In their final head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Dallas Stars and the Toronto Maple Leafs collide at Air Canada Centre in an East-West showdown. Sportsnet will broadcast the action, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 14.
Dallas Stars vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Earning moneyline bettors 3.4 units, Toronto is 40-29 straight up (SU) overall in the 2017-18 season. That win percentage, ranked third in the Atlantic Division so far in the early season, is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (40-42). Of its 69 games this season, 34 have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just four have pushed. The team is 23-10 SU at home this season.
The Maple Leafs have converted on 21.7 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for seventh-best in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.7 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Maple Leafs have been penalized just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for just 5.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 31.2 saves per game with a .919 save percentage, Frederik Andersen (34-23-5) has been the top goalkeeper for Toronto this year. If head coach Mike Babcock chooses to give him a breather, however, the team could go with Curtis McElhinney (7-6-6 record, .931 save percentage, 2.20 goals against average).
Mitchell Marner and William Nylander will both spearhead the attack for the Maple Leafs. Marner (56 points) has tallied 19 goals and 37 assists and has recorded multiple points on 13 different occasions this year. Nylander has 14 goals and 36 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 37 games.
Dallas is 38-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 34 of its outings have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Stars are 14-19 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Stars have converted on 20.0 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 10th overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Dallas’ skaters have been called for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, 4.6 per game over their last five contests total, and 4.8 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to kill penalties 11.8 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Ben Bishop (25.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Dallas. Bishop has 26 wins, 25 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .917 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average this year.
Tyler Seguin (36 goals, 29 assists) will pace the attack for the visiting Stars.
Dallas Stars vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Toronto’s last ten outings, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-3 in those games).
Penalties and power plays could be even more critical than usual in this one. The Stars are 14-13 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 22-16 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Maple Leafs are 15-9 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 30-27 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Two of Toronto’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 6-2 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone over in four of Toronto’s last five outings.
Toronto is ranked 27th this season with 12.0 giveaways per game. That figure has improved, however, as the team’s averaged 11.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 9.8 giveaways over its last five.
Dallas is ranked 11th this season with 8.5 giveaways per game. That figure has trended upward recently, as it’s averaged 9.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 9.4 giveaways over its last five.
Dallas skaters have accounted for the 11th-most hits in the league (22.4 per game).
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