hat-tricks to start the season, Toronto has gone 3-3-1 and has received poor goaltending while its offense has dried up. Despite its offensive firepower, Toronto ranks 13th in NHL stats for goals per game (3.22) T15th in goals allowed (3.11) despite giving up the ninth-fewest shots per game (29.2).
Samsonov, who is projected to start, has particularly struggled and hurt Toronto’s chances in NHL picks. He has a 2-1-1 record, but has allowed three or more goals in four of his first five starts. His .841 save percentage is among the worst in NHL player stats among goalies. Backup Joseph Woll has a 1.89 GAA and .942 save percentage and has given the Maple Leafs a better chance to win when he’s between the pipes.
Matthews has just one goal and three assists in the seven games since scoring back-to-back hat-tricks and isn’t getting as many chances as he’s accustomed to. His linemate Mitch Marner has just eight points while pending free agent William Nylander leads the team with 13 points and is among the favorite NHL picks today to lead the league in scoring.
Defensemen Connor Timmins and Jake McCabe are on the NHL injury report for the Maple Leafs.
Bruins Once Again Better Than Expected
For the second consecutive season, the Boston Bruins roster has gotten out to a better-than-expected start. They’ve been counted out in the past two offseasons but continue to defy expectations.
Coming into the Maple Leafs vs Bruins odds, they haven’t lost yet this season in regulation and are somehow on pace to better their record-breaking regular season in 2022-23. Boston is just T13 in goals per game (3.22), but ranks first in goals allowed (1.56) and has the league’s best penalty kill at 97.3 percent.
Both Swayman and Linus Ullmark have sub-2.00 GAAs and a save percentage of at least .939. David Pastrnak leads the team in scoring with 14 points, while Brad Marchand is second with nine.
Matt Grzelcyk and Milan Lucic are out with injuries for the Bruins. Defensemen Charlie McAvoy, third in team scoring, is serving the first of a four-game suspension for a hit to the head of Panthers’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins Betting Picks
- Moneyline: Maple Leafs +100
- Over/Under: Over 5.5
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