Little Caesars Arena will be hosting an Original Six clash as the Detroit Red Wings welcome the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. The match will get underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, December 15, and it’s being shown live on Fox Sports Detroit.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings Odds
Toronto is 20-13 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.8 units this season. Through 33 regular season outings, 16 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just three have pushed. As the road team in 2017-18, the Leafs are 10-8 SU.
Toronto has converted on 21.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.2 percent of all penalties.
The Leafs, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.5 times per game overall this season, and 2.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 5.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .922 save percentage and 31.6 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (17-11-1) has been the primary option in goal for Toronto this season. Andersen played last night, however, so the team may opt to rest him and instead roll with Curtis McElhinney (3-2 record, .925 save percentage, 2.44 goals against average).
Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Maple Leafs. Matthews (26 points) has tallied 13 goals and 13 assists, and has recorded multiple points eight times. Kadri has 13 goals and 10 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 18 games).
On the other side of the rink, Detroit is 11-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 31 regular season outings, 16 of its games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 5-12 SU as the home team this year.
The Red Wings have converted on 20.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Detroit players have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.5 per game over their last ten contests. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jimmy Howard (25.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Red Wings. Howard has nine wins, 17 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has maintained a mediocre 2.91 goals against average and a fairly-weak .906 save percentage this season.
Dylan Larkin (five goals, 19 assists) will pace the offensive counter for Detroit.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Wings, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Detroit is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Toronto is 2-1 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Detroit’s last five games.
Detroit has averaged 2.7 goals per game overall this season, but is averaging 1.3 goals per contest over its three-game losing skid.
Over Detroit’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-5 in those games).
