Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals Prediction, NHL Odds
Toronto’s five points back of the Wild-Card-leading Capitals, who have dropped three straight.
A third period comeback got Toronto back into the win column on Tuesday night, something the team desperately needed before heading on the road for three games. And Auston Matthews stayed hot in the win, scoring the game-tying goal which is his third goal in his last four outings.
Puck drop at Capital One Arena goes at 7 p.n. EST with the Capitals a -155 moneyline favourite on home ice and the over-under at six on the NHL odds.
Maple Leafs vs. Capitals NHL Betting Odds
Toronto is starting to heat up on the road, winning four of their last five away from home. Washington has been a welcoming site for the Leafs too, as Toronto is 5-2 in their last seven trips to D.C. and 9-4 in their last 13 meetings overall. Washington did win the only prior meeting between these clubs this season, earning a 4-2 win at home on November 28 and overcoming a 2-0 deficit.
The under has hit in six of Toronto’s last seven outings. Scoring’s been a recurring issue for the Leafs, who have yet to go over three goals in five straight showings. Still, Toronto is fifth in the NHL with 3.28 goals per contest. Washington is third with 2.55 goals against per contest, so those under betters have a good base to go off on Thursday.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs were hearing boos from their own crowd on Tuesday, trailing 2-0 at home to a wounded Chicago squad. Oliver Ekman-Larsson got the comeback started, followed by two goals in eight seconds from Auston Matthews and Dakota Joshua. The win was just Toronto’s second victory this season after trailing heading into the third period. Joseph Woll picked up the win with 23 saves and is now 3-0 in his last three outings. Woll has statistically been Toronto’s best goalie this season with a .927 save percentage in nine appearances.
With a goal on Tuesday, Matthews now has a team-high 14. Matthews remains on pace for his first season with under a point-a-game since his rookie campaign in 2016–17 but he’s showing signs of heating up. Next should be Wiliam Nylander, who is without a goal since November 26.
Washington Capitals
The Capitals return home after a pair of ugly losses, falling 5-1 at Winnipeg on Saturday and 5-0 to Minnesota on Tuesday. Washington had appeared to be ascending to the top of a cluttered Eastern Conference, winning six-straight games at the end of November only to loss four of their next five. Scoring has dried up in Washington during this skid, with the team totalling eight goals in these last five showings. Leading goal-scorers Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson have both not scored in four straight, but Ovechkin terrorizes Toronto with 45 goals in 62 career games.
Logan Thompson should man the crease on Thursday. The 28-year-old Canadian is 13-7-3 this season with a .922 save percentage, making a strong case to earn a spot on Team Canada at the Olympics. Performing well against Toronto will only help Thompson’s cause.
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