The Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators meet Saturday in NHL action at the Bridgestone Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Preview
The Toronto Maple Leafs look to build on their 3-game winning streak. The Maple Leafs have won 3 of their first 4 road games. The Toronto Maple Leafs are averaging 3.71 goals per game and are scoring on 33.3 percent of their power play opportunities. Auston Matthews leads Toronto with 7 goals, John Tavares has 7 assists and William Nylander has 27 shots on goal. Defensively, the Toronto Maple Leafs are allowing 3 goals per game and are killing 77.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Ilya Samsonov has allowed 14 goals on 83 shots faced, while Jospeh Woll has given up 5 goals on 127 shots.
Toronto Maple Leafs Team Facts
- The Maple Leafs have lost seven of their last eight games as favorites following a road win.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in eight of the Maple Leafs’ last nine games at Bridgestone Arena.
- The Maple Leafs have won the first period in four of their last five games against the Predators.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in 10 of the Maple Leafs’ last 14 games as favorites against Central Division opponents.
Nashville Predators Betting Preview
The Nashville Predators look for a win after splitting their last 6 games. The Nashville Predators have split their first 4 home games. The Nashville Predators are averaging 2.86 goals per game and are scoring on 20.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Tommy Novak leads Nashville with 4 goals, Filip Forsberg has 4 assists and Roman Josi has 24 shots on goal. Defensively, the Nashville Predators are allowing 2.71 goals per game and are killing 68.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Juuse Saros has allowed 16 goals on 177 shots faced, while Kevin Lankinen has given up 2 goals on 19 shots.
Nashville Predators Team Facts
- The Predators have won five of their last six games as home underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in eight of the last nine games between the Maple Leafs and Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
- The home team has won the third period in each of the last four games between the Maple Leafs and Predators.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in 14 of the Predators’ last 15 home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Nashville Predators ranks 31st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (68.18%).
- The Nashville Predators ranks T8th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.71).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs ranks 3rd in the league in power play percentage this season (33.33%).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs ranks 8th in the league for goals per game this season (3.71).
Randy’s Pick
Outside of just two games, the Toronto Maple Leafs have played high level hockey at both ends of the ice and aren’t a team I’m eager to step in front of at the moment. The Nashville Predators have had issues in the biggest games on their schedule so far, and the offensive effort has come and gone. The Predators have also struggled defending the power play, which isn’t what you want to see when going up against a team like the Maple Leafs. Give me Toronto and the PL for max betting value.
