Previewing Thursday’s Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs Game 1 odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.
The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs play Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series Thursday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena. Below, we analyze the Canadiens-Maple Leafs odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Canadiens meet the Maple Leafs in the playoffs for the first time since 1979. When these teams last played, Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe wasn’t even alive, and Montreal head coach Dominique Ducharme was six years old.
The Maple Leafs won eight of the last 10 head-to-head meetings at Scotiabank Arena, while the favorite is 23-8 across the past 31 overall in this series.
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 8:45 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Canadiens +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Maple Leafs -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Canadiens +1.5 (-160) | Maple Leafs -1.5 (+135)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Canadiens at Maple Leafs: Projected starting goalies
Carey Price (12-7-5, 2.64 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Jack Campbell (17-3-2, 2.15 GAA, .921 SV%, 2 SO)
Price makes his return after a month-long absence due to a concussion. He posted a 1-2-1 record, 3.48 GAA and .868 SV% in four games against the Maple Leafs this season.
Campbell will be making his first career playoff start. He was actually a little worse statistically at home, going 7-1-0 with a 2.50 GAA And .907 SV% compared to 10-2-2 with a 1.97 GAA and .928 SV% in 14 road outings.
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Canadiens at Maple Leafs: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 3
The CANADIENS (+170) are worth a look as moderate underdogs on the road. This game will play more like a neutral-site situation with no fans in the stands. We saw home ice mattered very little in the other series in the North Division, as the Jets beat the Edmonton Oilers in a sterile environment in Game 1. The Habs are a good value for a potential repeat here.
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If you’re not feeling the Habs straight up, CANADIENS +1.5 (-160) isn’t a bad buy on the puck line. While the Leafs have dominated the Habs in recent seasons, I just don’t trust the inexperienced Campbell heading into the postseason.
OVER 5.5 (-115) might be the best play on the board. You have a guy making his first career postseason start in Campbell, and then you have a guy looking to knock off rust after a month-long injury with Price. Look for the offenses to enjoy a nice night.
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