Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be searching for just their third win in 10 home dates when they take on the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night in NHL betting action at Scotiabank Arena.
The Leafs are coming off one of their worst performances of the season in Saturday’s 6-3 loss to the visiting Edmonton Oilers that marks their third loss in four games overall and leaves them stalled in seventh place in the Atlantic Division standings.
The Blackhawks arrive in Toronto after suffering a 4-0 loss to Detroit on Saturday, and have now fallen to defeat in 10 of 13 contests including five of six on the road.
The Maple Leafs get set to hit the ice as -200 home favourites on the NHL odds while the Blackhawks trail as +165 underdogs. The total is pegged at just 5.5.
Blackhawks vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
The Maple Leafs dropped a 3-2 decision when they visited the Windy City back on November 15, and have now fallen to defeat in four of their past six dates with the Blackhawks.
The total has not topped 5.0 in three of their past five meetings, generating a 3-2 run for the UNDER in totals betting. However, just two of the past seven head-to-head clashes have been settled by just a single goal.
With the club feeling the effect of injuries at both ends of the ice, Leafs shooters have struggled to light the lamp, scoring just eight total goals during their 1-1-2 slide after racking just 5.33 goals per game during a preceding three-game win streak.
The Maple Leafs’ offensive struggles have helped fuel a steady rum for the UNDER, which has paid out in five of their past six dates, and gone 9-3-1 since the end of an epic 16-2 run for the OVER to start the season.
The Buds have also lost outright in five straight as betting chalk and have lost five of their past eight while sporting odds of -200 or shorter.
The Blackhawks opened the campaign on a respectable 10-5-4 run, but have quickly returned to familiar form while going 3-8-2 since.
Scoring has come at a premium, with Chicago shooters mustering just 2.08 goals per game during their 13-game swoon, including just six total while losing four of their past five overall, and a meagre 1.83 goals per game over their past six road dates.
Chicago Blackhawks
Losing Connor Bedard indefinitely to injury has not helped the Blackhawks in their quest to kickstart their offence. Bedard suffered an upper body injury in Friday’s 3-2 loss in St. Louis and is expected to be on the shelf until the New Year.
That is particularly bad news for former Leaf Tyler Bertuzzi, who was thriving playing alongside Bedard this season. Bertuzzi racked up 16 goals and 26 points through his first 27 games but has been held off the scoresheet in the past two games and offers good value on the NHL player props as a -105 bet to record UNDER 0.5 points on Tuesday.
On the flip side, the loss of Bedard should provide Frank Nazar with an opportunity centre the top line, and that boost couldn’t come at a better time. Nazar enters Tuesday’s action amid a five-game points drought, but has tallied four points in five road dates and should be backed as a +100 wager to pick up at least one points.
Toronto Maple Leafs
William Nylander was once again battling an illness this past weekend, and it was reflected in his performance versus Edmonton, in which he was held pointless for the fifth time in six games while failing to record a shot on goal for the third time over that stretch.
John Tavares has also cooled off considerably tallying just one goal and three points over his past 10 outings.
However, the greatest concern for this club has been Auston Matthews’ failure to dominate as expected. The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has potted just 13 goals and 21 points through 26 games to date and was a non-factor in Saturday’s loss to the Oilers while recording just one shot on goal.
Overall, the Leafs captain has compiled five goals and seven points over his past eight home appearances, but has not enjoyed a two-goal outing since the opening week of the season.
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