A couple of teams that’ve positioned themselves firmly in the playoff picture, the Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs meet at Air Canada Centre in an East-versus-West showdown. TVA Sports will showcase the action, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, January 22.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto (-170) is currently favored over Colorado (+150), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 under, +100 over.
Producing 2.8 units for moneyline bettors, Toronto is 26-22 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked 3rd in the Atlantic Division in this young season, isn’t too far off from to the 40-42 record the team produced during last year’s regular season campaign. Of the team’s 48 games this season, 23 have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just three have pushed. This year, the team is 13-9 SU at home.
The Maple Leafs have connected on 20.7 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.8 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Maple Leafs have been called for penalties just 3.6 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their past five outings. The team’s had to defend opposition power plays for just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 31.3 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Frederik Andersen (23-17-4) has been the top option in goal for Toronto this year. If Toronto decides to give him the evening off, however, head coach Mike Babcock may turn to Curtis McElhinney (3-4-4 record, .916 save percentage, 2.78 goals against average).
The Leafs will continue to look for offensive production from Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner. Matthews (35 points) has tallied 20 goals and 15 assists and has recorded multiple points 10 times this year. Marner has six goals and 26 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 18 contests.
On the other bench, Colorado is 26-19 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 11.3 units this season. A total of 25 of its contests have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and just one has pushed. As the away team so far, the Avalanche are 8-11 SU.
The Avalanche have scored on 20.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully killed off 84.6 percent of all penalties.
Colorado’s players have been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, 4.4 per game over their past five outings total, and 4.6 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Semyon Varlamov (2.87 goals against average and .912 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 28.5 saves per game and has 14 wins, 12 losses, and two OT losses to his credit.
Nathan MacKinnon (23 goals, 36 assists) has been one of the top playmakers on offense for the visiting Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche at Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Toronto’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 4-1 overall in shootouts this year.
The total has gone under in three of Toronto’s last five outings.
Colorado has managed 27.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Toronto is averaging 35.8 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Over Colorado’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 7-1 in those games).
