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The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up to welcome the Boston Bruins for the sixth game of their Eastern Conference first-round series at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Thursday. The game will be broadcast live on CBC, NESN, TVAS, SN, TBS and MAX starting at 8 p.m. ET.
The Bruins, who lead the series 3-2, played two of their best games at the Scotiabank Arena, where the Leafs have lost six consecutive playoff contests. The Maple Leafs last won a home playoff game on April 20, 2023, when they beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-2 in the second game of the opening round.
The Bruins have been successful on the road, winning four of their last five games, while the Leafs have lost four of their last five home games. Moreover, the Bruins have won eight of their last 10 games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with an impressive 25-9-9 record in road games.
Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Game preview
The Boston Bruins had the chance to eliminate the Maple Leafs at home but failed to seize the opportunity and instead lost 2-1 in overtime.
The Bruins once again depended heavily on Jeremy Swayman to keep the Leafs at bay, and he did his part, conceding just twice on 33 shots.
The Bruins average three goals per game and score on 42.9% of their power play opportunities. Jake DeBrusk leads Boston with three goals, Brad Marchand has five assists, and David Pastrnak has taken 15 shots on goal.
Defensively, the Bruins allow 1.8 goals per game and kill 94.1% of their opponent's power plays. In goal, Jeremy Swayman is 3-1-0, with a 1.49 GAA and a SV% of .952. He has allowed six goals on 124 shots faced.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were without star player Auston Matthews, were the more aggressive team from the outset and secured a 2-1 OT victory to extend the series.
The Maple Leafs haven't put on a convincing performance during this playoff series but are just a couple of wins away from progressing to the next round.
In the last game, the Maple Leafs made a change in goal, giving Joseph Woll his first start of the series, and he didn't let them down. Woll stopped 27 of 28 shots, (saving 96% of the shots), including two crucial saves in the third period, which kept the Leafs' season alive.
The Maple Leafs average 1.8 goals per game and score on 5.9% of their power play opportunities. Matthew Knies leads Toronto with two goals. Max Domi has 3 assists and 14 shots on goal. John Tavares has 18 shots on goal.
Matthews is still unwell, and it's unclear if he will be fit to play against the Bruins in Game 6.
Defensively, the Maple Leafs concede three goals per game and kill 57.1% of their opponent's power plays. In the net, Joseph Woll is 1-0-0 with a 0.75 GAA and a save percentage of .970. He has let in one goal on 33 shots and is expected to start Game 6 in Toronto.
Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Injury report
For the Maple Leafs, Bobby McMann is day-to-day due to a lower-body injury, John Klingberg and Jake Muzzin are out for the season with hip and back injuries respectively.Matt Murray is out with a hip injury, while Auston Matthews is day-to-day due to illness.
For the Bruins, Milan Lucic is out for personal reasons, while Matthew Poitras is out with a shoulder injury.
Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Head-to-head and significant numbers
The Bruins and Maple Leafs have faced off 88 times in the playoffs, with the Bruins holding a 45-42-1-0 record.
In faceoffs, the Maple Leafs have a success rate of 55.1%, while the Bruins' rate is 44.9%. In shots per game, the Bruins are at 29.2%, while the Maple Leafs are at 32.6%.
Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Odds and prediction
The Toronto Maple Leafs are -115 favorites in Game 6, giving them a 53.5% chance of winning this game.
Boston Bruins are +105 underdogs, with a 51.2% chance of victory in this contest.
Auston Matthews' injury status could have an impact on this betting line. Matthews was on the ice on Wednesday, but it's uncertain if he will play. If he's declared fit, Toronto's odds could move closer to -130.
Prediction: Maple Leafs 3-2 Bruins
Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Betting tips
Tip 1: Toronto Maple Leafs to win
Tip 2: Total goals over 5.5: Yes
Tip 3: David Pastrnak to score anytime: Yes
Tip 4: William Nylander to score first: Yes
Tip 5: Boston Bruins to beat the spread: No
Hot Betting Tip: David Pastrnak of the Bruins is expected to score, and John Tavares of the Maple Leafs is predicted to have more than 2.5 shots on goal.
