The Leafs are rolling right now as they’ve scored 14 combined goals in wins over the Devils, Canadiens and Lightning. It’s a different story for the Blue Jackets, who have managed one total goal in back-to-back losses against the Rangers and Islanders.

Toronto is a -225 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6.0.

Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds

Columbus struck first in the season series, winning 6-2 at home on Oct. 22. As it stands, this is a potential first round playoff matchup. The Maple Leafs have a three-point cushion for first in the Atlantic Division standings, while the Blue Jackets are a point back of a wild card spot in a very tight Eastern Conference wild card race.

Aside from Columbus’ mini slump, which snapped a six-game win streak, both teams have generally being playing well. The Blue Jackets have recorded points in seven of their last eight games and Toronto has won eight of their past 11.

Both teams also have winning records overall against the spread this season, but you might want to lean Buds in this one. The Leafs are 15-13 ATS at home, while Columbus is 10-13 ATS on the road.

Although the Blue Jackets have played the Under in five straight games, they’ve actually hit the Over in 29 of 47 games overall. The Over has hit in four of the last six head-to-heads between these teams, including the first meeting this year, back in October.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The big concern for this game is Columbus’ Jekyll and Hyde play at home versus on the road. The Blue Jackets are a sterling 16-5-2 at Nationwide Arena, but they’ve sputtered to a 6-13-4 record when they hit the highway. That’s a .348 road points percentage (worst in the Eastern Conference) and they’re minus-28 in those games. Columbus also allows the third-most goals per game on the road in the NHL (3.62).

If you want some positivity around this team, let’s talk about Zach Werenski. He leads the Blue Jackets in points (51) and he is tied for the second-most points among all NHL defecemen this season. If Werenski finishes the season first on Columbus in points, first among all defencemen in points and the Blue Jackets make the playoffs, he not only deserves Norris Trophy votes, he might also get Hart Trophy votes.

Columbus is playing a back-to-back Wednesday in Toronto and Thursday in Carolina, so Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov should each get a start. Merzlikins has been the stronger goalie with wins in four of his last five starts, so he’ll likely get the nod against the Leafs.

Toronto Maple Leafs

I’m high on Auston Matthews lighting the lamp on Tuesday. Not only has Matthews been on fire with goals in four straight games and six of his last seven, he always seems to play well against Columbus. Matthews has torched the Blue Jackets for 22 points (13G, 9A) in 16 career regular season games, including 11 goals in the last 10 meetings.

With Joseph Woll starting the last four games, it will be Dennis Hildeby’s turn between the pipes on Wednesday. It’s Hildeby’s first start since allowing three goals on 18 shots in a 3-0 loss to Vancouver on Jan. 11. Hildeby (3-2-0, 3.18 goals-against average, .891 SV) has been forced into the backup role in the absence of Anthony Stolarz, who is expected to return from a knee injury sometime around next month’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Stolarz isn’t the only injury issue for Toronto at the moment as a couple of veteran forwards will also remain out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. John Tavares hasn’t skated since suffering a lower-body injury in practice last week and he is listed as “week-to-week”. Max Pacioretty (upper-body) was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 18 and has no timeline to return.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs?

• Regular Season

Blue Jackets Team Leaders

CLB

Points	Zach Werenski 69
+ / -	Kirill Marchenko 32
Shots	Zach Werenski 227
Penalty Mins	Mathieu Olivier 120
Wins	Elvis Merzlikins 22
GAA	Jet Greaves 2.98

TOR

Points	Mitch Marner 80
+ / -	Jake McCabe 21
Shots	William Nylander 213
Penalty Mins	Max Domi 49
Wins	Joseph Woll 22
GAA	Anthony Stolarz 2.37

• Regular Season

Maple Leafs Team Leaders

CLB

Points	Zach Werenski 69
+ / -	Kirill Marchenko 32
Shots	Zach Werenski 227
Penalty Mins	Mathieu Olivier 120
Wins	Elvis Merzlikins 22
GAA	Jet Greaves 2.98

TOR

Points	Mitch Marner 80
+ / -	Jake McCabe 21
Shots	William Nylander 213
Penalty Mins	Max Domi 49
Wins	Joseph Woll 22
GAA	Anthony Stolarz 2.37

Injuries

Columbus

Elvis Merzlikins (G)

