In this betting matchup, we look at the Boston Bruins attempting to stay hot and jump into third place to face their opponents, the Toronto Maple Leafs, in the first round, while the Tampa Bay Lightning try and hold off the New York Islanders to maintain their spot.
Toronto Maple Leafs (-125) vs Boston Bruins (+105)
TOR: 53-21-7, 3.79 GF/GP, 3.09 GA/GP, L10: 7-2-1
BOS: 51-25-5, 3.10 GF/GP, 2.63 GA/GP, L10: 6-4-0
The Bruins always seem to have the Maple Leafs’ number, especially in important games. Luckily for the Maple Leafs, this isn’t a big game for them and they are expected to sit a few of their best players. With the Bruins one point back of the Lightning, they will be giving it their all in this game and it would make it even sweeter doing so against one of their biggest rivals.
With a number of starters expected to be given rest for the Maple Leafs’, the lines will surely change, so jump on the Bruins as the underdogs as soon as you can. They are coming off their fourth win in a row and sixth of seven, while they just shut out the hot Buffalo Sabres, which included a hat trick for Patrice Bergeron. The Maple Leafs have taken the first two in the season series, but the Bruins are the hotter team, hungrier, and at full strength. Take the Bruins to win their final game and the under (U6.5, -115).
New York Islanders (+165) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (-200)
NYI: 37-34-10, 2.78 GF/GP, 2.78 GA/GP, L10: 4-5-1
TB: 50-23-8, 3.44 GF/GP, 2.77 GA/GP, L10: 7-3-0
I wouldn’t put too much stock into the Islanders knocking off the Capitals in consecutive games. Sure, the Capitals are a playoff team, but they are also without their captain and look flat. The Lightning have been on another level in terms of scoring goals, especially from Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, and Victor Hedman. Kucherov has scored in eight consecutive games and he has 29 points in April, while Stamkos hit 30.
The Islanders will be turning to Ilya Sorokin in net who has been very good this season despite the lack of success by the team in front of him. It should be difficult for him to shut down this Lightning team given the month they are having heading into playoffs. Also, with a win, the Lightning clinch third in their division and get to play the Maple Leafs who never fail to lose in the first round. The Lightning will be playing hard in this one and it will be too much for the Islanders. Jump on the Lightning in this one to bounce back from a losing effort in Columbus as Andrei Vasilevskiy will get the call for them. Take the under (U6, -120) as well considering the goaltending matchup that is expected.
Odds via Yahoo and BetMGM.
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