Scotiabank Arena is the site for an Eastern Conference clash as the Pittsburgh Penguins square off against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The matchup gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 18, and fans at home can see the game live on TVA Sports.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto is 6-1 straight up (SU) and has netted 3.1 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, second-best in the league so far this season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team did during last year’s regular season (49-33). Through seven regular season outings, four of its games have gone over the total, while three have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 2-1 SU at home this season.
The Maple Leafs have successfully converted on 47.4 percent of their power play chances thus far. That’s a noticeable improvement from last season, when they were ranked second in the league by scoring on 25.0 percent of their extra-man opportunities. Their penalty kill has improved nicely year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 80.2 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 16th overall last season) to 84.2 percent this year.
The Maple Leafs, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 2.9 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 3.3, the second-lowest figure in the league. After serving an average of 7.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 6.4 minutes per matchup this season.
Boasting a .899 save percentage and 26.8 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (4-1) has been the primary option in goal for Toronto this year. If head coach Mike Babcock chooses to rest him, however, Toronto may roll with the undefeated Garret Sparks (2-0 record, .892 save percentage, 3.49 goals against average).
The Leafs will continue to lean on the offensive production via Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly. Matthews (16 points) has put up 10 goals and six assists while Rielly has three goals and 10 assists to his credit so far in the season’s early stages.
On the other side of the ice, Pittsburgh is 2-3 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through five regular season contests, two of its games have gone over the total, while an additional two have gone under the total and one has pushed.
The Pens have recorded a goal on 23.1 percent of their power play chances this year after successfully converting on 25.7 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (which ranked them first in the league in that category). The team has gone from successfully defending 80.4 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 14th overall last season) to 92.3 percent in 2018-19.
Pittsburgh’s players have been penalized only 2.8 times per game this season. Last season, that number was at 4.0, which was the eighth-worst mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.4 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for just 5.6 minutes per outing this year.
Casey DeSmith (31.7 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Pittsburgh. DeSmith owns a 1-2-2 record, and has registered a .922 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Penguins, the offense will run through Evgeni Malkin (one goal, eight assists) and Phil Kessel (four goals, four assists).
Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
After posting a 2-2 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Pittsburgh is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Toronto went 7-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The total has gone over in three of Toronto’s last five games.
Toronto has averaged 5.4 goals per game (while giving up just 3.2) over its five-game winning streak.
Pittsburgh skaters recorded 24.6 hits per game last season, while the Leafs logged 20.8 hits per matchup.
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