Maple Leafs vs Canadiens Betting Odds - Hungrier, healthier Leafs will stick it to the Habs

NHL Odds: Pick Maple Leafs +120

The Maple Leafs vs Canadiens betting odds are about the oldest rivalry in all of North American sports – as old as the Red Sox and Yankees’ hate for each other. While the Leafs and Habs aren’t doing too well in NHL betting, none of that matters whenever they go head-to-head, as emotions always run high and they treat us to a great game.

Maple Leafs vs Canadiens Betting Odds: Expect lots of shots and power-play goals from Toronto

Leafs’ still a bad team but no longer an automatic loss

Toronto power-play is No. 2 in the NHL on the road

Battling injuries, Canadiens struggling to mount consistent offense

Tonight, 7:30 p.m. ET
Maple Leafs vs Canadiens betting odds: Maple Leafs +120, Canadiens -140
Maple Leafs: 6-12-7 (5th Northeast)
Canadiens: 12-12-2 (4th Northeast)

Toronto opened the year 0-7-1 but has gone 6-5-7 since that disastrous start – not a great record by any means but one that reflects the team’s return to competitiveness. The Leafs’ defense is starting to gel; Francois Beauchemin is regaining his confidence and Mike Komisarek is back after missing three weeks with a torn quad. The Leafs’ offense hasn’t been consistent but they’ve gotten good recent contributions from Niklas Hagman, who had five goals in three games last week, and Phil Kessel, who is totally living up to the hype. With his soft hands and rapid release, Kessel is the Leafs’ best pure goal-scoring threat since Alexander Mogilny.

The Canadiens have been maddeningly inconsistent this season. They finished November by losing three of four, winning three of four and then losing three of four again. Normally, you could blame the Habs’ mediocrity on inconsistent goaltending, but Carey Price has been the exact opposite of late. He posted a .922 save percentage in November and has allowed between one and three goals in 10 straight starts. At least Montreal knows what it has in Price right now.

The problem for sports betting sharps, however, is that they don’t know what to expect from Montreal’s offense. Tomas Plekanec has regained his scoring touch and Mike Cammalleri has played as advertised...but that’s it. Scott Gomez is batting injuries and was a total bust before that. Brian Gionta is out with a broken foot. After Andrei Markov tore tendons in his ankle in the first game of the season, no Canadien defenseman has stepped up to provide consistent offense. Montreal’s power play, lacking both a boomer at the point and a puck mover, has suffered horribly as a result.

DON’S PICK: The Habs have two overtime wins over the Leafs already this season but online betting fans should expect the trend to reverse tonight. The Leafs are hungry for goals after Ryan Miller stopped all 38 of their shots last night; their power play is excellent on the road, ranking second in the NHL at 28.0 per cent. Look for them to play a physical game and bully the injury-depleted Habs tonight. Bet on the Leafs to outwork and outscore Montreal.

Maple Leafs vs Canadiens betting edge: Maple Leafs +120

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