A game between two teams that have put themselves squarely in playoff contention, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Toronto Maple Leafs take the ice at Air Canada Centre in an Eastern Conference tilt. The first puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, January 8, and it’ll be shown live on TVA Sports.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Earning moneyline bettors 2.5 units, the Maple Leafs are 25-18 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked fifth in the league so far in the early season, is a welcome improvement compared to what the team did during last year’s regular season (40-42). Among its 43 games this season, 21 have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and just three have pushed. This year, the team’s 13-6 SU at home.
Toronto has connected on 21.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.
Toronto, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 4.6 per game over its last five home outings. The team has been forced to stave off opposition power plays for 10.8 minutes per game over its last five home outings.
Boasting a .922 save percentage and 31.5 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (22-13-1) has been the primary option in goal for the Maple Leafs this year. If head coach Mike Babcock decides to give him the night off, however, the Leafs could go with Curtis McElhinney (3-4-4 record, .916 save percentage, 2.78 goals against average).
The Leafs will continue looking for offensive production from Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly. Matthews (33 points) has tallied 19 goals and 14 assists and has recorded multiple points 10 times this year. Rielly has four goals and 26 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 24 games.
Columbus is 24-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 43 regular season matches, 22 of its games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the visiting team, Columbus is 9-12 SU so far.
Columbus has converted on just 12.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 22nd overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Columbus’ players have been penalized only 3.1 times per game in total this season, and 3.9 per game over their last ten match ups. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 5.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Sergei Bobrovsky (28.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus. Bobrovsky has 20 wins, 15 losses, and three overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .921 save percentage and 2.41 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Blue Jackets, the offense will be coordinated by Artemi Panarin, who has 25 assists and 10 goals this year.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in three of Toronto’s last five games.
Columbus has attempted 33.9 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 30.2 in its last five road outings.
The Blue Jackets are 11-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 20-13 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total.
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 season.
Toronto has averaged 8.1 takeaways per game (ranked 10th in the league).
Columbus skaters have averaged 6.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 7.8 takeaways per game (ranked 12th).
