Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium will be the site for an Eastern Conference tilt as the Toronto Maple Leafs pay a visit to the Washington Capitals. It’s the third and final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The action will get going at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 3, and it’s being shown live on NBC.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals Odds
Toronto (+100) is currently the underdog to Washington (-120) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -105 money on the over and -115 on the under.
Toronto is 39-27 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 5.2 units this season. 31 of its matches have gone over the total, while another 31 have gone under and just four have pushed. This 2017-18 Maple Leafs team is 17-17 SU on the road.
Toronto has converted on 20.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the fourth-best penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Leafs have been sent to the penalty box just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 2.2 per game over its past ten outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 4.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 31.5 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, Frederik Andersen (33-21-5) has been the top option in goal for Toronto this season. If Toronto chooses to rest him, however, head coach Mike Babcock could turn to Curtis McElhinney (7-5-1 record, .929 save percentage, 2.30 goals against average).
Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Maple Leafs. Marner (53 points) is up to 17 goals and 36 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 13 different games. Matthews has 28 goals and 22 assists to his nameand has registered a point in 32 games.
On the other side of the ice, Washington is 36-28 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 3.1 units this season. 37 of its games have gone over the total, while 26 have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 22-11 SU at home this year.
The Capitals have converted on 21.7 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for sixth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Washington players have been whistled for penalties 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties a whopping 14.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Braden Holtby has stopped 28.2 shots per game as the top choice in goal for the Capitals. Holtby has 28 wins, 18 losses, and four overtime losses and has maintained a mediocre 3.02 goals against average and a subpar .908 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Alex Ovechkin (39 goals, 32 assists).
Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Two of Toronto’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 6-2 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone over in three of Toronto’s last five outings.
