Maple Leafs vs. Senators NHL Playoffs Predictions (Thursday)
Four potential elimination games are on tap for Thursday night’s NHL Stanley Cup Playoff slate. Toronto, Vegas, and Dallas are all up 3-2 and playing their opponent on the road tonight. The Los Angeles Kings are the lone road team down 3-2 against the Edmonton Oilers, blowing a 2-0 lead by losing three straight games entering Game 6.
My NHL Best Bets from last Thursday, April 24th, wound up 2-2. Florida shut out Tampa Bay on the road for a 2-0 win, cashing their +105 moneyline odds. Then, St. Louis routed Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets 7-2 to cash as a home underdog with their moneyline set to -106 odds. The two losing wagers were Ottawa’s overtime loss and Vegas’ 5-2 defeat, which allowed us to come away with a small profit.
I’m back with an NHL best bet to tail in every playoff game on Thursday’s jam-packed betting board. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL free bets and weekly analysis throughout the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here are our top picks and predictions for Maple Leafs vs. Senators.
Thursday’s NHL Best Bets: Maple Leafs vs. Senators
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Maple Leafs vs. Senators
All of a sudden, Toronto is feeling the familiar pressure to close out a playoff series. The Maple Leafs were shut out on home ice during a 4-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators in Game 5. Now, Toronto will head into a hostile environment at the Canadian Tire Centre to try closing out the “Battle of Ontario” on the road.
The Senators have won back-to-back games after digging themselves into a 3-0 deficit. Brady Tkachuk leads Ottawa with six points, including three goals, while goaltender Linus Ullmark is coming off of his best performance against Toronto in Game 5.
Oddsmakers now value Ottawa as a slight home favorite with their moneyline set at -118 odds. I tend to agree with oddsmakers on this line. The Senators lost two of the first three games in overtime during this series, before winning Game 4 in overtime. They struck first in Game 5 and held onto the lead, blanking Toronto despite being outshot 29-19.
Ottawa is the more physical team and will benefit from home ice advantage in Game 6. The Senators have no pressure or expectations, unlike the Maple Leafs, so let’s bet a unit on Ottawa’s -118 moneyline odds, forcing a Game 7 back in Toronto.
Pick: Senators Moneyline (-118)
Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for BettingPros and FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.