This week in the NHL is off to a great start with a solid slate of action on Monday, highlighted by the Boston Bruins visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena.
This is a true heavyweight bout that will be can’t-miss hockey for fans, and could easily be a playoff series next month.
The Bruins hold second place in the Atlantic Division, two points behind the Florida Panthers, while the Maple Leafs are third, six points behind Boston having played two games less.
These are a couple of very good teams that have been trending in very different directions lately.
Things have been looking very nice for the Maple Leafs at a time they needed it. They have won nine out of their last 10 games and have a +20 goal differential during that span, including the loss.
Meanwhile, it has been tough sledding for the Bruins and things will not get any easier for them on Monday. Boston has one win in their last five games and four wins in their last 13 games.
Iit has not been entirely bad for the Bruins because of those nine losses, five came after regulation. They have just not been able to finish the job.
Until or unless either team reverses course, riding with the Leafs and fading the Bruins makes sense right now.
Charlie Coyle is in a very good situation for the Bruins. It is not by accident that he is centering Boston’s top line between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. He has 21 goals and 50 points thus far this season.
Coyle is arguably the team’s best center as evident by his top line and second power play duties.
For any offense the Bruins generate, there is a good chance that Coyle and his stellar line will be involved.
This looks to have the makings of a high scoring game. The Maple Leafs score the most goals per game in the NHL and the Bruins are 10th in the league in the same statistical category, and given Toronto's iffy defence, there's a good chance Coyle will get in on the action.
The high total has been rolling for both the Bruins and Maple Leafs lately. The over has hit in six out of the Bruins’ last eight games, as well as in four out of their last six played on the road.
The total has also gone over in five out of the Maple Leafs’ last six games and in six out of the last nine played against the Bruins. Plus, Bruins road games combined with Maple Leafs home games have a combined over under record of 36-25.
Both teams are very talented offensively. as previously mentioned, the Maple Leafs lead the NHL in goals scored per game and the Bruins rank 10th.
Boston also has the league’s eighth best power play and Toronto has the league’s second best power play. The Leafs' defence is not stellar and the Bruins' has struggled lately, so the trends look good for a high total here.
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BOS Bruins | +110 ML |
TOR Maple Leafs | -130 ML |
Puck Line | Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 |
Total | O/U 6.5 |
Auston Matthews | -130 |
David Pastrnak | -110 |
William Nylander | +135 |
Mitchell Marner | +170 |
Brad Marchand | +190 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.