by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Feb 18, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Where to watch: CBC, TVAS, SN, CITY
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Maple Leafs -425, Canadiens +340
FanDuel: Maple Leafs -420, Canadiens +320
BetMGM: Maple Leafs -400, Canadiens +310
Caesars: Maple Leafs -435, Canadiens +335
Season record
Canadiens: 23-28-4
Maple Leafs: 33-14-8
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Canadiens - Maple Leafs preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Canadiens: lost 6-2 at Hurricanes
Maple Leafs: won 5-2 vs. Blackhawks
The Montreal Canadiens will be playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, February 18 in Toronto. More importantly, this game should be the debut of Ryan O'Reilly after the blockbuster trade that went down on Friday with the St. Louis Blues.
The Montreal Canadiens lost against the Carolina Hurricanes last Thursday, February 16 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina with a score of 6-2. The Montreal Canadiens currently rank 8th in the Atlantic Division.
Michael Pezzetta and Rafael Harvey-Pinard each scored, and Sam Montembault made 35 saves for Montreal (23-28-4), which had won three in a row.
"I think we just let it slip and we got a little complacent," Pezzetta said. "And then once they got the one (to make it 3-2), I think we just let off the gas a bit. They're a good hockey team. … I think they just capitalized on [their chances]."
Pezzetta gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 3:24 of the first period, putting in a rebound of his own shot at the side of the net.
After Carolina scored two goals, Harvey-Pinard tied it 2-2 at 15:01 of the second period with a power-play goal on a one-timer off a pass from behind the net by Mike Hoffman. It was Harvey-Pinard's seventh goal in 11 games since making his season debut Jan. 17.
"I think that we all know we're a really, really good team as well," Canadiens forward Rem Pitlick said. "They are too and they made some good plays, and those guys buried those pucks and that is why they're a good team as well."
The Montreal Canadiens have won four of their last 10 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won against the Chicago Blackhawks last Wednesday, February 15 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto with a score of 5-2. The Toronto Maple Leafs currently rank 2nd in the Atlantic Division.
Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist in his return from injury for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matthews missed five games with a knee sprain sustained Jan. 25 against the New York Rangers.
"[I felt] not too bad," Matthews said. "I think obviously the adrenaline kicks in and stuff. I think my energy faded a little bit throughout the game, but I think that's kind of to be expected. But for the most part, I felt pretty good."
William Nylander scored his 30th goal and had two assists, and John Tavares and Rasmus Sandin each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (33-14-8). Ilya Samsonov made 27 saves.
"Anytime we made some mistakes or some things didn't go our way, we didn't let it snowball," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "We didn't let it get away on us, we brought it back pretty good, so all in all I thought we did what we needed to do tonight.
"Frankly speaking, it's a game we're not going to evaluate too much in terms of anything good, anything bad. We're going to wash it, move on, enjoy a day off tomorrow and get ready for [the] Montreal [Canadiens on Saturday]."
The Maple Leafs went up 1-0 nine seconds into the first period when Nylander took a stretch pass from Morgan Rielly, got around McCabe in the high slot and shot past Mrazek's outstretched left pad. It was Nylander's sixth goal in eight games.
Sandin put Toronto up 2-1 at 8:14 of the first period when his shot from the left hash marks along the side boards deflected off Murphy's stick.
Matthews made it 3-1 at 11:21 when he shot from just outside the left hash marks in the slot after taking a pass from Nylander, who got the puck by the left hash marks along the side boards and skated towards the blue line before sending pass from the top of the right face-off circle back across the ice.
"I think he's just all over it and just the consistency factor has been really great to see," Matthews said of Nylander. "He's just all over it every single game, he's moving his feet and it's just been a lot of fun to watch. It's a treat to play with him."
Philipp Kurashev cut it to 3-2 46 seconds into the second period when he one-timed a pass from Max Domi at the top of the left circle. Tavares made it 4-2 at 7:37 when he one-timed a pass from Kerfoot, who beat Blackhawks defenseman Ian Mitchell to Mrazek's pass behind the net.
Conor Timmins, who had been a healthy scratch the previous four games, extended the lead to 5-2 at 16:07 when he one-timed a pass from Matthews just inside the blue line.
"That was pretty cool," Timmins said. "It was my first one at home and Matthews made a nice pass, and I was just lucky enough to get it through a screen. So, it was a cool feeling."
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won six of their last 10 games.
Prediction
If this truly is the debut of O'Reilly, then Toronto might be beside itself. Maple Leafs 4, Canadiens 1
The Montreal Canadiens will be playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, February 18 in Toronto. More importantly, this game should be the debut of Ryan O'Reilly after the blockbuster trade that went down on Friday with the St. Louis Blues.
The Montreal Canadiens lost against the Carolina Hurricanes last Thursday, February 16 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina with a score of 6-2. The Montreal Canadiens currently rank 8th in the Atlantic Division.
Michael Pezzetta and Rafael Harvey-Pinard each scored, and Sam Montembault made 35 saves for Montreal (23-28-4), which had won three in a row.
"I think we just let it slip and we got a little complacent," Pezzetta said. "And then once they got the one (to make it 3-2), I think we just let off the gas a bit. They're a good hockey team. … I think they just capitalized on [their chances]."
