It’s night two of the NHL season, and we’ve got five games on the betting slate tonight, including a spicy rivalry game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens.
Auston Matthews is heavily favored to score a goal, but my Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens predictions believe he'll do a lot more damage than that.
Find out why in my free NHL picks for this October 9 matchup.
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens prediction
My best bet
Auston Matthews Over 1.5 points (+130 at SIA)
My analysis
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens open up the season against each other for the second time in as many years.
Last season started with a high-scoring affair between these two clubs as the Leafs beat Montreal 6-5 in overtime. The main catalyst for Toronto was Auston Matthews, who not only netted the game winner but also had a hat-trick.
The Leafs' captain always rises to the occasion in season openers. Who could ever forget the four-goal performance in his first-ever NHL game against the Ottawa Senators back on October 12, 2016? In total, AM34 has 12 goals and 15 points in seven Maple Leafs season openers throughout his career.
When it comes to this matchup, in particular, Matthews has been dominant against the Habs. The three-time Rocket winner has a career-high 27 goals in just 34 career games against the Habs, and there’s no reason to expect his torrid play against the Canadiens will stop tonight.
Montreal is expected to start Samuel Montembault in goal. Last season, the Habs goalie was 16-15-9 with a 3.14 GAA and a .903 SV%. His career numbers against the Leafs specifically aren't any better, with a 4.17 GAA, .884 SV%, and four goals surrendered to Matthews in six starts.
In front of Montembault are three defenders with less than 100 games of NHL experience and a fourth one with just 114 contests under his belt. That’s not ideal against a veteran Leafs team hungry to perform in front of their new coach, Craig Berube.
It’s also Matthews’ first game with the ‘C’ on his chest. I think he’ll be looking to set the tone early for his group with some big plays, resulting in a multi-point night for the Leafs captain. It would be the sixth time in his career he found the scoresheet multiple times on opening night.
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens same-game parlay (SGP)
Matthews anytime goalscorer
Maple Leafs team total Over 3.5
Maple Leafs moneyline
Matthews had 69 snipes a year ago and is the king of opening night with 12 goals in seven career openers.
The Leafs have scored 4+ goals on Montreal in four of their last five outings and averaged 3.63 goals per game a season ago.
Toronto has beaten the Habs in five straight meetings and is 14-9-1 against them all-time in season-opening matchups. I also expect a ‘new coach bump’ kind of feel for the Leafs tonight.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Maple Leafs vs Canadiens odds
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens live odds
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens opening odds
- Puck line: Toronto -1.5 (+130) | Montreal +1.5 (-155)
- Moneyline: Toronto -160 | Montreal +135
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-115) | Under 6.5 (-105)
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens moneyline and Over/Under analysis
- The Leafs have cashed the moneyline play in five straight meetings and six of the last eight contests against each other.
- The total is set at 6.5 goals, with the Over slightly favored at -115, while the Under is paying -105.
- The total has closed at 6.5 in seven straight games coming into tonight, with the Under going 4-3 over that span and is 6-4 overall in the last 10 meetings
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens trend
Betting favorites are 4-1 on the moneyline through the first five games of the NHL season. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens.
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens game info
| Location: | Bell Centre, Montreal, QC |
| Date: | Wednesday, 10-9-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Sportsnet, TVAS |
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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