The Ottawa Senators face a crucial challenge as they host the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 3 of the 2025 NHL playoffs on Thursday, trailing 2-0 in the series. After a tough 6-2 loss in Game 1, the Senators showed resilience in Game 2, pushing the game to overtime before eventually falling 3-2 on a goal by Max Domi. The upcoming game takes place at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Ottawa enters the game favored on the money line.
Ahead of this pivotal matchup, here are some predictions for Senators vs. Maple Leafs on Thursday:
Prediction: Maple Leafs +1.5 on the Puck Line
Toronto carries momentum into Game 3, having won seven consecutive games dating back to April 9 and consistently performing well against the puck line during this streak. Historically, games between these two teams at the Canadian Tire Centre have often been decided by just one goal, suggesting a potentially close contest. A predictive model analyzing the game outcomes strongly supports the Maple Leafs covering the puck line in a majority of simulations.
Player Prop: Auston Matthews Anytime Goal-Scorer
Despite not yet scoring in the postseason, Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is a strong candidate to find the back of the net. He concluded the regular season with a three-game goal streak and boasts an impressive career record against the Senators, having scored 25 goals in 35 games. This makes the `anytime goal-scorer` bet for Matthews a noteworthy player prop.
