The first round of NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs is in full swing after two matchups last night and three to choose from today. The middle time slot features Game 1 between the Maple Leafs and Senators. Toronto opens as -166 Moneyline home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook and the game total is set at O/U 5.5 goals. The last time these two teams met in the postseason was in 2004 when the Maple Leafs won in seven games to advance to the second round.
The expected starting goaltenders are Anthony Stolarz for Toronto and Linus Ullmark for Ottawa, although Ullmark has not been confirmed as of writing. Read below to see my favorite bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Maple Leafs vs. Senators Game 1.
Best Bets for Maple Leafs vs. Senators Game 1
Both Teams to Score in First Period (+180)
It’s playoff time. Toronto tends to disappear this time of year but it will be playing in front of its home crowd and fields one of the deadliest offenses in the postseason. Ottawa hasn’t been in the postseason since 2017 and should come out swinging, especially considering its 3-0 regular-season record versus Toronto. While I trust both Ullmark and Stolarz to stand tall, both offenses are more than capable of scoring rather easily. The Maple Leafs are a step above the Senators but when factoring in their annual postseason yips, allowing an early first-period goal doesn’t seem that far out of the realm of possibilities.
Auston Matthews Anytime Goalscorer (+110)
I must admit: I don’t love this bet, I just like it. The thing is, Matthews has only scored one Game 1 goal across nine career postseason series. As a team, Toronto tends to disappear when the lights get bright. But Leafs fans will be buzzin’ and Matthews scored 20 of his 33 goals this season at home. He scored in the final three games of the season, too, so he’s coming into the postseason with some momentum. Ullmark has generally found success against Toronto in the past but Matthews did score in the most recent matchup last month. At the end of the day, Matthews will be the best player on the ice tonight and it’d be foolish to fade him.
Auston Matthews 4+ Shots on Goal (-110)
If we’re backing Matthews to net a goal, then why not back him to record four shots? On the season, the 27-year-old sniper averaged 3.9 shots on goal, which rose to 4.4 when playing at home. The Senators allowed the sixth-most shots per game to opposing centers, too, but it’s worth noting that they held Matthews to just three total shots through two games during the regular season. At -110 odds, though, I like the value. Ottawa showed that it had issues limiting opposing centers all season and its defense dipped following the 4 Nations break. This game is going to be physical and penalties will be called, which will give Matthews more space to get the puck on net consistently.
