Coming into the matchup with two wins each in the series Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins battle at TD Garden in Game 5 of the NHL postseason’s first round. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, April 19, and fans at home can catch the game live on NBC Sports Network.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins Odds
The Bruins (-145) are being chosen as the favorites over the Maple Leafs (+125) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-110 over, -110 under).
Boston is 51-35 straight-up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.9 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league in this young season, hasn’t moved much from the 50-32 record the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. Of the team’s 86 games this season, 36 have gone under the total, while 36 have gone over and just four have pushed. Thus far, the team is 30-13 SU at home.
Following a regular season where they scored on 26.7 percent of all power-play opportunities (the third-best), the Bruins have connected on 45.5 percent of their postseason power play opportunities.
The Bruins’ offensive attack attempted 32.9 shots per game in the regular season, leading to 3.2 goals per outing (ranked 11th overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the club’s risen to an average of 36.5 shots on goal 3.3 goals per game.
Sporting a .913 save percentage and 25.3 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (29-21-5) has been the top goalkeeper for the Bruins this season. If Boston chooses to give him the night off, however, the team might roll with Jaroslav Halak (22-18-18 record, .922 save percentage, 2.34 goals against average).
Toronto has lost 13.8 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 48-38 straight up (SU). Through 86 regular season outings, 41 of its games have gone over the total, while another 41 have gone under the total and just four have pushed. As a road team, the Maple Leafs are 24-19 SU.
The Maple Leafs have converted on 21.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.0 percent of all penalties.
Frederik Andersen (2.79 goals against average and .917 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Toronto. Andersen is averaging 30.1 saves per game and owns a 38-26-7 record.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone under in three of their past five matches.
- Two clubs that fire the puck toward the goal a lot, Toronto has attempted the league’s fifth-most shots on goal (33.3) and Boston has attempted the ninth-most (32.9).
- Over Toronto’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-5 in those games).
- Toronto skaters recorded 20.8 hits per game last season, while the Bruins accounted for 24.3 hits per contest.
