The Toronto Maple Leafs have been on a hot streak, winning three straight games to improve their record to 13-11-3. Despite their recent success, they are still outside of a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. On the other hand, the Montreal Canadiens sit in 3rd place in the same division with a 14-9-3 record and have won three of their last five games.
In their last matchup, the Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 5-2, leaving star forward Matthew Knies hungry for revenge. Knies expressed his determination to seek payback against Montreal after a convincing 5-1 win over the Hurricanes.
When comparing the head-to-head stats between the two teams, Toronto has had the upper hand recently, winning four out of the last five regular-season games against Montreal. The Maple Leafs also have a better goal-scoring record, ranking 5th in goals for/game average compared to Montreal’s 10th place ranking. However, both teams have struggled defensively, with Toronto ranking 22nd and Montreal ranking 23rd in goals against/game.
In terms of special teams, Toronto’s power play percentage is one of the lowest in the league at 14.71%, while Montreal boasts a strong 26.39% power play percentage, ranking them 4th overall.
As the two teams prepare to face off again, the Maple Leafs will likely start goaltender Hildeby in the absence of Joseph Woll, who left the previous game early due to injury. On the Canadiens’ side, Jakub Dobes will be in net after an impressive performance against the Jets.
The projected lineup for the Maple Leafs includes a strong forward combination of Knies, Matthews, and Domi, while the Canadiens will rely on their goaltending and special teams to secure a win.
In terms of betting odds, the Maple Leafs are favored to win at -136, while the Canadiens are the underdogs at +115. The over/under is set at 6.5 goals, with a prediction of Maple Leafs winning 6-4. Betting tips suggest taking the over on goals, picking Toronto to win, and considering the Maple Leafs to cover the -1.5 spread.
Overall, the upcoming game between the Maple Leafs and Canadiens promises to be an exciting matchup with both teams eager to secure a crucial win in the competitive Atlantic Division. Fans can expect a high-scoring game with plenty of action on the ice.
