Air Canada Centre plays host to an Atlantic Division tilt as the Ottawa Senators pay a visit to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 10, and fans at home can witness the game live on Sportsnet.
Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto is 25-19 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.9 units this season. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Atlantic Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 40-42 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 44 regular season matches, 21 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team is 13-7 SU at home this season.
The Maple Leafs have converted on 21.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for seventh-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.7 percent of all penalties.
The Maple Leafs, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 4.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for 8.6 minutes per game over their last five outings, overall.
With a .922 save percentage and 31.5 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (22 wins, 14 losses, and two OT losses) has been the best goalkeeper for Toronto this season. If head coach Mike Babcock chooses to give him the evening off, however, Toronto could turn to Curtis McElhinney (3-4-4 record, .916 save percentage, 2.78 goals against average).
Auston Matthews and William Nylander will both lead the charge for the Maple Leafs. Matthews (33 points) is up to 19 goals and 14 assists and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games this year. Nylander has nine goals and 22 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 23 games.
On the other side of the ice, Ottawa is 14-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 21 of its contests have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and none have pushed. As the away team, the Senators are 5-14 SU so far.
The Senators have converted on just 15.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 74.0 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa’s skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 4.8 per game over their last five games. The team has had to kill penalties 11.6 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Craig Anderson (26.2 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Ottawa. Anderson has 12 wins, 19 losses, and five OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .897 save percentage and 3.23 goals against average this year.
Mark Stone (18 goals, 24 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the visiting Senators.
Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Five of Ottawa’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-4 in those games.
The Senators are 6-14 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 9-15 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
Two of Toronto’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 4-1 overall in shootouts this year.
Toronto might hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 13-5 in games decided by one goal, while Ottawa is only 8-14 in such games.
The total has gone under in four of Toronto’s last five outings.
Toronto skaters have averaged 13.4 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 11.5 giveaways per game (ranked 26th in the league).
Ottawa is ranked 21st this season with 10.3 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended upward, as it’s averaged 11.3 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.8 giveaways over its last five.
Ottawa skaters have accounted for the seventh-most hits in the league (23.4 per game), but that number’s down to just 17.4 hits over their last five away games.
