Toronto Maple Leafs @ Montreal Canadiens

As online betting for The Masters begin to take shape on the golf course, the NHL enters its last weekend of the regular season. The Toronto Maple Leafs are holding up the basement of the Eastern Conference while the Montreal Canadiens are involved in a battle for position among the bottom playoff teams in the conference. The sportsbook experts know that the Canadiens need this game, but the Leafs never give in to the Montreal Canadiens.

The Leafs have two things going against them in this game; they have no scoring punch any more since players like Lee Stempniak were traded and they are playing in Montreal. Just like NBA betting, in the NHL the arena can make a difference. But this NHL game preview is about a storied rivalry that dates back to a time when the parents of many current players were not even born. The bad blood here is thick, and that makes for a very interesting game.

The best the Montreal Canadiens can hope for is to finish sixth in the conference, but with the Boston Bruins having a game in hand over the Canadiens it may be difficult for the Canadiens to move up. The Canadiens do have more wins this season than the Bruins, and that may enter in to it when the season ends.

The sports betting world gave up on the Leafs early when the Leafs opened up the season with a long string of losses. The Leafs didn’t win a game until their ninth game of the season. They could not score and their goaltending was suspect at best. Some trade deadline moves helped a little, but what has really helped the Leafs is the emergence of goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, also known as “The Monster”. But just like every other player on the Toronto team, the Monster is inconsistent. He will hold teams to one and two goals for a few games, and then let five or six past him for the next few games.

The Canadiens do not have any problems in net. Jaroslav Halak has emerged as the number one goalie, and he will be the man the team leans on in the playoffs. It is very probable that Halak will not play this game as the team may rest him for the playoffs. Carey Price is a capable backup, but he can be shaky when he has not played for a few games. A Toronto / Montreal game is not for the weak of heart, and if Price is shaky early then it could be a long night in Montreal.

We will get to see what the Canadiens are really made of in this game. Regardless of who starts in goal, the atmosphere will be electric before the game starts. The Canadiens need this game and they do not want to leave points on the table at the end of the season to the worst team in the conference. If the Canadiens play their big guns such as Michael Cammalleri and Brian Gionta for regular shifts in order to win the game, then the Leafs will be in trouble.

Toronto will not sit back in this game, but in the end it may not matter. In order to score goals a team has to create pressure and the Leafs offense is not capable of doing that against a fast and strong defense like what the Canadiens have. The only thing that is guaranteed is that this will be a good hockey game.

Pick: Montreal Canadiens 5-3