The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators meet for Game 2 of the Battle of Ontario on Tuesday.
The pregame narrative: Toronto dominated the series opener, winning 6-2, and I’ll back the Leafs to at least cover a +1.5 puck line tonight. On top of that, take John Tavares and Brady Tkachuk to find the score sheet in this +300 wager.
Check out my Senators vs. Maple Leafs playoff SGP predictions for Game 2 on April 22.
BOOST: Leafs to win, Matthews & Nylander to score (+561, was +510). Bet now!
Senators vs. Maple Leafs predictions
Parlay: Maple Leafs +1.5 | Tavares to record a point | Tkachuk to record a point (+310)
Maple Leafs +1.5 (-500): I expect Toronto to win this game, but I’ll opt for a bit of safety by taking the home side on an alternate puck line.
The Leafs ran roughshod in Sunday’s series opener, jumping out to a 4-1 lead midway through the second period and never looking back.
Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Tavares combined for nine points in the victory. That’s the most from the “Core Four” in a playoff game since Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023.
Ottawa is bound to turn in a better effort on Tuesday, but I struggle to look past Linus Ullmark, who has consistently struggled in the postseason.
Goaltending is the great equalizer in the playoffs, as Leafs fans know too well from years past, and it looks like Toronto has the definitive upper hand.
Anthony Stolarz turned away 31-of-33 shots on Sunday and has a 9-0-0 record across his last nine starts. In that span, he has a 1.44 GAA and .949 SV%.
I’ll ride with Stolarz until he gives me a reason not to.
NBA SGP legs
Tavares to record a point (-157): A lot has been made of Tavares’ future with the Maple Leafs this season, as the former captain will be an unrestricted free agent come July 1.
But that’s a long way away, and right now, Tavares is playing like a man possessed.
Coming off a great regular season (38 goals, 74 points), Tavares registered a goal, an assist and six shots in the series opener.
He has now found the stat sheet in 20 of 28 games since the 4 Nations Face-Off (31 total points in that span).
Tavares is an integral part of Toronto’s red-hot power play, and he rides shotgun with Nylander. I expect him to make noise against an undisciplined Sens group.
Tkachuk to record a point (-105): This leg is a bit narrative-driven because the numbers suggest Tkachuk goes pointless again on Tuesday:
- Tkachuk had just 55 points in 72 games this season.
- He is now pointless in five straight games dating back to March 25.
- He has been held pointless in seven of his last nine games against the Maple Leafs.
So why am I backing him? Ottawa needs its captain to show up, and Tkachuk seems like the kind of player who will answer the bell.
His line with Tim Stutzle and Claude Giroux was extremely productive at 5-on-5 in Game 1, out-chancing opponents 18-3. The problem was that they only played 9:42 together because Ottawa was constantly in the penalty box.
Travis Green will surely tell his team to tighten things up, which should lead to more opportunities for Tkachuk.
Senators vs. Maple Leafs predictions made at 1:28 p.m. ET 04/22/2025.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.