Toronto vs Montreal October 26 NHL Betting Preview: Maple Leafs Open As +101 underdogs
- Leafs have not won the second game of a back-to-back and open as the +101 underdogs on the road
- Canadiens are 2-3 over their last five games — head into matchup vs Maple Leafs as -111 favorites
- Check our betting preview and prediction for this Saturday night Original Six tilt
Back-to-back games have not been kind to the Toronto Maple Leafs through 12 games this season.
Toronto has yet to win the second game of a back-to-back, which is why the Maple Leafs are opening as +101 underdogs for Saturday night’s matchup against the Montreal Canadiens.
Is there value in betting on the Canadiens at -111 or can the Leafs finally string together back-to-back wins for the first time this season?
Here’s a closer look at the Maple Leafs vs Canadiens odds and stats.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
| Teams | Moneyline | Point Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +101 | N/A | O 6.5 (-103) |
| Montreal Canadiens | -111 | N/A | U 6.5 (-107) |
*Odds taken 10/26/19
The lines opened early Saturday morning and the Leafs are listed as the underdogs.
Toronto may be ahead of the Canadiens in the standings, but judging by the first time these two clubs faced off, this matchup could be a lot closer — much like the lines suggest.
The Leafs go into their fifth game without captain John Tavares, who remains sidelined with a broken finger. Defenseman Travis Dermott is closer to coming back, so is forechecking extraordinaire forward Zach Hyman.
AUSTON MATTHEWS! 4-1. That's a wrap. pic.twitter.com/Afqlwl4arO
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) October 26, 2019
Michael Hutchison to Get Nod in Net
Michael Hutchison is expected to get the start in the second half of a back-to-back — a strategy Mike Babcock refuses to stray away from. The only problem is Hutchison is still winless (0-2-1) heading into Saturday night’s matchup against the Habs.
The backup goalie has a dreadful 4.03 goals-against average with an .890 save percentage. The Habs will likely respond with Carey Price, who has a 4-3-1 record and a 2.85 GAA as well as a .903 save percentage.
This is the second meeting between the Original Six rivals, with the Canadiens skating away with the 6-5 shootout victory on Oct. 5.
Morgan Rielly rips one ?-shelf to put the @MapleLeafs ahead. ? pic.twitter.com/acoqYqgpdS
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 26, 2019
Leafs have Dominated Head-to-Head Matchup
Although the Canadiens won the last meeting, Toronto still owns a 7-2 record straight up against Montreal over the last nine games. The puck line was not available on Saturday morning, but Toronto heads into Saturday’s game with a 5-6 record ATS this season.
The Canadiens, on the other hand, are 7-3 ATS through 10 games, but are 2-3 in that category at the Bell Centre.
Canadiens Boast 8th Best Power Play in the NHL
Toronto has fallen into penalty trouble over the last few games, but if the Leafs have any chance of coming out of Montreal with two points, they’ll have to stay out of the box. The Canadiens own the eighth best power play percentage (25.0%) this season, while Toronto’s penalty kills ranks 18th in the NHL at 79.5%.
If you’re playing the total, oddsmakers have the early line at 6.5 — the same projection that was set when the Leafs and Habs met the first time. In that game, the teams combined for a total of 11 goals.
Expect another right matchup on Saturday night, which will likely need extra time to find a winner. However, look for the Leafs to finally win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs (+101)
Angelo Montilla is a writer, visual design instructor and graphic designer based on the East Coast. As a journalism graduate, his experience in the media industry spans more than 15 years and includes work with Nation Network, SportsBreak, Featurd, Hockey Writers and the Windsor Star.
