Key Takeaways:
* Historic NHL rivalry continues in primetime Game 7 playoff between Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs
* Winners will face the Florida Panthers in the Second Round of the Stanley Cup playoff
* Expect notable performances from Jake DeBrusk, Max Domi, and Brad Marchand
* Predictions indicate lower performances from William Nylander and Ilya Lyubushkin
Excitement is palpable as the Boston Bruins prepare to host the Toronto Maple Leafs for the decisive Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoff’s first round. This showdown, set for Saturday night, marks the climax of a century-long rivalry between two of the NHL’s most celebrated teams.
Game 7 victors to face Atlantic Division Champions
Following this nail-biter, the victorious team will brace for the Second Round, challenging the Atlantic Division champion Florida Panthers. This will be the second consecutive year the Panthers confront the Bruins or the Maple Leafs. The best-of-seven series, as per the schedule, is slated to commence on Monday, May 6, in Florida.
Players to watch for impressive performance
Our AI-powered dfsPro model forecasts several remarkable performances in the make-or-break clash on Saturday. Key NHL player props that promise to steal the spotlight during the Game 7 face-off include Jake DeBrusk, Max Domi, and Brad Marchand.
Over bets to consider
Jake DeBrusk of the Bruins may cool off after having been excluded from the scoring in three straight games. However, despite his average of precisely 0.5 points per game, our model anticipates a spike of nearly 23% to 0.62 points in Game 7.
Similarly, Max Domi, a depth forward for the Maple Leafs, is expected to beat his average of 0.59 points per game. The projections suggest a modest increase to 0.65 points, an 11% jump from his usual performance.
Bruins’ captain, Brad Marchand, who has been instrumental in acquiring a team lead of 8 points in the playoffs, is another player to watch. His shots per game vary widely, from zero in Game 5 to a formidable six in Game 3, averaging around 2.52. Yet our model anticipates an 8% projection in his average for the decider.
Under bet recommendations
However, it’s not all about overs. Our model also indicates under-performances on Saturday’s crucial face-off. Maple Leafs’ William Nylander, the Game 6 series hero, has been firing on all cylinders. Considering his earlier record of five shots per game, his shot potential is expected to decline by 15%, averaging 3.29 in Game 7.
Similarly, Ilya Lyubushkin, another Maple Leafs’ player, a defenseman, exhibits a declining potential based on his performance in the series so far. Despite his average of 2.51 blocks per game, our model predicts a 45% reduction during the game, placing his expected blocked-shot total to a less than the betting line of 1.37.
Saturday night’s game is likely to be a thrilling watch, full of ups and downs, hits and misses, as two of the NHL stalwart franchises go head to head in their quest for second-round placement.