Out Sat Personal - 14 / 03 / 25

Jake Christiansen (D)

Out Sat Upper Body - 14 / 03 / 25

Cole Sillinger (C)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 28 / 02 / 25

Owen Sillinger (C)

out for season Knee - 21 / 02 / 25

Kevin Labanc (RW)

out for season Shoulder - 21 / 02 / 25

Alexandre Texier (C)

Out Indefinitely Illness - 06 / 02 / 25

Kirill Marchenko (RW)

Ques Sat Jaw - 03 / 02 / 25

Dante Fabbro (D)

Ques Sat Concussion - 02 / 02 / 25

Dante Fabbro (D)

Ques Thurs Illness - 28 / 01 / 25

Cole Sillinger (C)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 22 / 01 / 25

Toronto

Steven Lorentz (C)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 02 / 03 / 25

Joseph Woll (G)

Ques Sun Illness - 28 / 02 / 25

Max Pacioretty (LW)

Out Indefinitely Undisclosed - 20 / 02 / 25

Conor Timmins (D)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25

Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)

Ques Thurs Lower Body - 01 / 02 / 25

Matthew Knies (LW)

Prob Sat Upper Body - 23 / 01 / 25

Connor Dewar (C)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 21 / 01 / 25

Max Pacioretty (LW)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 20 / 01 / 25

John Tavares (C)

Prob Sat Lower Body - 15 / 01 / 25

Jake McCabe (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 06 / 01 / 25

Injuries

Columbus

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Elvis Merzlikins (G)	Out Sat	Personal - 14 / 03 / 25	1-1	2-0	+ -
Merzlikins is dealing with a personal matter, and he is not projected to suit up against the Rangers on Saturday.
Jake Christiansen (D)	Out Sat	Upper Body - 14 / 03 / 25	1-1	2-0	+ -
Christiansen is dealing with an upper body injury, and he is not expected to play Saturday against the Rangers.
Cole Sillinger (C)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 28 / 02 / 25	2-2	3-1	+ -
Sillinger has wound up on the injured reserve list due to a shoulder injury, and he is projected to miss several weeks.
Owen Sillinger (C)	out for season	Knee - 21 / 02 / 25	5-2	5-1-1	+ -
Sillinger is out of commission due to a knee injury, and he has been shut down for the remainder of the season.
Kevin Labanc (RW)	out for season	Shoulder - 21 / 02 / 25	5-2	5-1-1	+ -
Labanc is out of action with a shoulder injury, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Alexandre Texier (C)	Out Indefinitely	Illness - 06 / 02 / 25	7-2	5-3-1	+ -
Texier is ailing with an illness, and there is no timetable for return.
Kirill Marchenko (RW)	Ques Sat	Jaw - 03 / 02 / 25	7-3	6-3-1	+ -
Marchenko has been activated from the injured reserve list, and it is unknown if he will play against the Blackhawks on Saturday.
Dante Fabbro (D)	Ques Sat	Concussion - 02 / 02 / 25	8-3	6-4-1	+ -
Fabbro is dealing with a concussion, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Blackhawks on Saturday.
Dante Fabbro (D)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 28 / 01 / 25	10-3	6-6-1	+ -
Fabbro is dealing with an illness, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Golden Knights on Thursday.
Cole Sillinger (C)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 22 / 01 / 25	11-5	7-8-1	+ -
Sillinger is managing an upper body injury, and it is up in the air if he will suit up against the Golden Knights on Thursday.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Steven Lorentz (C)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 02 / 03 / 25	0-4	2-2	+ -
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	0-5	3-2	+ -
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	2-6	5-3	+ -
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	5-6	7-4	+ -
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	5-7	7-5	+ -
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	6-9	8-7	+ -
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	7-9	9-7	+ -
Dewar has landed on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury, and he is without a definitive timetable for recovery.
Max Pacioretty (LW)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 20 / 01 / 25	7-9	9-7	+ -
Pacioretty has wound up on the injured reserve list due to an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
John Tavares (C)	Prob Sat	Lower Body - 15 / 01 / 25	8-10	10-8	+ -
Tavares is dealing with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to be available against the Oilers on Saturday.
Jake McCabe (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 06 / 01 / 25	8-14	11-11	+ -
McCabe has wound up on the injured reserve list due to an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.