Game 2 Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs Prediction: Stanley Cup Qualifier Odds
After nearly five months between meaningful games, the Columbus Blue Jackets showed no signs of rust. They clamped down on the Maple Leafs Sunday night scoring a 2-0 defensive style win in Game 1.
Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs Betting Analysis
The Maple Leafs open as -150 favourites to win game two with the Blue Jackets in familiar territory as +150 underdogs.
Despite the Blue Jackets being up 1-0 in the best-of-five series, the two teams are evenly split at Sports Interaction. The BlueJackets are paying -119 to win the series, while the Maple Leafs are chalked at -117.
If Columbus goes on to win the series 3-0, it currently pays +395 at SIA; if the Leafs win the next three games to take it three games to one it would pay +284.
An interesting total at Sports Interaction is the 1.5 goals total in the first period. If the two teams play a similar style in game two like they did in the first game, perhaps the under (-111) is the way to go.
Columbus Blue Jackets
It was a textbook Blue Jackets effort on Sunday evening as Columbus’ defence shutdown the powerful Maple Leafs attack.
Seth Jones and Zack Werenski led the effort and had the main responsibilities of keeping the Leafs top lines at bay. The pair logged over 25 minutes of ice team each in game one. The Blue Jackets played so well defensively, that they held the Leafs without a shot in the final 6:12 of the game.
Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made 28 saves to record the shutout in his first career post season start. There was some talk that Elvis Merzlikins would get the start. Clearly the Blue Jackets have two solid options in goal.
Cam Atkinson scored the games opening goal in the third period on a shot that fooled Frederik Andersen. Alex Wennberg added an empty net goal to ice it.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs managed 28 shots in Game 1, but have to find a way of getting better quality scoring opportunities in Game 2.
Auston Matthews didn’t find the scoresheet but was the best Maple Leaf on the ice. His teammate Mitch Marner struggled in game one. He did not register a shot on goal or create any offence. The Leafs need a bounce back effort from Marner who scored 67 points in 59 games during the regular season.
The 18-year-old rookie Nick Robertson played in his first NHL game and did not look out of place. Robertson played on the team’s third line and registered one shot on goal in 12:28 of ice time.
CLB
TOR