Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. Today, we are looking at the rivalry game between the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins in this round of NHL Predictions. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins
Time: 7:00 p.m Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: Sportsnet, CBC, NHL Network, NESN
The Maple Leafs (4-4-0) head to TD Garden to take on the Bruins (3-4-1) for the first of four matchups this regular season. This will be the first game since the Bruins once again eliminated the Maple Leafs in Game 7 last season. There are plenty of storylines for this game. Both teams are on mini losing streaks. The Maple Leafs have lost their last two games in convincing fashion. Meanwhile, the Bruins are 0-2-1 in their last three games. This has lead to both coaches being publicly unhappy with their star players on the bench during games this past week. Craig Berube was visibly unhappy with his top line vs. St.Louis and Brad Marchand had to come out and defend his coaches actions after Jim Montgomery gave him a stern talking to and a push in the back against Nashville. If both teams respond this could be the game of the season so far.
Toronto Needs to Get Back to Playing Berube Hockey
Everything was right for the new coach in Leafland after dominating the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 and moving to 4-2-0 on the young season. Then came the next two games against Columbus and St.Louis where Toronto fell back into the old habits that have doomed them in the past. This lead to Berube coming out after the Blues game and saying the Leafs “made mistakes, bottom line. Defensive mistakes. There was a lack of awareness” and they got “too cute.” How the Leafs respond is what to watch for in Toronto. Berube wants to see more of a north/south game with a heavy forecheck. With the Leafs have only won once in Boston dating back to 2021 they will have to get back to the Berube style of game to even have a chance at changing that.
Another major concern in Toronto is the powerplay. They have gone 13-for-121 since Feb.27, 2024. That is a 10.7% success rate and utterly unacceptable for a team with so much star power. This has lead to less goals for the core 4 and has put more pressure on their 5-0n-5 production. Assistant coach Marc Savard will have to see results soon or changes should be expected. Toronto fans know all about how the power play has let them down against the Bruins in the past, especially in the playoffs.
Boston Bruins Need Stars to Help Get Them Back in the Win Column
The Boston Bruins have done a lot of winning in recent seasons. So, seeing them starting out with a 3-4-1 is surprising. What is more alarming is the drama that has followed this team to start the season. It began with the Jeremy Swayman contract negotiations that President Cam Neely took public before finally getting a deal done. Then came the Marchand, Montgomery interaction on the bench that the Bruins captain brushed off. All of this drama has overshadowed the slow start by some of their stars including, Swayman, Marchand, and Pastrnak. Swayman only has two wins in six games after missing training camp. Marchand has no goals after coming off multiple surgeries in the summer. Pastrnak has five goals but has only scored once in the last three games while spending eight minutes in the penalty box.
Playing against the Maple Leafs may be the perfect remedy for the Bruins stars. Marchand has long tortured the Leafs with 19 goals and 33 assists in 53 games. Pastrnak has scored 19 goals to go with 17 assist in 28 games. Finally, in Swayman’s young career against Toronto he has four wins in six games with a dazzling 2.60 save percentage and .917 goals against. This game may becoming at the perfect time for these three Boston Bruins stars to breakout.
Prediction
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins on a Saturday night, what more could a hockey fan ask for? With each team looking to snap an early season losing streak in their first matchup since the postseason this game should be a good battle with fireworks possible. It will be interesting to see how the Leafs new style of play fares against a familiar foe. That is if they rediscover their form. Two other keys for the Leafs will be who starts (likely Stolarz) and if the power play can score. Each aspect let them down at different times in the first round last season. The Bruins will be looking for a response as well. Their star players need to start playing like stars again. No better time to get back on track than against a division rival. Which teams stars play better could easily determine the winner of this game.
Prediction: Bruins win 3-2 in overtime.
Prop Bets of the Night for NHL Predictions
If you trust the prediction a same game parlay of Yes to the game going to overtime and the Bruins winning has odds of +689 on FanDuel Sportsbook. Also, expect Pastrnak to be heavily involved offensively so leaning towards the over on his shot total is likely a good bet.
Main photo by: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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