Canadian superstar Nathan MacKinnon and the loaded Avalanche make their only visit to Toronto this season on Wednesday in a possible Stanley Cup Finals preview.
The Leafs are underdogs on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Avalanche vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
Colorado vs. Toronto is a realistic 2025 Stanley Cup Finals preview – priced +4000 as the exact matchup in June. The Avalanche are this writer’s pick to win the Western Conference after landing excellent two-way forward Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders at this month’s trade deadline. The Avs remade their goaltending room earlier this season, including acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood from San Jose and the Thunder Bay native is now the team’s No. 1.
This will mark the eighth straight season the Avalanche make the playoffs, but they haven’t come close to the Stanley Cup Finals since winning them in 2022 vs. Tampa Bay. Colorado is +390 to win the West (behind only Dallas) and +800 to win the Cup (behind only Florida and Dallas).
While we don’t rule out Toronto winning the Eastern Conference, the Leafs are +700 to do that and don’t look as good on paper as the four favourites ahead of them in Florida (+195), Carolina (+440), Washington (+500) and Tampa Bay (+600). But all it takes is a hot goaltender.
The Maple Leafs try to avoid the season sweep as they lost 7-4 in Denver on March 8. Valeri Nichushkin had a hat trick, and Nathan MacKinnon, a big part of the winning Team Canada at 4 Nations Face-Off, had two goals – including the go-ahead tally at 15:45 of the third. Blackwood was in net for the Avalanche, and Anthony Stolarz stopped 27 shots in the loss for the Leafs.
The teams have split their past 10 overall and the over-under is 8-2 in those.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado won its second straight game and for the eighth time in the past nine on Sunday, 4-3 in OT at home over Dallas. Superstar blueliner Cale Makar had the winner just 34 seconds into OT after the Avalanche blew a 3-1 third-period lead and had two earlier assists to be named the game’s No. 1 star. It was the reigning Norris Trophy winner’s 38th career three-point game to pass Nashville’s Roman Josi (37) for the third most among active defensemen. The only two with more are future Hall of Famers Erik Karlsson (52) and Victor Hedman (46). Nathan MacKinnon assisted on the overtime winner and extended his home point streak to 21 games. He leads the NHL with 103 points but likely will lose out on a second straight Hart Trophy to Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl. No. 2 netminder Scott Wedgewood has started the past two, but it should be No. 1 Mackenzie Blackwood for this one after dealing with a bit of an illness — note that it is the front of a back-to-back. The over is 6-3 in Colorado’s past nine games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto snapped a two-game skid Monday with a 6-2 home rout of Calgary, scoring at least once in each period and four times in the second. Auston Matthews was the No. 1 star with two goals and an assist, while William Nylander was the No. 2 with a goal and two assists. Both of Matthews’ goals were in the second, and it was his 36th career multi-goal period to pass Darryl Sittler (35) for the most in Maple Leafs history and pass Jeremy Roenick (35) for the most among U.S.-born players in NHL history. Matthews’ assist was also in the second, marking his 11th career three-point period to tie Dave Keon and Frank Mahovlich for third most in franchise history. Darryl Sittler (15) hold the record. Joseph Woll started in net for Toronto, but it’s likely back to Anthony Stolarz on Wednesday because it’s the front of a B2B. Stolarz has had a rough March at 0-3-1 with a 3.17 GAA. The over is 8-4 in Toronto’s past 12.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Avalanche vs. Maple Leafs?
