Offense meets defense at TD Garden on Saturday as the dynamic Boston Bruins (32-5-4) welcome the stifling Toronto Maple Leafs (26-10-7). Toronto is coming off a 4-1 loss against the Red Wings on Thursday, ending a three-game winning streak. The Maple Leafs committed five penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals. Rasmus Sandin scored the only goal for the Maple Leafs.
Ilya Samsonov saved only 19 of 22 shots against (.863%) in the loss. Boston fell 3-0 to the Kraken on Thursday. Linus Ullmark had a great performance with 28 saves (.933%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Maple Leafs won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 2-1 victory in November, their fourth straight win against Boston. Auston Matthews (2G 0A) and Mitchell Marner (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Toronto. Brad Marchand scored Boston’s only goal. Samsonov got the win, saving 13 of 14 shots (.928%).
FACING OFF
Toronto is averaging 3.35 goals per game for the season, 10th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Bruins team that is allowing just 2.15 goals a game (1st).
Meanwhile, Boston has found the net 3.76 times a game on average, second in the league, and will be looking to overwhelm the Maple Leafs’ stout defense, which is holding opponents to 2.60 goals per game (3rd).
Boston averages more shots a game (34.3) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth, while the team’s 11.1% shooting percentage is sixth. With an average of 31.7 attempts, Toronto ranks 16th.
The Bruins’ 27.97% power play percentage is the third-best in the league, while the Maple Leafs rank eighth with a conversion rate of 24.29%. Boston has been equally adept at penalty killing, boasting the league’s highest PK% at 86.11%. Toronto ranks 17th at 78.95%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 50 and 47 points this season, Marner and William Nylander have been the top skaters for the Maple Leafs. Marner is among the league leaders with his 34 assists (6th). In the net, Samsonov (12-3-1) is Toronto’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 2.29 GAA, third-best in the league, and a .916% save percentage. David Pastrnak leads the Bruins in scoring with 58 points (4th in the league).
He has 32 goals (2nd in the league) and 26 assists in 41 games. Ullmark (22-1-1) has the best goals against average for Boston at 1.87, best in the league. He has a save percentage of .938%, also best.
HOME AND AWAY
Toronto is 11-7-3 on the road this season. Boston is 19-1-3 at TD Garden this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Boston Bruins (-150)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
