The Montreal Canadiens (24-19-9) play the first part of a two-game set on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs (33-13-6) Thursday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena. Below, we analyze the Canadiens-Maple Leafs odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Canadiens were dusted 5-1 in Canada’s capital city by the Ottawa Senators Wednesday, as they couldn’t solve G Anton Forsberg. That snapped a three-game winning streak, including a 3-2 overtime win against Toronto at home Monday.
The Maple Leafs haven’t played since Monday’s OT loss. They’ll be glad to be back on home ice, as they swept a two-game set April 29-May 1 against the Vancouver Canucks by a combined 9-2 score.
Canadiens at Maple Leafs: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:35 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Canadiens +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Maple Leafs -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Canadiens +1.5 (-160) | Maple Leafs -1.5 (+130)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Canadiens at Maple Leafs: Projected starting goalies
Cayden Primeau (1-1-0, 2.96 GAA, .893 SV%) vs. Jack Campbell (15-2-2, 2.11 GAA, .925 SV%, 2 SO)
Primeau will be making his career-high third start of the season, and his first appearance against the rival Leafs. He is coming off a 3-2 overtime victory last Saturday against the Senators. Primeau allowed two goals on 23 shots.
Campbell was on the short end of that 3-2 OT setback against the Canadiens Monday, and it snapped a four-game win streak. He hasn’t lost in regulation in the previous six starts since a disastrous outing April 15 against the Winnipeg Jets.
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Canadiens at Maple Leafs: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Maple Leafs 4, Canadiens 1
Money line (ML)
The MAPLE LEAFS (-190) are just a little more expensive than I usually prefer, but they’re a great play on home ice against a Canadiens team which was tuned up by the lowly Sens the night before.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The MAPLE LEAFS -1.5 (+130) are a better value on the puck line. They’re back on home ice, where they pounded the Canucks twice by 3 or more goals last week and each of their past five victories were by 2 or more goals.
Combine that with the Canadiens coming off a 4-goal loss in the front end of a back-to-back, and it’s a perfect storm for TO.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 6 (-115) is worth a small-unit play. The Under is 4-0-1 in the previous five for the Buds and 4-2 in the past six for the Habs. It is 3-0-1 in the previous four meetings between these Original Six rivals, too.
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