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AVALANCHE
3 -
MAPLE LEAFS
4
Score
Prediction
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 18 Mar 8:45pm | - | - | O +6 -115 |
| Closing 20 Mar 1:16am | - | - | O +4.5 -190 |
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Avalanche Team Leaders
| Points |
116 |
| + / - |
36 |
| Shots |
320 |
| Penalty Mins |
48 |
| Wins |
22 |
| GAA |
1.99 |
| Points |
102 |
| + / - |
23 |
| Shots |
261 |
| Penalty Mins |
76 |
| Wins |
27 |
| GAA |
2.14 |
| Points |
4 |
| + / - |
4 |
| Shots |
11 |
| Penalty Mins |
6 |
| Wins |
1 |
| GAA |
2.18 |
| Points |
4 |
| + / - |
2 |
| Shots |
9 |
| Penalty Mins |
6 |
| Wins |
2 |
| GAA |
1.95 |
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Maple Leafs Team Leaders
| Points |
116 |
| + / - |
36 |
| Shots |
320 |
| Penalty Mins |
48 |
| Wins |
22 |
| GAA |
1.99 |
| Points |
102 |
| + / - |
23 |
| Shots |
261 |
| Penalty Mins |
76 |
| Wins |
27 |
| GAA |
2.14 |
| Points |
4 |
| + / - |
4 |
| Shots |
11 |
| Penalty Mins |
6 |
| Wins |
1 |
| GAA |
2.18 |
| Points |
4 |
| + / - |
2 |
| Shots |
9 |
| Penalty Mins |
6 |
| Wins |
2 |
| GAA |
1.95 |
Injuries
Ross Colton (C)
Miles Wood (LW)
Ryan Lindgren (D)
Ross Colton (C)
Samuel Girard (D)
Jonathan Drouin (LW)
Martin Necas (C)
Joel Kiviranta (LW)
Erik Johnson (D)
Samuel Girard (D)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)
David Kampf (C)
Jake McCabe (D)
Steven Lorentz (C)
Joseph Woll (G)
Max Pacioretty (LW)
Conor Timmins (D)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)
Matthew Knies (LW)
Connor Dewar (C)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Colton (C) | Ques Wed | Lower Body - 20 / 04 / 25 | 2-0 | 0-1-1 | + - |
|
Colton missed the last contest with a lower body injury, and it is unknown if he will be active for Game 3 against the Stars on Wednesday. |
|||||
| Miles Wood (LW) | Ques Mon | Illness - 12 / 04 / 25 | 3-1 | 1-2-1 | + - |
|
Woods is ailing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will be available for the playoff round game 2 against the Stars on Monday. |
|||||
| Ryan Lindgren (D) | Ques Sun | Upper Body - 10 / 04 / 25 | 3-2 | 1-3-1 | + - |
|
Lindgren is dealing with an upper body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will return to action against the Ducks on Sunday. |
|||||
| Ross Colton (C) | Questionable | Upper Body - 09 / 04 / 25 | 3-3 | 2-3-1 | + - |
|
Colton is battling an upper body injury, and it is undetermined if he will be active for next game. |
|||||
| Samuel Girard (D) | Ques Thurs | Undisclosed - 07 / 04 / 25 | 3-3 | 2-3-1 | + - |
|
Girard is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Canucks on Thursday. |
|||||
| Jonathan Drouin (LW) | Questionable | Lower Body - 03 / 04 / 25 | 4-5 | 3-5-1 | + - |
|
Drouin is bothered by an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will suit up for next game. |
|||||
| Martin Necas (C) | Ques Thurs | Upper Body - 03 / 04 / 25 | 4-5 | 3-5-1 | + - |
|
Necas is dealing with an upper body injury, and it has yet to established if he will be available against the Canucks on Thursday. |
|||||
| Joel Kiviranta (LW) | Ques Wed | Lower Body - 27 / 03 / 25 | 6-6 | 4-7-1 | + - |
|
Kiviranta is dealing with a lower body injury, and it is unclear if he will be in the Monday's lineup against the Blackhawks on Wednesday. |
|||||
| Erik Johnson (D) | Ques Mon | Lower Body - 24 / 03 / 25 | 6-7 | 5-7-1 | + - |
|
Johnson is dealing with a lower body injury, and it is unclear if he will be available against the Flames on Monday. |
|||||
| Samuel Girard (D) | Ques Tue | Lower Body - 20 / 03 / 25 | 7-8 | 5-8-2 | + - |
|
Girard is tending to a lower body injury, and it is up in the air if he will back on the ice against the Red Wings on Tuesday. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D) | Ques Sun | Undisclosed - 11 / 04 / 25 | 4-2 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Ekman-Larsson is bothered by an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will dress for Game 1 of the playoffs versus Senators on Sunday. |
|||||
| David Kampf (C) | Ques Thurs | Upper Body - 03 / 04 / 25 | 5-4 | 3-6 | + - |
|
