Boston Bruins - Toronto Maple Leafs predictions and free betting tips [30/04/2024]

The 5th game of the first playoff round of the Eastern Conference is set to see the Boston Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow morning.

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins are putting up a solid playoff performance, leading 3-1 in their series against Toronto. The Bruins have previously clinched victories with scores of 5:1, 4:2, and 3:1, positioning them a single win away from advancing to the next round. Brad Marchand scored his 8th playoff goal, placing him second in the NHL in that regard. Goalies Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark have alternated, with Swayman stepping onto the ice in games three and four and showing great stats by saving 24 out of 25 shots in the last match.

Although the Bruins fell short a few times in the regular season, this hasn't affected their playoff performance. The team is producing high results, averaging 3.50 goals per game and boasting a 46.2% powerplay success rate and a penalty kill rate of 92.9%. Forwards Charlie Coyle and James Van Riemsdyk have also significantly contributed to the team's success, with Coyle emphasizing that the next game will be the toughest as Toronto will be striving to make a comeback.

Bruins’ defensive play also warrants attention. The team has provided solid defence, limiting Toronto stars Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares to a single goal between the three. Marchand pointed out that the Bruins' success heavily hinges on their solid defence, emphasizing the team's efforts to get back and block passes.

With the Bruins on the brink of advancing to the subsequent round, focus is placed on maintaining their high level of play, especially in special teams, where they continue to dominate. Swayman, with a fantastic 1.34 goals against average and nearly 96% save percentage, is expected to remain a vital figure for the Bruins in the games to come.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a tight spot in their series against Boston, having lost three straight matches and now teetering on the brink of elimination. The team suffered a 1:3 defeat in the fourth match of the series, leaving them a single defeat away from being knocked out. Defender Morgan Rielly expressed the team's sentiment that, despite the tribulations, they feel like they're in the game and creating opportunities, but the pucks just aren't finding the net. On Saturday, the Leafs played confidently in the third period, and this could be a foundation for the next match. However, special team struggles and a poor performance from goalie Ilya Samsonov, who was subsequently replaced by Joseph Woll after two periods, have added to the difficulty. Samsonov only saved 14 out of 17 shot attempts, highlighting some possible defensive frailties.

Auston Matthews, the team's regular season lead scorer with 69 goals, missed the fourth game due to illness and his participation in forthcoming matches remains questionable. William Nylander's return from injury has somewhat fortified the lineup, but losing Matthews has struck a hefty blow to the team's offensive potential.

The Leafs have lost 7 out of their last 8 matches, including four straight towards the end of the regular season. They've only averaged 1.75 goals per game in these playoffs, indicating significant issues on the attacking front. Powerplay efficiency is as low as 7.1%, and penalty kill efficiency sits at 53.8%.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged the players’ efforts but admitted that the team needs to improve in all aspects to stay alive in the series. Now, returning to Boston, the Leafs hope to use their momentum from the final period of their last match and turn the series around, as they have yet to effectively get past Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman.

Match Prediction – Boston Bruins - Toronto Maple Leafs

The NHL regular season's leading goal scorer, Auston Matthews, is not coming up big in this first playoff series and Boston's defence is doing a stellar job in neutralising him. The Bruins appear to be a very formidable team in this series and are poised to advance further as soon as tomorrow.