- Like in 2018, the Maple Leafs have forced a Game 7 after being down 3-1.
- Joseph Woll has won his first two starts, allowing two goals.
- Despite losing Games 5 and 6, the Bruins are the -143 favourites for Game 7.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the verge of a miraculous comeback.
It’s an entirely too familiar feeling for both hockey clubs. The Boston Bruins and Maple Leafs will battle in Game 7 for the fourth consecutive time.
The Maple Leafs Stanley Cup odds shortened from +4000 to +2000 after Thursday’s 2-1 Game 6 triumph. They enter the do-or-die encounter in Boston on Saturday looking to win for the first time in four Game 7 attempts against the Bruins.
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Game 7 Preview, Odds, Prediction
Despite being the better 5-on-5 team since Game 1, the Maple Leafs are clear underdogs (+120), according to the hockey odds.
The last three contests hit the Under, with only three goals scored in Games 5 and 6. Four of the six contests had less than six goals, with the other two going Over due to empty-net goals.
Where Toronto Has the Advantage
If you believe in momentum, Toronto has a tidal wave of it. They’ve won two games in a row without Auston Matthews, badly outplaying the Bruins for the first half of Games 5 and 6. The Maple Leafs have the added benefit of playing in Boston.
That probably doesn’t sound like an advantage, particularly considering the Maple Leafs have lost the last three Game 7s in Boston. That said, the Bruins have lost the previous three Game 7s, one of which was on home ice.
Toronto has taken two of three in Boston and is a much better team on the road. They are a looser collective that plays with more freedom, unconstrained by the Scotiabank Arena shackles.
Joseph Woll has done his best Jeremy Swayman impression, allowing one goal in both starts.
N(asty)
S(tyle)
F(rom)
W(illy)
⚠️ pic.twitter.com/fSEY0oKYkl— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 3, 2024
He carries himself with an aura of composure well beyond his age and experience. Woll has the fearlessness of a whippersnapper who doesn’t know any better.
William Nylander scored both goals in the Game 6 win, taking his tally to seven in 13 career win-or-go-home playoff games.
The Maple Leafs improved to 26-12 since the start of the 2018-19 without Auston Matthews in the lineup. The collective bands together in his absence and finds a way to grind out low-scoring results.
It’s unknown whether Toronto’s marksman will suit up for Game 7. But if he doesn’t, the Maple Leafs won’t be too phased. The Maple Leafs have also been better 5-on-5 since Game 1, outsourcing the Bruins 9-7.
Where Boston Has the Advantage
The Bruins still have one more chance to avoid humiliation for a second year running. And they are playing in front of their raucous home fans at TD Garden. While their confidence must be shaken, the Bruins have enough experience to stay the course and embrace the peaks and valleys of playoff hockey.
Plus, they have Swayman between the pipes, who has been lights out despite losing his last two starts. It would be alarming to see Jim Montgomery start Linus Ullmark, who hasn’t played since the Game 2 loss.
The Bruins will also take solace in the fact that they’ve beaten the Maple Leafs in three straight Game 7s on home ice. They have been the far superior team on special teams and are 6-for-15 with the man advantage.
The Maple Leafs are an abysmal 1-for-20.
However, Toronto has recently stayed out of the sin bin, taking only one minor penalty in their Game 5 and 6 victories. They must be just as disciplined to stand a chance in Game 7.
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Game 7 Best Bet
It’s time for the Maple Leafs to end their Bruins’ curse. They have come this far and won’t be able to live with themselves if they let another slip from their grasp.
Look for the Maple Leafs to prevail in another low-scoring, gritty encounter.
Best Bets: Toronto Maple Leafs win (+120)