Bluelines: The Leafs Nation’s game day betting guide for Leafs vs. Canadiens

POWERED BY POINTSBET CANADA

It’s a classic Hockey Night in Canada matchup as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Montreal Canadiens for the final time in 2021/22. The Habs have the lead in the season series, up 2-1 this year, so the Leafs will be looking to even things up against Montreal tonight at Scotiabank Arena.

As you might expect coming into a matchup with the league’s fourth-ranked team taking on the 31st ranked team, the Maple Leafs enter tonight’s game as big favourites.

Simply put, there isn’t much value to be had in the Leafs moneyline in this one. I’m sure you’re aware, but Montreal has been a tough out for Toronto ever since the first-round playoff series last spring. The Leafs have scored two goals in all three matchups against the Canadiens this season, winning 2-1 in Toronto and falling 5-2 and 4-2 respectively in Montreal.

If you are going to bet on Toronto to win, there’s much more value in the Leafs to win by over 1.5 goals at -160 odds.

Montreal’s two wins this year have come facing @Petr Mrazek (19 saves on 24 shots) and @Erik Kallgren (14 saves on 17 shots). With @Jack Campbell back in net and the Leafs on fire offensively, take the much better odds on the spread rather than the moneyline if you’re taking the Leafs in this one.

@Mitch Marner’s seven-game multi-point streak came to an end against Dallas, but his 12 game point streak remains alive. In their final game against Montreal this season and in a big game on Hockey Night in Canada, lots of eyes will be on @Auston Matthews and Marner to show up against the Canadiens after what happened in the playoffs last year.

Toronto has registered a ton of shots against Montreal this season with @Samuel Montembeault and @Jake Allen both putting up a 35 save and a 49 save performance respectively. Look for Toronto to pepper the Montreal net with chances yet again and for the Leafs top line to have a statement game in their final opportunity to do so against the Canadiens this season.

@Cole Caufield has been on a heater as of late, with goals in each of his last three games. He’s also scored four in seven regular-season games against Toronto, the most against any team in his young career. Given the hype around Caufield’s recent resurgence and the discussion around how his performance under Martin St. Louis would have put him in the Calder race if St. Louis had been the coach all season, I like Caufield to continue his hot streak tonight.

Not only this, Toronto’s own @Michael Bunting hasn’t found the back of the net in 15 games, with his last goal coming against Columbus over a month ago. Bunting has yet to score against Montreal in his NHL career and this is his final chance to do so in 2021/22. Up against Caufield, who has been getting much of the rookie hype recently, looking to net one against the Habs, *and* trying to break his own cold streak (even though he has 11 assists in this span), I can see the rookies popping off tonight.

POINTSBET IS LIVE IN ONTARIOPointsBet Canada has officially launched in Ontario! Get a $25 free bet just for signing up right here!