Pezzetta gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 3:24 of the first period, putting in a rebound of his own shot at the side of the net.
After Carolina scored two goals, Harvey-Pinard tied it 2-2 at 15:01 of the second period with a power-play goal on a one-timer off a pass from behind the net by Mike Hoffman. It was Harvey-Pinard's seventh goal in 11 games since making his season debut Jan. 17.
"I think that we all know we're a really, really good team as well," Canadiens forward Rem Pitlick said. "They are too and they made some good plays, and those guys buried those pucks and that is why they're a good team as well."
The Montreal Canadiens have won four of their last 10 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won against the Chicago Blackhawks last Wednesday, February 15 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto with a score of 5-2. The Toronto Maple Leafs currently rank 2nd in the Atlantic Division.
Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist in his return from injury for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matthews missed five games with a knee sprain sustained Jan. 25 against the New York Rangers.
"[I felt] not too bad," Matthews said. "I think obviously the adrenaline kicks in and stuff. I think my energy faded a little bit throughout the game, but I think that's kind of to be expected. But for the most part, I felt pretty good."
William Nylander scored his 30th goal and had two assists, and John Tavares and Rasmus Sandin each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (33-14-8). Ilya Samsonov made 27 saves.
"Anytime we made some mistakes or some things didn't go our way, we didn't let it snowball," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "We didn't let it get away on us, we brought it back pretty good, so all in all I thought we did what we needed to do tonight.
"Frankly speaking, it's a game we're not going to evaluate too much in terms of anything good, anything bad. We're going to wash it, move on, enjoy a day off tomorrow and get ready for [the] Montreal [Canadiens on Saturday]."
The Maple Leafs went up 1-0 nine seconds into the first period when Nylander took a stretch pass from Morgan Rielly, got around McCabe in the high slot and shot past Mrazek's outstretched left pad. It was Nylander's sixth goal in eight games.
Sandin put Toronto up 2-1 at 8:14 of the first period when his shot from the left hash marks along the side boards deflected off Murphy's stick.
Matthews made it 3-1 at 11:21 when he shot from just outside the left hash marks in the slot after taking a pass from Nylander, who got the puck by the left hash marks along the side boards and skated towards the blue line before sending pass from the top of the right face-off circle back across the ice.
"I think he's just all over it and just the consistency factor has been really great to see," Matthews said of Nylander. "He's just all over it every single game, he's moving his feet and it's just been a lot of fun to watch. It's a treat to play with him."
Philipp Kurashev cut it to 3-2 46 seconds into the second period when he one-timed a pass from Max Domi at the top of the left circle. Tavares made it 4-2 at 7:37 when he one-timed a pass from Kerfoot, who beat Blackhawks defenseman Ian Mitchell to Mrazek's pass behind the net.
Conor Timmins, who had been a healthy scratch the previous four games, extended the lead to 5-2 at 16:07 when he one-timed a pass from Matthews just inside the blue line.
"That was pretty cool," Timmins said. "It was my first one at home and Matthews made a nice pass, and I was just lucky enough to get it through a screen. So, it was a cool feeling."
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won six of their last 10 games.
Prediction
If this truly is the debut of O'Reilly, then Toronto might be beside itself. Maple Leafs 4, Canadiens 1
Betting trends
Canadiens are 4-12 off a road loss this season.
Canadiens are 4-11 against division opponents this season.
Maple Leafs are 16-7 revenging a loss this season.
Projected lines
Canadiens:
Rafael Harvey-Pinard -- Nick Suzuki -- Josh Anderson
Evgenii Dadonov -- Kirby Dach -- Mike Hoffman
Jonathan Drouin -- Christian Dvorak -- Joel Armia
Michael Pezzetta -- Alex Belzile -- Jesse Ylonen
Mike Matheson -- Justin Barron
Jordan Harris -- David Savard
Johnathan Kovacevic - Chris Wideman
Jake Allen
Rafael Harvey-Pinard -- Nick Suzuki -- Josh Anderson
Evgenii Dadonov -- Kirby Dach -- Mike Hoffman
Jonathan Drouin -- Christian Dvorak -- Joel Armia
Michael Pezzetta -- Alex Belzile -- Jesse Ylonen
Mike Matheson -- Justin Barron
Jordan Harris -- David Savard
Johnathan Kovacevic - Chris Wideman
Jake Allen
Maple Leafs:
Alexander Kerfoot -- John Tavares -- Mitchell Marner
Michael Bunting -- Auston Matthews -- William Nylander
Noel Acciari -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Calle Jarnkrok
Zach Aston-Reese -- Pontus Holmberg -- Joey Anderson
Morgan Rielly -- TJ Brodie
Mark Giordano -- Timothy Liljegren
Rasmus Sandin -- Conor Timmins
Ilya Samsonov
Alexander Kerfoot -- John Tavares -- Mitchell Marner
Michael Bunting -- Auston Matthews -- William Nylander
Noel Acciari -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Calle Jarnkrok
Zach Aston-Reese -- Pontus Holmberg -- Joey Anderson
Morgan Rielly -- TJ Brodie
Mark Giordano -- Timothy Liljegren
Rasmus Sandin -- Conor Timmins
Ilya Samsonov
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
