We’ve got 13 games on the NHL betting slate tonight, including an Original Six matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens.
The Maple Leafs should win tonight and are rightfully favored by a large margin, taking away the allure of a moneyline play in this one. However, the NHL odds on a William Nylander shot prop tonight look rather juicy.
Find out why in my free NHL picks for this Saturday, March 9 matchup.
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens odds
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens predictions
The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and its time to see what teams around the league are made of.
The Toronto Maple Leafs made three deals, bringing in Ilya Lyubushkin, Joel Edmondson, and Connor Dewar, with the latter two expected to make their Toronto debuts tonight.
However, it’ll be the Leafs’ big boys that’ll need to get the job done in order for this team to find success and get to where they want to go, according to Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving.
“We tried to make some moves to address certain areas... but at the end of the day, a lot of the answers are going to come from the guys in the room.”
It all begins tonight as the Leafs try to get back to their winning ways after a loss to Boston on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens are closer to the bottom of the standings, but they posed a challenge in the first meeting between these two clubs on opening night when the Buds won the game 6-5.
The Leafs registered 42 shots in that game, seven of which came off the stick of William Nylander, and that is the subject of tonight’s best bet for me.
The Leafs have averaged 41.75 shots on goal against this Montreal team over their last four meetings, with Nylander averaging 6.75 shots himself over that stretch.
He’s seventh in the league in shots on goal this season, averaging 4.01 shots per tilt. He’s struggling a tad lately, only going Over on this total once in his last six games. However, a game against the Habs might be just what the doctor ordered to get him back on track, considering he’s recorded four or more shots on net to go Over tonight’s total of seven straight games against this Montreal club.
Additionally, the Habs have given up the sixth-most shots on net over their last five games, averaging 33.8 shots per game. So there should be plenty of opportunity for Nylander to tally up four or more shots tonight.
My best bet: William Nylander Over 3.5 shots on goal (-125 at Sports Interaction)
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens same-game parlay
William Nylander anytime goal
Maple Leafs team total Over 3.5
Maple Leafs to score first
For leg one of my same-game parlay, we’ll mirror my Nylander shots prop with an anytime goal rom the Leafs winger. He’s got three goals in his last five games and has also scored three times in his last five meetings against the Habs, including the earlier season matchup between these two. I think he gets one to drop again tonight.
Next up, I like the Leafs to go Over their team total of 3.5 goals. They’re the No. 1 road offense in the league, averaging 3.52 goals per game as the away side. They’ve also gone Over this number in three straight meetings. Additionally, the Habs have allowed 3.45 goals per game on home ice and have given up four or more goals in seven of their last 10 games.
For my final leg, let’s take the Leafs to score the first goal of the game. The Leafs have gotten the first goal in 35 of their 63 games this season, the sixth-best rate in the NHL. Meanwhile, the Habs have given up the first goal 32 times themselves. Plus, since I expect a much more offensive night from the Leafs’ side of things, odds are they get the first tally as well.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Maple Leafs vs Canadiens moneyline and Over/Under analysis
The Maple Leafs come into tonight as the road favorite at -210, with the Habs getting +170 at home. Toronto is the better team overall and has won three straight against Montreal. I think they make it four in a row tonight. The Habs can’t keep the puck out of the net and struggle to score goals. That’s not a good combination against the Buds.
The total for tonight’s game is set at 6.5, slightly shaded to the Over at -115 with the Under at -105. I don’t have a strong lean on the total tonight, but the Under is 6-3-1 across the last 10 meetings between the two teams.
I have faith that Toronto will score four or five, but how reliable is Montreal’s offense, which averages just 2.68 goals per game on home ice this year? Perhaps the play could be to buy a goal and take the Under at 7.5. That total has gone Under in eight of the last 10 games between the two.
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens betting trend to know
The Maple Leafs have hit the 2P moneyline in 21 of their last 29 games. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens.
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Maple Leafs vs Canadiens game info
| Location: | Bell Centre, Montreal, QC |
| Date: | Saturday, March 9, 2024 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Sportsnet |
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