Two teams facing each other for the third time this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators face off at Canadian Tire Centre for an Atlantic Division showdown. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 20, and you’ll be able to witness the game live on CBC Sports.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators Odds
With a -145 moneyline, Toronto enters the matchup as the obvious favorite. The line for Ottawa sits at +125, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals (-125 for the under, +105 for the over).
Toronto is 25-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 22 of its contests have gone over the total, while another 22 have gone under and just three have pushed. As an away team this season, the Leafs are 12-13 SU.
Toronto has converted on 20.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the fourth-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 84.2 percent of its penalties.
The Leafs, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.6 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 2.4 per game over its past five match ups. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .922 save percentage and 31.7 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (22-17-4) has been the best option in goal for Toronto this year. If head coach Mike Babcock chooses to rest him, however, the team could roll with Curtis McElhinney (3-4 record, .916 save percentage, 2.78 goals against average).
The visiting Maple Leafs will be led by Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Matthews has 33 points via 19 goals and 14 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 10 different games. Nylander has nine goals and 23 assists to his credit, and has notched at least one point in 25 games.
Ottawa is 15-28 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 23 of its matches have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 9-14 SU as the home team.
The Senators have converted on just 15.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Senators skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 5.4 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays 11.4 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Craig Anderson (26.9 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Senators. Anderson has 13 wins, 20 losses, and five overtime losses and has registered a fairly-weak .900 save percentage and 3.21 goals against average this season.
The Sens offense will be led by Mark Stone (18 goals, 24 assists).
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Toronto’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 4-1 overall in shootouts this season.
The over has hit in four of Ottawa’s last five outings.
Over Ottawa’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
The Senators this season have handed the seventh-most hits per game (23.5), but that number has jumped up to 31.4 over their past five home games.
