Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins Picks and Predictions November 5th 2024

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins November 5th 2024

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Bruins and Maple Leafs. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6 goals, and the Maple Leafs are favored by -1.5 vs. the Bruins.

Boston vs. Toronto Key Information

Boston evened their record at 6-6-1 with a 2-0 win over the Kraken. The Bruins covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 2 goals fell short of the pre-game line of 6.

Both of Boston’s goals came in the first period. Justin Brazeau opened the scoring at 3:23, and Charlie Coyle added a power-play goal at 9:57. The Bruins’ defense held Seattle scoreless, limiting them to 23 shots on goal.

Boston’s offense took 33 shots on goal but only managed to score twice in their 2-0 win over Seattle. Justin Brazeau netted his 5th goal of the season, while Charlie Coyle added his 2nd, which came on a power play.

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Both goals came in the first period, with Brazeau scoring 3:23 into the game. Coyle followed with a power-play goal at 10:03 in the first. The Bruins had 16 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Bruins were rock solid, shutting out the Kraken and securing a 2-0 win. Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves with a 100% save percentage, while the defense added 5 takeaways and 15 hits.

With a 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild, the Maple Leafs fell to 6-6-2 this season. Toronto was the underdog on the puck line, and the total was set at 6 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell short of that mark.

After trailing early, the Maple Leafs tied it up with just 52 seconds left in the first period, thanks to William Nylander’s power-play goal. However, the Wild scored the game-winner at 2:14 in overtime.

Toronto’s offense was limited to just one goal in their 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild. William Nylander netted his 9th goal of the season, scoring on a power play at 19:08 in the first period. Auston Matthews picked up his 6th assist, while Mitchell Marner added his 12th.

The Maple Leafs fired 28 shots on goal but were held scoreless after the first period. Toronto recorded 10 offensive giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Maple Leafs gave up the first goal at 9:41 in the first period and the game-winner at 2:14 into overtime. Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves with a 93.9% save percentage. Toronto’s defense also recorded 2 takeaways and 30 hits.

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Maple Leafs to defeat the Bruins while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at -154, I’m placing a wager on the Maple Leafs to win outright.

If you’re looking for a puck line bet, I’d suggest going with the Bruins to cover. Even in the event of a Maple Leafs victory, this game is expected to be closely fought, and the Bruins should cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

Bruins Seek Third Straight Shutout Against Struggling Maple Leafs

The Boston Bruins, fresh off back-to-back shutouts, will aim to keep the momentum going Tuesday night when they face off against the goal-starved Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto. Boston, coming off victories over the Seattle Kraken and Philadelphia Flyers, has seemingly found its defensive stride after a stretch that saw them lose five of six.

The recent improvement in form has not been lost on Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery, who acknowledged that while the team is progressing, there is still room for growth:

“Our maturity as a team as far as game management still needs to grow, but we’re winning games now,” Montgomery said. “You don’t give up goals and your goaltenders are playing as well as they did, it’s a good step. We’re heading in the right direction.”

Goalie Excellence Key for Boston’s Shutout Success

Boston’s defensive resurgence has been anchored by strong performances from goalies Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo. Swayman’s 23-save shutout against the Kraken followed Korpisalo’s 20-save effort in a 3-0 win over the Flyers. This impressive stretch has helped Boston stabilize after recent struggles, though Montgomery has tempered expectations for sustained consistency, citing the need for the team to play a complete 60 minutes:

“I’m not there yet. Just being honest, there’s too many lapses in our game right now. We’re not a 60-minute team. We need to continue to build on it,” Montgomery stated.

Montgomery also made a notable coaching decision by benching David Pastrnak in the third period of Sunday’s game after a costly turnover. Despite the discipline, Pastrnak has taken full responsibility:

“That was a bad turnover. I just want to move forward … I take accountability and am already moving forward,” Pastrnak said.

Maple Leafs Look to Break Out of Scoring Slump

The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, have struggled offensively, scoring two or fewer goals in six of their 13 games this season. Their recent road trip included a 4-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues followed by a 2-1 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. Toronto’s power play, usually a strong asset, has faltered this season, converting only 10 percent of opportunities — a sharp drop from their 23.9 percent success rate last season.

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Auston Matthews, the reigning goal-scoring leader, is currently sitting at five goals on the season. Though Matthews recorded an assist in their lone goal against Minnesota, he knows the team must find its scoring touch:

“The last couple of games, we’ve been moving (the puck) pretty well. Hopefully that gets us rolling,” Matthews said.

Despite the offensive struggles, the Maple Leafs received a strong performance from goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who made 31 saves against the Wild. Defenseman Morgan Rielly believes Toronto is starting to find comfort in low-scoring, tighter games:

“Obviously, not high-scoring, but that’s OK. I think we want to get comfortable playing in those games,” Rielly noted after the loss to Minnesota.

Recent History and Tuesday’s Matchup

The Bruins hold the edge over the Leafs, having beaten them 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 26 with a game-winning goal by Brad Marchand. Toronto will be keen to improve its form on home ice, especially in the face of Boston’s formidable defense and goaltending prowess.

With both teams aiming to sharpen their game, Tuesday night’s clash will see if the Bruins can continue their shutout streak or if the Maple Leafs will rediscover their scoring rhythm against a familiar rival.