In their fourth and final head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs face off at Air Canada Centre for an Original Six showdown. The action gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24, and you can witness it live on CBC Sports.
Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
With a moneyline of -265, Toronto comes into the contest as the substantial favorite. The line for Detroit sits at +225 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Netting 6.8 units for moneyline bettors, Toronto is 44-30 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, ranked 3rd in the Atlantic Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 40-42 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 74 regular season contests, 38 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just four have pushed. This season, the team’s 25-10 SU at home.
The Maple Leafs currently have the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they have converted on 23.6 percent of their extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated eighth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Maple Leafs have been called for penalties just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five contests home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 30.7 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, Frederik Andersen (36-24-5) has been the primary option in goal for the Leafs this season. If head coach Mike Babcock chooses to give him the night off, however, Toronto may go with Curtis McElhinney (10-6-6 record, .935 save percentage, 2.09 goals against average).
Mitchell Marner and William Nylander will each lead the charge for the Maple Leafs. Marner (63 points) has produced 20 goals and 43 assists and has recorded two or more points 15 times this year. Nylander has 16 goals and 37 assists to his name and has notched a point in 39 games.
On the other side of the ice, Detroit is 27-47 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 74 regular season contests, 43 of its games have gone under the total, while 29 have gone over and just two have pushed. As the visiting team, the Red Wings are 13-24 SU.
The Red Wings have converted on just 17.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.1 percent of all penalties.
Detroit’s players have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 4.4 per game over their last five contests. The team has had to kill penalties 11.4 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Jimmy Howard (2.86 goals against average and .909 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit. Howard is averaging 26.7 saves per game and owns a 19-36-8 record.
Dylan Larkin (11 goals, 42 assists) has been one of the top playmaking threats for the visiting Red Wings.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Two of Toronto’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 7-2 overall in shootouts this year.
The total has gone over in four of Toronto’s last five outings.
Detroit has managed 27.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Toronto has been attempting 35.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
Six of Detroit’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 0-6 in those games.
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