It's do-or-die for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Boston Bruins tonight.
The pregame narrative: Toronto finds itself in an all-to-familiar 3-1 hole agianst Boston. I'm expecting the Leafs to at least keep this close behind a big game from William Nylander. Betting on David Pastrnak to record a point rounds out this +430 SGP.
Check out the full Maple Leafs vs. Bruins same-game parlay predictions for Game 5.
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins same-game parlay
Parlay: Maple Leafs +1.5 + Nylander to score + Pastrnak 1+ points (+430)
Maple Leafs +1.5 (-190): The Maple Leafs will need to dig deep to get a result tonight, especially if Auston Matthews can't play.
But I believe the Blue and White will pull through, or at least keep this within a goal.
Sheldon Keefe said what everyone was thinking when he lamented the team's power-play struggles and goaltending issues.
Ilya Samsonov has had 3.32 GAA and .883 SV% this postseason and all signs point to Joseph Woll taking the net tonight.
Woll's postseason experience is limited but impressive. The 25-year-old has a 2.43 GAA and .915 SV% in five playoff games.
Solving Jeremy Swayman is the real problem, though.
Toronto has dominated 5v5 play against Boston, generating 55.3% of chances this series, per Natural Stat Trick. But the club has been outscored 7-6 at even strength and Swayman has a .956 SV%.
The hope here is that the Leafs keep playing the way they're playing at 5v5 and finally break through on the powerplay. That should be enough to keep things close.
Other parlay picks
Nylander to score (+170): Keefe wasted no time easing Nylander back into the lineup in Game 4.
The 40-goal-scorer led all forwards in ice time (22:24). He was sloppy at times, and took a bad penalty late, but tied for the team lead with three shots.
Nylander should have his legs back under him after a few days off and I expect him to get back to what he does best: score goals.
He has a team-high 12 playoff goals in 25 games over the last three seasons.
Nylander's 80 goals across the last two regular seasons are the 11th most of anyone in the NHL.
Pastrnak 1+ points (-315): Pastrnak kept his point streak alive in Game 4 when he scored a backbreaking goal to close out the second period.
The 27-year-old winger has a point in all four games versus Toronto this postseason and in six straight dating back to the regular season.
He had a team-leading 110 points this season, ranking fifth in the NHL.
Pastrnak has a point in 12 of 18 playoff games against the Leafs.
Picks as of 10:43 a.m. on 04/30/2024.