Maple Leafs vs Wild Prediction
I love the Maple Leafs in the underdog role because the talent is there to win any given night. The problem is the Maple Leafs continue to be hit or miss, and home ice hasn’t helped them much, as they’ve lost seven times. The Leafs are also having issues defensively, where they’re 22nd in goals against and 27th in shots against. The Wild have been one of the best teams in the NHL and have a balanced attack.
The Wild have eight road wins and have earned points in 10 of their 13 road games overall. The road team has won four of the last five games between the Maple Leafs and Wild. It’s hard for me to get behind the Maple Leafs in this spot. It’s even harder to step in front of the Wild. I’ll lay the juice with the road team on Thursday night.
Minnesota Wild Betting Preview
The Minnesota Wild beat the Sharks, lost to the Lightning, and they play the Maple Leafs next. The Wild have won 6 of their last 8 games. The Wild are 8-3-2 SU on the road, 5-0-2 SU at home, and 14-6 ATS on the season.
The Minnesota Wild are averaging 3.25 goals per game and are scoring 27.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild with 17 goals, 15 assists, and 62 shots. Maxim Shabanov has 8 goals, 5 assists, and 29 shots. Matt Boldy has 7 goals, 11 assists, and 83 shots. Defensively, the Minnesota Wild are allowing 2.20 goals per game and are killing 79.0 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jesper Wallstedt has allowed 33 goals on 439 shots faced. Calvin Pickard has given up 11 goals on 76 shots.
Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Preview
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Habs and Devils, and they play the Wild next. The Maple Leafs have lost 5 of their last 6 games. The Maple Leafs are 4-3-1 SU on the road, 4-7-1 SU at home, and 11-9 ATS on the season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are averaging 3.35 goals per game and are scoring 28.1 percent of their power-play opportunities. Auston Matthews leads the Maple Leafs with 11 goals, 17 assists, and 62 shots. William Nylander has 11 goals, 11 assists, and 56 shots. Jack Roslovic has 9 goals, 11 assists, and 51 shots. Defensively, the Toronto Maple Leafs are allowing 3.45 goals per game and are killing 86.4 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed 45 goals on 379 shots faced. Anthony Stolarz has given up 19 goals on 206 shots.
Maple Leafs vs Wild Injury Report
The Maple Leafs will be without John Tavares, Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood, Nick Blankenburg, Marshall Rifai, Max Domi, Cade Webber, Elvis Merzlikins, and William Villeneuve.
The Wild are without Filip Gustavsson with a hip injury. Jared Spurgeon is out with a lower-body injury. Brock Faber is out with a skull injury. Michael McCarron is questionable with an upper body injury.
Why the Toronto Maple Leafs will win
- The Maple Leafs have won three of their last five games as underdogs against the Wild.
- The Wild have failed to cover the puck line in nine of their last 10 games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Maple Leafs have covered the puck line in each of their last seven Thursday games as home underdogs.
- The Wild have lost the third period in each of their last four games as road favorites against Atlantic Division opponents when leading after the second period.
Why the Minnesota Wild will win
- The Maple Leafs have lost each of their last 13 games as underdogs following a home loss.
- The Wild have won each of their last six road games.
- The Wild have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight games against opponents on a losing streak.
- The Maple Leafs have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight home games following a loss.
- The Maple Leafs have lost the first period in seven of their last eight home games against Central Division opponents.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Maple Leafs’ last 12 night games against the Wild following a loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Wild’s last six road games following an overtime win have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Maple Leafs’ last 15 games.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the Wild’s last 13 games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
Toronto Maple Leafs Player Prop Facts
- William Nylander has scored at least one goal in six of his last seven appearances against the Wild.
- Kirill Marchenko has recorded at least one assist in each of his last eight appearances against Central Division opponents.
- Auston Matthews ranks 6th in the league for Points (28) this season.
Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts
- Kirill Kaprizov has scored the last goal in three of the Wild’s last four games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Kirill Kaprizov has scored a goal in five of the Wild’s last six road games.
- Quinn Hughes has recorded at least one assist in each of his last 10 road appearances against the Maple Leafs.
- Kirill Kaprizov ranks 2nd in the league for Goals (17) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Toronto Maple Leafs rank 5th in the league in power play percentage this season (28.07%).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs rank 5th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (86.36%).
- The Minnesota Wild rank 1st in the league for goals against per game this season (2.20).
- The Minnesota Wild rank 8th in the league in power play percentage this season (27.14%).