A couple of teams from north of the border face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Atlantic Division and now face the Ottawa Senators who finished 4th and secured a wild card spot. Ottawa has not been to the NHL Postseason since 2017 where they lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Can they make a run this year?
Ottawa actually got the best of Toronto in all three of their meetings earlier this season. This includes a 3-0 shutout win on the road back in November, as well as another 4-2 road victory in March. But the Maple Leafs have the home-ice advantage and much more talent on their roster. After finally breaking out of the first round last season, surely the Maple Leafs are ready for a deeper run in the playoffs this year.
Toronto ended the season on a high note, winning five straight and nine of their last ten to secure the division. In fact, they have only lost three times in the last month, posting a 13-3 record since March 17th. Can they keep it going at home in Game One of this first round series?
Ottawa Senators vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Game One
Brady Tkachuk is finally in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Matchup Information – Senators vs Maple Leafs
- Venue & Location: Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, Ontario)
- Date: Sunday, April 20th, 2025
- Puck Drop: 7:00pm Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN2
Betting Odds
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Puck Line
- Senators +1.5 (-190)
- Maple Leafs -1.5 (+165)
Money Line
- Senators +144
- Maple Leafs -162
Total
- Over 5.5 (-109)
- Under 5.5 (-107)
Ottawa Senators vs Toronto Maple Leafs Best Bets
Mitch Marner and the Maple Leafs host the Senators on Sunday
Senators vs Maple Leafs Prediction: Maple Leafs Win, Over 5.5
Best Bets: Maple Leafs in Reg (-115) BetOnline
As always, do your line shopping as this game prop is listed for plus money on the market. Sure, Ottawa beat Toronto three times in the regular season. But that doesn’t mean anything if they can’t get by them in the playoffs.
The stakes are the highest they can be now, will we see the Senators step up and perform? They’ve outshot the Maple Leafs in two of the three previous matchups, but doing so again on the road is a very tough task, especially considering who Toronto can put on the ice. The Maple Leafs are 7th in the NHL in scoring, yet rank 19th in shots on goal per game. Lucky for them, the Senators give up nearly 26 shots on goal, letting almost three go in the back of the net per game.
Personally, I don’t think Toronto will need more than three goals to win this game, but I would also endorse their Team Total over 3.5 at (+135) if anyone is feeling frisky. This feels like a game where the hosts come out, put up 30+ shots on goal and leave no doubt in the outcome. While Ottawa will try to control the puck and play at their own style, against Toronto, on the road, having already swept the regular season series, I do not see them having much success in this first game.
Give me the Leafs to come out with a statement win at home to open postseason play.
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