The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens play Game 3 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series Monday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Bell Centre. Below, we analyze the Maple Leafs-Canadiens odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Maple Leafs bounced back after a stunning Game 1 loss rolling the Canadiens by a 5-1 score. Five different scorers found the back of the net picking up the slack for the injured John Tavares.
The Canadiens started out Game 2 well as Jesperi Kotkaniemi picked up the goal at 7:57 of the first period to open the scoring. It was all downhill after that as Carey Price allowed two even-strength goals and two power-play goals.
Maple Leafs at Canadiens: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:45 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Maple Leafs -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Canadiens +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
- Against the spread/ATS: Maple Leafs -1.5 (+155) | Canadiens +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Maple Leafs at Canadiens: Projected starting goalies
Jack Campbell (17-3-2, 2.15 GAA, .921 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Carey Price (12-7-5, 2.64 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO)
Campbell turned aside 22 of the 23 shots he faced picking up his first-ever NHL playoff victory in just his second-career postseason start. Game 2 was more like it for Campbell as he was 4-1-1 with a 2.16 GAA and .918 SV% in six starts vs. MTL in the regular season.
Price was stellar in Game 1 allowing just one goal on 36 shots in his return after a month-long absence due to concussion. He was not as good in Game 2 allowing four goals on 33 shots.
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Maple Leafs at Canadiens: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Maple Leafs 5, Canadiens 3
Money line (ML)
The MAPLE LEAFS (-165) stumbled in the series opener, and they were shell-shocked by the loss of Tavares. But the Leafs looked the part of favorites, or favourites as the Canadians say, in Game 2. They should keep their foot on the gas and top the Habs.
While Montreal wrestled home-ice advantage from Toronto in Game 1, without fans, home-ice advantage has been rather overrated in the two series of the North Division.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The MAPLE LEAFS -1.5 (+155) are a tempting play in Game 3 with a chance to make over one-and-a-half times your potential return. The Leafs were 3-1-1 in five trips to Montreal this season with all three wins by two or more goals. They also beat Price and the Habs twice in Montreal outscoring them 9-5.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 5.5 (+100) is the lean here. The offense for the Leafs came alive in Game 2 and nearly took care of the Over themselves. The Canadiens have managed just three total goals in the first two games. So they’re definitely due for their best offensive production of the series, too.
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