Kamf is fighting off an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will play Game 3 of the playoffs versus the Senators on Thursday. |
|||||
| Jake McCabe (D) | Out indefinitely | Undisclosed - 03 / 04 / 25 | 5-4 | 3-6 | + - |
|
McCabe is nursing an undisclosed injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Steven Lorentz (C) | Ques Wed | Undisclosed - 02 / 03 / 25 | 11-14 | 12-12-1 | + - |
|
Lorentz is hampered with an undisclosed injury, and it is up in the air if he will participate against the Golden Knights on Wednesday. |
|||||
| Joseph Woll (G) | Ques Sun | Illness - 28 / 02 / 25 | 11-15 | 13-12-1 | + - |
|
Woll is dealing with an illness, it is unclear if he will play against the Penguins on Sunday |
|||||
| Max Pacioretty (LW) | Out Indefinitely | Undisclosed - 20 / 02 / 25 | 13-16 | 15-13-1 | + - |
|
Pacioretty has been placed on the long term injured reserve list with an undisclosed injury, and there is no timetable for return. |
|||||
| Conor Timmins (D) | Ques Sat | Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25 | 16-16 | 17-14-1 | + - |
|
Timmins suffered an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will take part in Saturday's clash against the Hurricanes. |
|||||
| Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D) | Ques Thurs | Lower Body - 01 / 02 / 25 | 16-17 | 17-15-1 | + - |
|
Ekman-Larsson missed the previous game with a lower body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be active against the Kraken on Thursday. |
|||||
| Matthew Knies (LW) | Prob Sat | Upper Body - 23 / 01 / 25 | 17-19 | 18-17-1 | + - |
|
Knies is nursing an upper-body injury, but he is likely to be active against the Oilers on Saturday. |
|||||
| Connor Dewar (C) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 21 / 01 / 25 | 18-19 | 19-17-1 | + - |
|
Dewar has landed on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury, and he is without a definitive timetable for recovery. |
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 18 Mar 8:45pm - - O +6 -115 Closing 20 Mar 1:16am - - O +4.5 -190 -
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Avalanche Team Leaders
Points 116
+ / - 36
Shots 320
Penalty Mins 48
Wins 22
GAA 1.99
Points 102
+ / - 23
Shots 261
Penalty Mins 76
Wins 27
GAA 2.14
Points 4
+ / - 4
Shots 11
Penalty Mins 6
Wins 1
GAA 2.18
Points 4
+ / - 2
Shots 9
Penalty Mins 6
Wins 2
GAA 1.95
-
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Maple Leafs Team Leaders
Points 116
+ / - 36
Shots 320
Penalty Mins 48
Wins 22
GAA 1.99
Points 102
+ / - 23
Shots 261
Penalty Mins 76
Wins 27
GAA 2.14
Points 4
+ / - 4
Shots 11
Penalty Mins 6
Wins 1
GAA 2.18
Points 4
+ / - 2
Shots 9
Penalty Mins 6
Wins 2
GAA 1.95
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Injuries
Ross Colton (C)
Ques Wed Lower Body - 20 / 04 / 25Miles Wood (LW)
Ques Mon Illness - 12 / 04 / 25Ryan Lindgren (D)
Ques Sun Upper Body - 10 / 04 / 25Ross Colton (C)
Questionable Upper Body - 09 / 04 / 25Samuel Girard (D)
Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 07 / 04 / 25Jonathan Drouin (LW)
Questionable Lower Body - 03 / 04 / 25Martin Necas (C)
Ques Thurs Upper Body - 03 / 04 / 25Joel Kiviranta (LW)
Ques Wed Lower Body - 27 / 03 / 25Erik Johnson (D)
Ques Mon Lower Body - 24 / 03 / 25Samuel Girard (D)
Ques Tue Lower Body - 20 / 03 / 25Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)
Ques Sun Undisclosed - 11 / 04 / 25David Kampf (C)
Ques Thurs Upper Body - 03 / 04 / 25Jake McCabe (D)
Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 03 / 04 / 25Steven Lorentz (C)
Ques Wed Undisclosed - 02 / 03 / 25Joseph Woll (G)
Ques Sun Illness - 28 / 02 / 25Max Pacioretty (LW)
Out Indefinitely Undisclosed - 20 / 02 / 25Conor Timmins (D)
Ques Sat Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)
Ques Thurs Lower Body - 01 / 02 / 25Matthew Knies (LW)
Prob Sat Upper Body - 23 / 01 / 25Connor Dewar (C)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 21 / 01 / 25Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Ross Colton (C) Ques Wed Lower Body - 20 / 04 / 25 2-0 0-1-1 + - Colton missed the last contest with a lower body injury, and it is unknown if he will be active for Game 3 against the Stars on Wednesday.
