A couple of teams that are firmly in the playoff hunt, the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs meet at Scotiabank Arena. CBC Sports will broadcast this Original Six matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 23.
Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto (-180) is being chosen as the favorite over Montreal (+160), and the Over/Under (O/U) is placed at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -125 over, +105 under.
The Maple Leafs are 36-24 straight up (SU) and have lost 2.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 29 of its 60 games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just four have pushed. This season, the team’s 17-13 SU at home.
Toronto has converted on 20.5 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.7 percent of all penalties.
Toronto, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 2.8 times per game overall this season, and 1.6 per game over its last five outings home outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for just 5.3 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 30.5 saves per game with a .923 save percentage, Frederik Andersen (27-16-3) has been the best goalkeeper for the Maple Leafs this year. If head coach Mike Babcock decides to give him the evening off, however, the Leafs might turn to Garret Sparks (7-6-6 record, .908 save percentage, 2.86 goals against average).
Mitchell Marner and John Tavares will each spearhead the attack for the Maple Leafs. Marner (69 points) has tallied 21 goals and 48 assists and has recorded two or more points in 21 different games this year. Tavares has 34 goals and 30 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 39 games.
On the other hand, Montreal is 33-28 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 61 regular season contests, 32 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just three have pushed. As the visiting team, Montreal is 14-14 SU.
Montreal has converted on just 12.8 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places it in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.9 percent of all penalties.
Montreal’s skaters have been penalized 3.9 times per game in total this season, 4.0 per game over their last five outings total, and 4.0 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (27.4 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Montreal. Price has 25 wins, 22 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .917 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average this year.
Max Domi (20 goals, 33 assists) has been one of the primary facilitators on offense for the visiting Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The total has gone under in three of Toronto’s last five outings.
- Montreal has managed 26.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Toronto is averaging 37.4 shots per game over its last five at home.
- The Maple Leafs are 15-8 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Canadiens are 14-12 SU in games where they serve more minutes than the opposition.
- Toronto has averaged 8.6 takeaways per game over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 8.8 takeaways per game (ranked 7th in the league).
- Montreal is ranked 17th in the league with 7.5 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher recently, as it’s averaged 8.5 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.0 takeaways over its last five.
