Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head and other factors that may play in. We also have a featured game of the day, which is considered must-watch TV. Today’s featured game is the Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs roll on.
NHL Predictions
Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Series Head-to-Head: Maple Leafs 3-2 Bruins
TV: ABC, Sportsnet, CBC
The famous words “Game 7” are enough to make even the most casual hockey fan take notice. Many wrote the Maple Leafs off after Auston Matthews couldn’t play the last two games due to illness. However, the play of Joseph Woll, William Nylander and others have forced this “winner take all” matchup with their archrivals.
Boston is in an all-too-familiar position of facing elimination after giving up a 3-1 series lead. The Bruins squandered the same advantage last season to the Florida Panthers. Both Games 5 and 6 were tight affairs decided by one goal.
History not been kind to Bruins in clinching games in recent memory. However, the past has been even crueler to the Maple Leafs against the Bruins. Toronto is looking for its first post-season series win over Boston since 1959.
The Maple Leafs Story
Toronto has gotten great play from Woll, who has only allowed two goals in seven periods of play. Matthews’ status has been a mystery, but keep an eye on social media to see if he’ll get the go-ahead to play in Game 7. John Tavares and Nylander have picked up the slack in the last two games for the Leafs.
The Maple Leafs have also done a good job in limiting David Pastrnak‘s chances in the series. Head coach Sheldon Keefe put the duo of Simon Benoit and Jake McCabe together and the group has worked out well. Toronto has limited Boston to one goal in each of the last two games.
The Bruins Story
There’s plenty of criticism to go around on why the Bruins have lost the last two games. However, that blame shouldn’t fall at the feet of likely Game 7 starter Jeremy Swayman. He’s been very good in between the pipes, but he needs a boost from his offensive group.
Boston head coach Jim Montgomery called out Pastrnak after Game 6 in hopes of lighting a fire under him. Brad Marchand leads the team in points with three goals and five assists for eight points. However, the known pest has been held without a point in the last two games. He’ll need to get going as well if the Bruins want to book a rematch with the Panthers.
Prediction
One run of bad luck is going to end tonight. The Maple Leafs have the recent momentum and Matthews might play. However, Toronto’s bad luck runs deeper than the recent Boston struggles in clinching games.
Many had a feeling this would go seven games at the beginning of the series and it’s going to be one of those tight games. However, history won’t vindicate the Maple Leafs even if Matthews does return.
Prediction: Bruins win 3-2.
Prop Bets of the Night
We’ve got a few prop bets ready to go if you want to make Game 7 a little more intense. The over/under is around 5.5, but we feel it’s going to miss the number since both teams have been strong on defence.
As for the individual teams, we’ll take Marchand to break back into the scoring column in this one with the over on +0.5 points. For the Maple Leafs, we’ll go with Nylander getting the over on +0.5 assists.
Main photo by: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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