Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction NHL Picks 10/9/24

In this article, we will formulate a Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens prediction for this NHL game on Wednesday, October 9th at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup. 

Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Preview

The Toronto Maple Leafs went 46-26-10 last season and finished with 102 points, which was good for third in the Atlantic Division. Toronto played well for most of the season, but they lost four straight games going into the postseason, where they lost in seven games against the Bruins. In that series, the Maple Leafs fell down 3-1 but did win games five and six to force a decisive game seven, where they only scored one goal and lost in overtime. Toronto is expected to go with Joseph Woll as the starting goalie, while Auston Matthews is back after scoring 69 goals and 38 assists last season. 

Toronto went 4-2 in the preseason this year, with wins over Montreal (twice) and Detroit (twice), The Maple Leafs lost to Ottawa in two straight games to open the preseason but did finish with four wins in a row. The Maple Leafs will meet the Devils and Penguins after this one.

Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview

The Montreal Canadiens went 30-36-16 last year and finished with 76 points, which put them eighth in the Atlantic Division. Montreal had plenty of issues last season and was never really in the race for a playoff spot. The Canadiens did lose seven of their last eight games last year, with the last four coming in overtime or a shootout. Montreal is going with Samuel Montembeault as their starting goalie, after playing in 41 games last year and having a .903 save percentage. The Canadiens have high hopes for Cole Caufield after he scored 28 goals and 37 assists in 82 games last year. 

Montreal went 2-4 in the preseason this year, with the two wins coming against New Jersey and Philadelphia. The Canadiens won the first two games in the preseason, but lost their last four games and scored two goals or fewer in three of those four. 

Why the Canadiens will beat the Maple Leafs

• The Maple Leafs have lost each of their last four road openers as favorites.
• The Canadiens have won five of their last seven games as home underdogs against the Maple Leafs.
• The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last six season openers.
• The Maple Leafs have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four games as favorites.
• The Maple Leafs have lost the first period in three of their last four games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.

Why the Maple Leafs will beat the Canadiens

• The Canadiens have lost 16 of their last 17 night games against Atlantic Division opponents.
• The Maple Leafs have won six of their last seven season openers.
• The Maple Leafs have covered the puck line in each of their last four games as road favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Canadiens have lost the third period in each of their last three games against Eastern Conference opponents.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Maple Leafs’ last four games has gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Five of the Canadiens’ last six games have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Four of the last five night games between teams from the same division have gone UNDER the total goal line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in 12 of the Maple Leafs’ last 13 night games at Bell Centre.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last six games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.

Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts

• Juraj Slafkovsky has recorded at least one assist in each of the Canadiens’ last six games against Atlantic Division opponents at Bell Centre.
• Cole Caufield has scored a goal in each of the Canadiens’ last four games against Atlantic Division opponents at Bell Centre.
• Cole Caufield has recorded at least one point in each of his last seven appearances with the Canadiens as underdogs against the Maple Leafs.

Toronto Maple Leafs Player Prop Facts

• Mitch Marner has recorded at least one assist in each of his last six appearances with the Maple Leafs as road favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Auston Matthews has scored at least one goal in each of the Maple Leafs’ last four games as road favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Mitch Marner has recorded at least one point in each of his last eight appearances with the Maple Leafs as favorites.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction 

Toronto comes into this season with very high expectations, which is the norm this time of year. The Maple Leafs nearly upset the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs last year and will look to have an even better year this season. Montreal had a very disappointing 2023-24 season, but they have more than a few guys to be excited about. I think this game is going to be wide open with plenty of scoring chances for each side, and with some questions regarding Woll in net for Toronto, I like the over here.