NHL Odds: First Round Matchup Between Original Six Foes

It’s the first game of the 2017-18 NHL Playoffs for the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs this Thursday night. The Original Six matchup is arguably the hardest to predict as well. Both teams have elite goaltending and the offensive explosiveness needed to take them to the promised land. Game 1 will set the stage for an exciting series between these two long-time rivals.


Despite finishing seven points behind the Bruins in the regular season standings, the Toronto Maple Leafs won their season series against Boston 3-1-0 and pose a real threat to a team that seemed unbeatable at times this year. Now that the playoffs have begun, the regular season is history, and the offensively-gifted Leafs could take the next step.

Toronto may be catching Boston at an ideal time with forwards Rick Nash, Riley Nash and Sean Kuraly all questionable for Game 1. In addition, the talented Brandon Carlo will miss the entirety of the playoffs due to a fractured ankle suffered late in the season. While the Bruins still have Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron to make life difficult for the Leafs, Boston will need to rely on their depth players to shut down the second and third lines of the Leafs. Puck drop is at 7 PM ET on this series, so don’t miss a second of the action.

NHL Odds: Leafs Head to Boston for Game 1

After losing the final game of the regular season and missing a chance to secure home ice advantage through to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Boston Bruins find themselves matched up against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs ranked third in team offense during the regular season, averaging 3.29 goals scored per game, and seem to be able to score at will.

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If any team can slow down the Leafs, however, it’s the Boston Bruins. They finished the regular season ranked fourth in the NHL in goals allowed per game (2.57) and have one of the most defensively-sound lineups in the league. Boston will need to rely on their young defensive corps and star goaltender, Tukka Rask, to make it past the Leafs.