A lot of sports betting experts thought that the youth movement among the Toronto Maple Leafs could make life quite hard for the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. That could still happen, but if Game One is any indication, the Bruins are more than ready for the Maple Leafs’ challenge. In the series opener, the Bruins rolled to a 5-1 win, with Game Two set for Saturday night from the TD Garden. Check out our NHL odds preview for Saturday night’s tilt from Beantown.
Toronto at Boston NHL Odds & Pick for 2018 Playoffs – Game 2
When: Saturday, April 14, 2018, 8:00pm ETWhere: TD Garden, BostonTV: NBCRadio: TSN 1050 AM Toronto / WBZ 98.5 FM BostonLive Stream: NHL.tvNHL Odds: Bruins -1.5
Why should you bet on the Maple Leafs?
Coach Mike Babcock has had success at just about every stop he has made in the hockey ranks as a coach. His youth movement in Toronto has revived a Maple Leafs franchise that was once among the proudest of the Original Six but has been in a lengthy postseason slump. If any coach can help a team regroup after such a difficult first game in the series, it is Babcock, and this group, led by forward Auston Matthews, has passed test after test this season.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen was a bright spot in net for the Leafs; despite the fact that five goals made it into the net, he stopped 35 shots on a night when the Leafs’ defense basically was overrun and made some poor decisions on penalties. The Leafs’ penalty kill was significantly better on the year than the 50% they showed in Game One, and I don’t expect Boston to score so easily with the advantage. Also, while Boston’s defense was elite this year in the NHL, I expect the Leafs to make adjustments and find cracks in the attack zone. It’s important to remember that Toronto won three of the four meetings between the teams this year, including both in Canada but also one at the TD Garden.
Why should you put your money on the Bruins?
The power play was clicking for Boston on Thursday night, as the B’s went 3 for 6 with the man advantage. David Krejci, David Backes and Brad Marchand all scored with a man up. Marchand’s goal came just 5:28 into the game, and while the Maple Leafs got their only goal from Zach Hyman just before the end of the first period, Boston scored again early in the second period and never looked back. Sean Kuraly added a goal for the B’s, bunting in a shot that had caromed up off the post.
The defense for Boston was particularly strong, as Tuukka Rask only faced 27 shots in the Bruins’ net. The Bruins were able to take advantage of the youngsters from Toronto losing some of their composure, when Nazem Kadri received a game misconduct and a five-minute major for an ugly elbow he delivered to the head of Tommy Wingels. Kadri could receive supplemental discipline from the league and miss more time, but that decision had not been made at this writing. If Toronto cannot regather, Boston could make quick work of this series.
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
Toronto knows how to beat Boston — they did it in 75% of their meetings this season, and they have won on the Bruins’ home ice this season. Boston will need to avoid the temptation of taking the Maple Leafs too lightly after that big win in Game One. The postseason is a different animal than the regular season — and these Bruins have more experience than the Leafs, but as the series moves on, the Leafs will adjust to the change in pressure. Boston faces pressure Saturday night as they need to go up to Canada up by two games, and I see them winning, but Toronto won’t make it nearly as easy. I predict a final score of Boston 3, Toronto 2.
