Leafs vs Senators Game 4 Line-ups, Forecasts, and Specialist Choices: Anticipated Squads, Analyst Forecasts, and Selections from the Pros
Rewritten Base Article
The Ottawa Senators will be up against it as they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference First Round playoff series. The Leafs, leading the series 3-0, have a chance to complete their first four-game sweep in 24 years, while the Senators, desperate to stay alive, aim to join the select few teams that have come back from a 3-0 deficit.
Toronto has been in top form with back-to-back overtime victories in Games 2 and 3, earning them a slight favorite status for the bout. Here's our analysis on the Maple Leafs versus Senators showdown, complete with odds and projected lineups.
Maple Leafs versus Senators Analysis
The hotly debated topic concerning a Maple Leafs versus Senators prediction is the historical context of teams facing elimination. Since 2005-06, teams down 0-3 in a playoff series have managed a 90-67 record in Game 4, with home teams in these situations showing impressive form, compiling a 24-7 record since 2021. However, Toronto—known for their struggles in closing out series—have only won one of their previous eleven potential series-clinching games since 2018.
From a performance perspective, the Senators have been competitive at 5-on-5 play by expected goals metrics, but Toronto's power play has made all the difference, with a remarkable 55.5% success rate. For their part, the Senators have shone at home, boasting a 27-15 record at Canadian Tire Centre, including a 11-2 record when playing on Saturdays.
Goaltending has been key, with Linus Ullmark showing mixed form for Ottawa, but Anthony Stolarz of Toronto has been incredible thus far with a .926 save percentage. With a win on Saturday, Stolarz would join Johnson, Bower, and Bernier as the only Leafs' goaltenders to win four consecutive playoff games since 1967, a feat worth cheering for.
Key Players to Watch
The Senators have relied on Brady Tkachuk, who has scored two goals in the series, and Claude Giroux, who's added a goal and two assists. The team is also counting on Tim Stutzle, who, despite a quiet series thus far, was their top scorer in the regular season, to step up.
Betting trends have recently tipped in the Senators' favor, with significant cash flowing in on Ottawa despite most fans putting their money on the Leafs. The line shifting from -118 to -130 indicates that the pros believe there's a strong chance Ottawa could push the series to the limits, creating an intense atmosphere for what promises to be an unmissable game.
The emotional stakes are high, as a legendary provincial rivalry plays out on home turf, with Ottawa desperately fighting to avoid the ignominy of a sweep. Prepare for an enthralling encounter that will go down in history either way.
Picks and Predictions
Prognosticators have tipped the Senators as their pick to emerge victorious in this game, with a -130 moneyline at Caesars Sportsbook. It's time to put your faith—and some cash—in the Capitals to make magic happen and stun the Maple Leafs.
Maple Leafs vs Senators Odds (As of April 26, 2025 at 10:04 am ET at Caesars Sportsbook)
- Ottawa Senators: -130
- Toronto Maple Leafs: +110
Place your wagers now and join the thousands of sports fans cheering on the underdogs! Experience the exhilaration of live action as TBS/truTV and Sportsnet bring you their broadcast coverage for this charged-up Game 4.
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Note: This rewritten article incorporates only the most relevant enrichment data to clarify and enhance the subject matter.
- The Senators, trailing 3-0 in the series, aim to defy history and come back against the favored Maple Leafs in Game 4.
- In a nail-biting Game 4, Toronto, with a slight favorite status, will face the Senators who boast a strong 11-2 home record on Saturdays at Canadian Tire Centre.
- Despite the Leafs' top form and impressive power play, the Senators' 5-on-5 play has been competitive by expected goals metrics, and they are relying on key players like Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux.
- Recent betting trends show a surge in cash wagered on the undervalued Senators, with their moneyline shifting from -118 to -130, indicating a strong possibility of an extended series.
- If Stolarz secures a win for the Maple Leafs in Game 4, he would join an elite group of Leafs' goaltenders with four consecutive playoff wins since 1967.
- In sports betting, the over/under line for the game stands at an intriguing point, offering opportunities for wagers on the totals of goals scored.
- Throughout the playoff series, moneyline, wagers, odds, and over/under stakes will add layers of excitement to the highly anticipated upcoming game, as the province's hockey rivalry unfolds on home turf.
