The Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets meet Wednesday in NHL action at the Nationwide Arena. Here’s a Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs Prediction. This article will include a Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs Pick.
Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Preview
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Blue Jackets and Hab, and they play the Capitals next. The Maple Leafs have lost 7 of their last 8 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are averaging 3.36 goals per game and are scoring 15.5 percent of their power-play opportunities. John Tavares leads Toronto with 12 goals, William Nylander has 19 assists, and Auston Matthews has 65 shots on goal. Defensively, the Toronto Maple Leafs are allowing 3.73 goals per game and are killing 80 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Anthony Stolarz has allowed 41 goals on 353 shots faced, while Dennis Hildeby has given up 12 goals on 128 shots.
Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Red Wings and Capitals, and play the Penguins next. The Blue Jackets have lost 4 of their last 7 games.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 2.87 goals per game and are scoring 17 percent of their power play opportunities. Dmitri Voronkov leads Columbus with 9 goals, Kirill Marchenko has 14 assists and Zach Werenski has 89 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.26 goals per game and are killing 73.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jet Greaves has allowed 40 goals on 418 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 32 goals on 301 shots.
Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win
- The Blue Jackets have won each of their last 15 games as favorites.
- The Maple Leafs have lost seven of their last eight games.
- The home team has covered the puck line in each of the Maple Leafs’ last seven games.
- The Maple Leafs have failed to cover the puck line in six of their last seven road games.
- The Blue Jackets have won the second period in each of their last nine games as favorites.
Why the Toronto Maple Leafs will win
- The Maple Leafs have won five of their last six road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Blue Jackets have lost three of their last four games.
- The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in nine of their last 10 games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in seven of the Maple Leafs’ last eight games.
- The Blue Jackets have lost the third period in each of their last five games when leading after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Maple Leafs’ last six road games against Eastern Conference opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games as home favorites following a road loss have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Eight of the last nine Wednesday night games have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Maple Leafs’ last seven road games.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Blue Jackets’ last nine games as favorites against the Maple Leafs.
Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts
- Zach Werenski has scored a goal in four of the Blue Jackets’ last five games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Zach Werenski has recorded at least one assist in 21 of the Blue Jackets’ last 22 games as favorites.
- Zach Werenski has recorded at least one point in each of the Blue Jackets’ last 22 games as favorites.
- Cole Sillinger has scored two goals against the Maple Leafs this season – most against any opponent.
Toronto Maple Leafs Player Prop Facts
- John Tavares has scored at least one goal in each of the Maple Leafs’ last six games as underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson has recorded a point in each of the Maple Leafs’ last six games.
- Matthew Knies has recorded at least one assist in each of his last four appearances against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- John Tavares ranks T2nd in the league for multi-point games (10) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 28th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (73.68%).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 25th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.26).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs rank 31st in the league for goals against per game this season (3.73).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs rank 6th in the league for goals per game this season (3.36).
Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs Prediction
The Maple Leafs are in a serious funk and not a team I’m excited to back, especially on the road, where they have just one win this season. The Blue Jackets have earned points in 7 of their last 9 games, and they’ve won 7 of the last 10 games against the Maple Leafs. One of those wins was a few days ago on the road in overtime. The Maple Leafs will turn things around eventually, but for this game, I’ll gladly side with the Blue Jackets and the cheap price.