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Winnipeg Jets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Free Prediction 10/27/18

Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports

In what could be a Stanley Cup preview, the Winnipeg Jets and the Toronto Maple Leafs face off at Scotiabank Arena in an East-versus-West showdown. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 27, and you’ll be able to view the game live on CBC Sports.

Winnipeg Jets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Odds

Toronto heads into the matchup as the heavy favorite with a moneyline of -140. The line for Winnipeg sits at +120 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.

Netting moneyline bettors 1.2 units, Toronto is 7-3 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That win percentage, ranked third in the NHL so far this season, is fairly close to what the team produced during last year’s regular season (49-33). Of its 10 games this season, four have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. The team’s 2-3 SU at home this season.

The Maple Leafs currently tout the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve converted on 36.0 percent of their extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.1 percent of all penalties.

As a team, the Maple Leafs have been whistled for penalties just 2.9 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 3.3, the second-best mark in the league. After serving an average of 7.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 6.3 minutes per outing this season.

With a .916 save percentage and 28.6 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (5-3) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Leafs this year. If head coach Mike Babcock chooses to give him the night off, however, Toronto may go with the undefeated Garret Sparks (2-0 record, .892 save percentage, 3.49 goals against average).

Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly will each spearhead the attack for the Maple Leafs. Matthews (16 points) has tallied 10 goals and six assists and has recorded multiple points in seven different games this year. Rielly has four goals and 10 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in seven games.

Winnipeg is 7-4 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 11 regular season outings, five of its games have gone under the total, while three have gone over and two have pushed. The Jets are 2-2 SU as an away team this season.

The Jets have converted on 30.3 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 14th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.6 percent of all opponent power plays.

Winnipeg’s skaters have been penalized 4.5 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed some from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to kill penalties for a whopping 14.7 minutes per matchup this season.

Connor Hellebuyck (2.99 goals against average and .907 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck is averaging 29.4 saves per game and has four wins, four losses, and one OT loss to his credit.

Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Jets will be Mark Scheifele (five goals, six assists) and Kyle Connor (five goals, five assists).

Winnipeg Jets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Picks

Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Over

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Notes

Betting Notes

Power plays and penalty kills may have a key role in tonight’s matchup. The Jets are 2-2 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 4-2 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Maple Leafs are 2-0 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 6-3 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.

The total has gone under in each of Toronto’s last five outings.

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Written by GMS Previews

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