Marchand, Bruins Look To Frustrate the Leafs Again
The Bruins vs Leafs Odds List Game 4 As a Pick'Em With Visiting Boston Looking to Go Up 3-1
Can Toronto Bounce Back Against Boston In the Biggest Home Game of Season?
The Toronto Maple Leafs came up short at home against the Boston Bruins in the postseason? That certainly sounds familiar.
After stealing Game 2, Toronto looked to finally get the upper hand in the only first-round series between Original Six franchises, but it is the Bruins with all the momentum heading into Game 4. The Bruins vs. Leafs odds have the game as a Pick’em, just as was the case in Game 3.
Boston is now 6-1 against the Maple Leafs this season. Four of those games went under the total. Keep that in mind when it comes to the NHL rankings.
The NHL odds have both teams priced at -110 to win the game. The series odds have the Bruins at -275 compared to +235 odds for Toronto. Toronto is at +220 to cover at -1.5 in the puck line, with the Bruins at -260 at +1.5.
Boston’s Brad Marchand scored twice for his eighth career multi-goal game in the playoffs. When looking at the NHL scoring leaders, he is now tied with Cam Neely with 55 career playoff odds, the most in Boston Bruins’ history.
When looking at Stanley Cup odds, Boston is seventh at +1200 for the best odds to win the Stanley Cup. Toronto is tied for ninth at +1800 in the championship odds.
Bruins vs Maple Leafs 
Day/Time:
Records: Bruins (47-20-15)/Maple Leafs (46-26-10)
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ONT
Streaming: ESPN, NESN
A Tale of Two Captains
While John Tavares, the captain of the Maple Leafs, played a crucial role in Toronto’s Game 2 win, it was time for Bruins’ captain to flip the script in Game 3.
Marchand had scored one goal in his last seven games dating back to the regular season. However, he scored a huge goal just 28 seconds after Tyler Bertuzzi tied the game for the Maple Leafs. Marchand added an empty-net goal.
This is the eighth season in a row that Marchand has at least one game-winning goal in the playoffs. His 12 game-winning playoff goals are the fourth most among active NHL players. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Bruins vs Leafs odds.
In the final minute, Toronto pulled the goalie to try to tie the game, but a costly penalty by Tavares pretty much sealed the deal, as Marchand iced things with the empty-net goal. His second goal sent the NHL game over the 5.5-goal total.
Boston is 21-21 ATS on the road this season.
Bruins Playing With Fire
Even without William Nylander on the ice, Toronto has a team full of proven power play contributors, so giving the Maple Leafs five power plays on a nightly basis is not a recipe for success.
The Bruins killed off all five power plays and scored on two of their three man-advantage opportunities.
Goalie Jeremy Swayman only had to make six saves on the five Toronto power plays. Toronto is now 1-for-11 on the power play in the series. That could factor into the Bruins vs Leafs odds.
The Bruins would rather not give Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Tavares, and the rest of the Maple Leafs that many chances on the man advantage moving forward.
The total went over in seven of Toronto’s last nine games against Eastern Conference teams.
Bruins vs Maple Leafs Injury Update
Defenseman Derek Forbort has returned to practice, but it is uncertain when he will return for the Bruins. Defenseman Andrew Peeke is out.
Forward William Nylander has yet to play in the series for Toronto and is questionable for Game 4. Forward Bobby McMann is out, as are defensemen John Klingberg and Jake Muzzin.
Bruins vs Maple Leafs Betting Preview
The Maple Leafs are under pressure again after the Bruins won Game 3. The game was scoreless until Matthew Knies scored with 6:50 left in the second period. Knies has five points in 10 career playoff games.
The Bruins went back to Jeremy Swayman in goal. He is now 5-0 with a 1.38 goals-against average and a save percentage of .957 against Toronto this NHL season. Will the Bruins go back to reigning Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark, as was the case after Swayman won Game 1?
Five of Boston’s last eight games against Toronto went under the total. It won’t be a surprise to see Game 4 go under the 6-goal total.
Toronto is just 14-28 against the spread on home ice, while the Maple Leafs have seen 26 home games go over the total.
Boston had more shots on goal than Toronto for the first time in the series as the Bruins started to resemble the team that led the Atlantic Division for most of the regular season. Now it is Toronto’s turn to play with a sense of now or never to avoid heading down to Boston down 3-1 in the series.
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