In their final head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Vancouver Canucks and the Toronto Maple Leafs face off at Air Canada Centre for an East-versus-West showdown. CBC Sports will broadcast the matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 6.
Vancouver Canucks at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Vancouver (+190) is playing the role of underdog to Toronto (-230) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -120 money on the over and +100 on the under.
Toronto is 24-18 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 1.6 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the Atlantic Division so far in this young season, is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during last year’s regular season (40-42). Through 42 regular season contests, 21 of its games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 12-6 SU at home this year.
The Maple Leafs have been able to convert on 21.7 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.7 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Maple Leafs have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five outings. The team has had to stave off opposition power plays for 10.4 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Averaging 31.4 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, Frederik Andersen (21-13-1) has been the top option in goal for Toronto this year. If head coach Mike Babcock chooses to give him a rest, however, the team could turn to Curtis McElhinney (3-4-4 record, .916 save percentage, 2.78 goals against average).
Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner will each lead the offensive attack for the Maple Leafs. Matthews (32 points) has tallied 18 goals and 14 assists and has recorded multiple points on 10 separate occasions this year. Marner has five goals and 25 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 16 games.
On the other side of the rink, Vancouver is 16-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 40 regular season matches, 23 of its games have gone over the total, while 17 have gone under and none have pushed. The Canucks are 9-9 SU as an away team this season.
The Canucks have converted on 20.6 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 27th overall and it’s successfully defended 77.3 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver’s skaters have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over their last five outings total, and 4.0 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Jacob Markstrom (25.8 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom owns a 10-19-4 record, while registering a .906 save percentage and 2.79 goals against average this year.
Brock Boeser (21 goals, 17 assists) will lead the attack for the visiting Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Toronto’s last ten outings, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-5 in those games).
The Maple Leafs are 14-8 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Canucks are 9-9 SU when they serve more minutes than the opposition.
Vancouver is 0-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Toronto is 3-1 in shootouts.
Toronto may hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 12-4 in games decided by one goal, while Vancouver is 5-8 in such games.
The over has hit in three of Toronto’s last five outings.
Toronto is ranked 26th this season with 11.4 giveaways per game. That figure has improved recently, however, as it’s averaged 7.7 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.2 giveaways over its last five.
Vancouver has averaged 12.6 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.2 giveaways per game (the 12th-fewest in the NHL).
