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The Toronto Maple Leafs (36-18-8) and the Boston Bruins (36-13-15) meet Thursday at TD Garden. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Maple Leafs vs. Bruins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Maple Leafs outlasted the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday, rebounding nicely from a 4-1 loss to the Bruins on home ice Monday night. Toronto improved to 10-2-0 in the past 12 games, while the Under has cashed in 2 in a row and 3 of the past 4 outings, including the Boston game.
The Bruins lost 2-1 in OT to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, playing with no rest after toppling the Leafs in Toronto on Monday. The Under has cashed in the past 2 outings, while going 4-2 in the past 6 outings.
With Monday’s win, the B’s have won 6 consecutive meetings in this series, while Boston has won the past 3 on home ice, too. The total has gone low in 3 of the previous 4 meetings.
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Maple Leafs at Bruins odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:37 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Maple Leafs +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Bruins -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Maple Leafs +1.5 (-190) | Bruins -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +105 | U: -125)
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Maple Leafs at Bruins projected goalies
Joseph Woll (9-6-1, 2.82 GAA, .914 SV%) vs. Jeremy Swayman (20-6-8, 2.49 GAA, .921 SV%, 3 SO)
Woll turned aside 23 of the 27 shots he faced in Monday’s 4-1 loss against the Bruins. With the exception of a 3-minute span in the 1st period when he allowed an even-strength goal to Morgan Geekie, and a power-play goal to Pavel Zacha, Woll gave the Leafs a chance to win.
Swayman did win that previous meeting in Toronto, kicking aside 31 of the 32 shots he faced in the victory. With Linus Ullmark facing the Oilers, it’s Swayman’s turn in the goaltender rotation. The Alaskan native is 11-5-1 with a 2.30 GAA and .924 SV% with 2 of his season’s 3 shutouts at home.
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Maple Leafs at Bruins picks and predictions
Prediction
Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 2
Moneyline
The BRUINS (-145) are moderate favorites, and they’re a sound bet on Thursday night in this rematch from Monday.
Boston has won 6 in a row in this series. And the Maple Leafs (+120) find themselves in the untenable position the B’s were in on Tuesday. Toronto played at home against Buffalo, and then had to hop a play to play a tough opponent on no rest. Granted, it’s not a long flight, but the charter flight of the Leafs didn’t arrive into Hanscom Field in suburban Boston until 1:08 a.m. ET, so it was a late night for the Buds.
The late night, and lack of rest, will favor the more rested Bruins.
Puck line/Against the spread
The BRUINS -1.5 (+155) are worth a roll of the dice at plus-money.
Boston crushed the Maple Leafs +1.5 (-190) in their barn, and now the Bruins get a chance to do it on their home ice surface. Boston covered the puck line on Monday, and there is no reason to believe its dominance in the series will suddenly cease.
Over/Under
The UNDER 6.5 (-125) is the lean, but you’ll have to pay a little extra.
The total has gone low in 3 of the past 4 meetings in this series, including 2 of the first 3 battles this season.
Toronto has consecutive Under results for the 1st time since Jan. 21-24, and the Under is 3-1 in the past 4 outings. For Boston, the Under has cashed in the past 2, and in 4 of the previous 6 contests.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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