Miles Wood (LW) Ques Mon Illness - 12 / 04 / 25 3-1 1-2-1 + - Woods is ailing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will be available for the playoff round game 2 against the Stars on Monday.
Ryan Lindgren (D) Ques Sun Upper Body - 10 / 04 / 25 3-2 1-3-1 + - Lindgren is dealing with an upper body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will return to action against the Ducks on Sunday.
Ross Colton (C) Questionable Upper Body - 09 / 04 / 25 3-3 2-3-1 + - Colton is battling an upper body injury, and it is undetermined if he will be active for next game.
Samuel Girard (D) Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 07 / 04 / 25 3-3 2-3-1 + - Girard is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Canucks on Thursday.
Jonathan Drouin (LW) Questionable Lower Body - 03 / 04 / 25 4-5 3-5-1 + - Drouin is bothered by an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will suit up for next game.
Martin Necas (C) Ques Thurs Upper Body - 03 / 04 / 25 4-5 3-5-1 + - Necas is dealing with an upper body injury, and it has yet to established if he will be available against the Canucks on Thursday.
Joel Kiviranta (LW) Ques Wed Lower Body - 27 / 03 / 25 6-6 4-7-1 + - Kiviranta is dealing with a lower body injury, and it is unclear if he will be in the Monday's lineup against the Blackhawks on Wednesday.
Erik Johnson (D) Ques Mon Lower Body - 24 / 03 / 25 6-7 5-7-1 + - Johnson is dealing with a lower body injury, and it is unclear if he will be available against the Flames on Monday.
Samuel Girard (D) Ques Tue Lower Body - 20 / 03 / 25 7-8 5-8-2 + - Girard is tending to a lower body injury, and it is up in the air if he will back on the ice against the Red Wings on Tuesday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D) Ques Sun Undisclosed - 11 / 04 / 25 4-2 3-3 + - Ekman-Larsson is bothered by an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will dress for Game 1 of the playoffs versus Senators on Sunday.
David Kampf (C) Ques Thurs Upper Body - 03 / 04 / 25 5-4 3-6 + - Kamf is fighting off an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will play Game 3 of the playoffs versus the Senators on Thursday.
Jake McCabe (D) Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 03 / 04 / 25 5-4 3-6 + - McCabe is nursing an undisclosed injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Steven Lorentz (C) Ques Wed Undisclosed - 02 / 03 / 25 11-14 12-12-1 + - Lorentz is hampered with an undisclosed injury, and it is up in the air if he will participate against the Golden Knights on Wednesday.
Joseph Woll (G) Ques Sun Illness - 28 / 02 / 25 11-15 13-12-1 + - Woll is dealing with an illness, it is unclear if he will play against the Penguins on Sunday
Max Pacioretty (LW) Out Indefinitely Undisclosed - 20 / 02 / 25 13-16 15-13-1 + - Pacioretty has been placed on the long term injured reserve list with an undisclosed injury, and there is no timetable for return.
Conor Timmins (D) Ques Sat Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25 16-16 17-14-1 + - Timmins suffered an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will take part in Saturday's clash against the Hurricanes.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D) Ques Thurs Lower Body - 01 / 02 / 25 16-17 17-15-1 + - Ekman-Larsson missed the previous game with a lower body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be active against the Kraken on Thursday.
Matthew Knies (LW) Prob Sat Upper Body - 23 / 01 / 25 17-19 18-17-1 + - Knies is nursing an upper-body injury, but he is likely to be active against the Oilers on Saturday.
Connor Dewar (C) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 21 / 01 / 25 18-19 19-17-1 + - Dewar has landed on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury, and he is without a definitive timetable for recovery.