Can Toronto Equalize in Boston After Tough Start?
The Maple Leafs vs Bruins Betting Odds Favors Boston Again
Will Nylander Be Back in the Lineup for the Leafs?
Toronto fans are in panic mode after losing by four goals in the series opener against perennial playoff nemesis Boston. But the Maple Leafs can still grab home-ice advantage with a win in Game 2. The Maple Leafs vs Bruins betting odds favor the host Bruins in Monday’s matchup.
The Bruins have won five consecutive series against the Maple Leafs. The last time Toronto got the best of the Bruins in the postseason was in 1959. The Bruins beat the Maple Leafs in 2013, 2018, and 2019, with the series going the full seven games each time. Boston won all four games during the regular season and three of them landed under the total.
The NHL betting lines have the Bruins priced at -135 to go up 2-0 in the series compared to +115 odds for the Maple Leafs to even the series. Those who see the Bruins pulling away from the Maple Leafs again might want to consider the +175 odds for the Bruins to cover against the 1.5-goal puck line.
When looking at Stanley Cup Playoffs odds, Boston is sixth at +900 for the best odds to win the Stanley Cup. Toronto’s championship odds moved from +1400 to +2500 after the Game 1 loss. The Bruins are now priced at -250 to win the series compared to +210 odds for the Maple Leafs.
A look at the NHL schedule shows that the series moves to Toronto for Game 3 and 4 after Monday’s second game.
Maple Leafs vs Bruins 
Records: Toronto Maple Leafs (46-27-10), Boston Bruins (48-20-15)
Day, Time: Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Streaming: ESPN, NESN
Big Guns Need to Come Through
It is not a good sign that the only goal scored by the Maple Leafs in the series opener came off the stick of David Kampf, a veteran who was ninth among Toronto forwards in time on ice during the NHL regular season.
Auston Matthews, a 69-goal scorer, Mitchell Marner, and John Tavares combined for 13 shots on goal but had no points in the series opener. William Nylander, who was second on the Maple Leafs with 98 points during the regular season, missed the series opener due to illness. His status could impact the Maple Leafs vs Bruins betting odds.
Toronto had 12 more shots than the Bruins in Game 1, but many were on the perimeter. By the time Kampf got a shot past Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman, Boston was already up 4-0 on the strength of a pair of power-play goals by Jake DeBrusk.
Toronto is 18-24 against the Las Vegas odds on the road.
Who Will Be in Goal for Boston?
Swayman was brilliant in the series opener, stopping 35 of 36 shots. It shouldn’t have been a surprise as he was 3-0 with a 1.30 goals-against average against Toronto during the regular season. He stopped 93 of 97 shots against the high-scoring Maple Leafs.
The other goalie for the Bruins is reigning Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark. Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery didn’t rule out the possibility of alternating goalies as he did throughout the regular season.
Swayman and Ullmark had almost identical goals-against averages and save percentages so while the Maple Leafs have concerns in goal, the Bruins have an embarrassment of riches at the position. That is something to mind in the Maple Leafs vs Bruins betting odds regardless of which goalie is on the ice for the Bruins.
Eight of Boston’s last 10 games finished under the total.
Maple Leafs vs Bruins Injury Update
Forward William Nylander is questionable after missing Game 1 due to illness for Toronto. Forward Maxi Domi was able to play in the series opener after being listed as questionable but he took a pair of costly penalties. Fellow forward Calle Jarnkrok was also back for the Maple Leafs while forward Bobby McMann, defensemen John Klingberg and Jake Muzzin are out.
Defenseman Brandon Carlo was back on the ice for the Bruins. Boston is without defenseman Derek Forbort.
Maple Leafs vs Bruins Betting Preview
Expect more from Toronto’s big names after a difficult opener. The big question is whether Toronto can continue to be physical without stepping over the line and putting the Bruins on the power play. Keep an eye on the line combinations for the Maple Leafs to see if head coach Sheldon Keefe shakes things up.
Boston has won eight of its last 11 games as the home favorite with the Bruins covering against the puck line in just four of those matchups. The Maple Leafs are 2-5 outright and 3-6 against the spread (ATS) in the last six NHL games as the road underdog.
When looking at the NHL scores, Boston is 39-28-11 as the favorite this season while the Maple Leafs went 6-10-2 as the underdog in the regular season.
Just 18 of Boston’s 41 home games have gone over the total. The total went over in each of the last six games for the Maple Leafs. The total is set a 5.5 goals as was the case in the series opener when the Bruins scored an empty-net goal with 2:08 left to play to win 5-1.
Boston has seen seven of its nine eight matchups with Eastern Conference teams go under the total.
The total went over in six of Toronto’s last seven games against Eastern Conference teams.
Four of Boston’s last six games against Toronto went under the total, as have eight of the Bruins’ last 11 games against Atlantic Division teams. Don’t be surprised to see Game 2 go over the total as the Maple Leafs look to even the series.
Maple Leafs vs Bruins Odds
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